Know Your Enemy

Reagan, the Movie (w/ Jesse Brenneman) [Teaser]

Dec 6, 2024

Dive into a cinematic exploration of Ronald Reagan's legacy through a recent film that portrays him as a hero on a divine mission against communism. The discussion critiques the simplistic narrative presented by the film, focusing on an ex-KGB agent's perspective. It highlights how the portrayal minimizes the complexities of political action while framing Reagan's decisions as fate-driven. This captivating analysis reveals deeper insights into the conservative psyche and the hagiographic myth surrounding Reagan's role in history.

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Quick takeaways

The film portrays Reagan's story through an ex-KGB agent's lens, blending admiration and scrutiny while raising questions about its historical accuracy.

Critics argue that the movie simplifies Reagan's political life, framing his success as divinely destined rather than a result of strategic decisions.

Deep dives

The Unusual Framing Device

The film uniquely frames the story of Ronald Reagan through the eyes of a former KGB agent, which offers a bizarre lens to explore Reagan's life. This KGB agent, portrayed by Jon Voight, narrates Reagan's story while attempting to explain why communism fell in Russia. The choice to have an ex-KGB officer obsessively focused on Reagan adds a complex layer to the narrative, as it blurs the line between admiration and scrutiny. This framing serves as a vehicle for the narrative, though its effectiveness is questioned due to its reliance on outdated portrayals of historical events.

The Surreal Framing of Reagan's Legacy

4min

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We wanted to offer something of a palette cleanser for our subscribers, so we decided to watch the recent movie, Reagan, with our intrepid producer, Jesse Brenneman. Even better, it's based on the 2006 book, The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism, by Paul Kengor—who just happens to have been Matt's close mentor as an undergraduate student. Reagan clocks in at over two hours and twenty minutes, and it's a wild, even fantastical ride that offers a revealing glimpse into the conservative psyche and a faithful rendition of the most hagiographic version of the Reagan mythology, especially his personal responsibility for ending the Cold War and finally putting the Soviet Union on the ash heap of history.

Sources:

Reagan (2024)

Paul Kengor, The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism(2006)

— God and Ronald Reagan: A Spiritual Life(2004)

— A Pope and a President: John Paul II, Ronald Reagan, and the Extraordinary Untold Story of the 20th Century(2017)

Edmund Morris, Dutch: A Memoir of Ronald Reagan (1999)