Reagan was one of the country’s great statesmen who prevailed in a titanic struggle between totalitarianism and freedom. It’s hard to exaggerate his political talents or successes.
First, they oppose you and condescend to you. Then, they reluctantly conclude that you had more on the ball than they thought. After that, they concede your achievements. And finally, they make a glowing feature-length movie about you.
This has been the trajectory of Ronald Reagan and his reputation, although the new film, “Reagan,” wasn’t made by his erstwhile detractors.
“Reagan” covers all the greatest hits of the Republican’s life and career, with no famous line or episode left out. Based on the Grove City College academic Paul Kengor’s book, “The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism,” the framework of the movie is an old, former KGB agent explaining to an up-and-coming Russian politician how Reagan won the Cold War.
The cinematic choice of covering Reagan’s entire life in standard-issue biopic style won’t be to everyone’s taste, nor will the movie’s frank celebration of its subject.
