In this Movie Memory Machine: Five For mini-episode, Landen and Truman recommend five films that, unlike American Dreamz, actually succeed at sharp political satire. Whether through bureaucratic absurdity, bleak humor, or media manipulation, these picks explore what happens when spin, spectacle, and sociopathy collide. Also, we’ll never pass up a chance to talk about Alan Partridge.
Films Discussed:
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In the Loop (2009)
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Four Lions (2010)
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The Death of Stalin (2017)
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Thank You for Smoking (2005)
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Wag the Dog (1997)
Topics Covered:
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Armando Iannucci’s brand of competent chaos (In the Loop, Death of Stalin)
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Four Lions as an underrated and fearless political satire
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Thank You for Smoking and the fine line between satire and smirking libertarianism
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Revisiting Wag the Dog as a film that nails the premise but maybe fumbles the tone
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Why American Dreamz tries to say everything but ends up saying very little
Key Takeaways:
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Great satire isn’t just about mocking—it’s about knowing exactly where to aim
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Tone must match topic: the sharper the critique, the sharper the comedy
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Good satire often finds moral rot not just in power, but in its enablers
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Anne Heche improves everything she’s in—no further notes
Listener Prompt: What’s your favorite political satire—and which one totally missed the mark? Let us know using #MovieMemoryMachine or drop your pick in our Discord.
Support the Show! Help keep Movie Memory Machine ad-free and artist-owned! Here’s how you can support us:
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Become a Patreon supporter – For as little as $1/month, you get access to bonus content for all shows on the Grunt Work Podcast Network. Join at https://patreon.com/gruntworkpod
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Leave a rating and review – On Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen.
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Like, follow, and share on social media – We’re @MovieMemoryMachine on YouTube and @MovieMemoryPod on Letterboxd.
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Tell a friend – Word of mouth is how we grow.
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Join our Discord – Vote on whether films stay in modern memory or are left forgotten. Visit https://www.moviememorymachine.com for access.
Follow Us: 🌐 Website: https://www.moviememorymachine.com 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MovieMemoryMachine 🎞️ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/moviememorypod/
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