Significant Hollywood Moments in Despot Disrespect

By now everyone knows the situation. Entertainment mega-company, Sony Pictures Entertainment, whose servers were hacked in a cyber-attack reportedly linked to North Korea, were the victims of terroristic threats. Threats that were promised to come to fruition if they released the upcoming film, The Interview, starring Seth Rogen and James Franco as would-be assassins of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. As of yet, Sony has indefinitely shelved the film and has no plans to release it theatrically, or on DVD or VOD. This decision by Sony, though entirely understandable, is a major strike against American free expression. It is also a slap in the face to an film industry that has, for many decades, satirized world dictators freely! Yes, some might have forgotten but Hollywood has been "sending up" dictators for years!

Here is a look back at the top five films that had the "chutzpah" to go into wide release with their impertinence!

#5 The Big Lebowski (1998)

That's right! The Dude (Jeff Bridges) did not abide Middle Eastern tyrant, Saddam Hussein! In a dream sequence, we see Saddam in charge of issuing bowling shoes. Not too disrespectful you say? Okay, Saddam might have been a bowling fan, but we're only at #5...

#4 The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)

If it's a Zucker-Abrahams film, everyone is fair game! The police parody found Lt. Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen) taking it to all of our nation's arch-rivals of the era: Gorbachev, Castro, Khomeni, Gaddafi and Arafat! Heck, "Mr. October"-himself, Reggie Jackson was supposed to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II! It was satire, no one got upset!

#3 South Park: Bigger Longer and Uncut (1999)

When it comes to satirizing current events, Trey Parker and Matt Stone are the unholy heirs to the style that made the Zucker-Abrahams movies so great! These two hold nothing holy and will make fun of anything, or anyone, that they feel needs to be brought down a peg. Some see it as a rite of passage or an indication that they have "made it" to be parodied on the duo's television show, "South Park." Their feature film took it a step further and lampooned a world leader, and not a Canadian one, no, it was the despotic Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein. Depicted as Satan's gay lover, Saddam's caricature was insanely funny! Reportedly, U.S. Marine guards for Saddam Hussein, after his overthrow and capture, showed the film to him repeatedly. What was his attitude toward his depiction? Probably wasn't good! However, those same marines were able to get Saddam to autograph a photo to be brought back and presented to Parker and Stone. I wonder what the inscription was? "I can change! I can change!"

#2 Team America: World Police (2004)

Before Kim Jong-un, there was Kim Jong-il. He was the autocratic tryant ruler of North Korea, and he was huge film fan! I wonder if he ever saw this cinematic gem by Trey Parker and Matt Stone. Before Hollywood screenwriters were trying to assassinate the son, Parker and Stone made a movie about a paramilitary puppet force tasked with assassinated the father! This film seemed destined to restore American faith in free speech after The Interview was pulled from release, however, due to the unwanted publicity, Paramount Pictures cancelled all requests to screen the film theatrically for the moment. But for those who saw it back then, it's classic! Maybe we should put Parker and Stone in charge of our nation's retaliatory jab against North Korea. I definitely see a great "South Park" episode coming out of this.... However, as classic as this film is, it is not the #1 Hollywood dig at dictators...

#1 The Great Dictator (1940)

This classic Charlie Chaplin satire takes on the then-powerful leader of the Third Reich of Nazi Germany, Adolf Hitler. You have to remember, when this film was released, Hitler was at the height of his power; Europe had been crushed under his heel, Great Britain was on the brink of defeat, and the Soviet Union was trying its best to avoid being invaded. Chaplin's, and Hollywood's, courage in releasing this film was a big risk. Chaplin's biting indictment of Hitler and his anti-Semitic views is a true classic, and a testament to free speech. Actor Steve Carell cited this film when he called the moment Sony cancelled the release of The Interview, a "sad day for creative expression."


This is just my take on the films. My opinions. Feel free to voice yours. Can you think of any others that should be on this list? Let me know!