Bob Birch: You want the convention to be a circus.
Francis Underwood: Oh, Bob, I’m not sure if you’ve noticed or not, but politics is no longer just theatre, it’s show business. So let’s put on the best show in town.
Larry Pine and Kevin Spacey in the political TV drama House of Cards (2013 – ). Set in the White House, it centres around the ruthlessly ambitious power couple of Francis and Claire Underwood. I’m currently on series 4 so no spoilers please if you’re ahead of me.
After seeing his trailer for Nine Lives when seeing The Secret Life of Pets and The BFG earlier today, it got me thinking about the film’s main star. Two-time Academy winner Kevin Spacey has long been considered one of cinema’s true greats. I’ve been lucky to see the great man up close in his one man show Clarence Darrow where his acting was sublime. He may have been focused on his theatre work and his role in House of Cards in the past few years, but he still has a fine Hollywood CV. How many of the six films below do you know? Do you have a favourite performance?
1. (1990s)
2. (1990s)
3. (1990s)
4. (1990s)
5. (2000s)
6. (2000s)
Answers below
Do you ever feel like a plastic bag
Drifting through the wind, wanting to start again?
Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin
Like a house of cards, one blow from caving in?
Taken from the song Firework by Californian songstress Katy Perry, from her third studio album Teenage Dream (2010). Along with one of her later songs Roar, this US chart-topper is considered one of her most empowering songs.
With the European news being dominated by the UK’s decision to leave the EU, I thought it was only fitting to do a politically-themed quiz. So with the shockwaves of Brexit still being felt, here are 15 past and present TV shows that capture different moods, mavericks and mindsets within the political landscape. It is one of the tougher ones I will do, so no worries if you struggle. While my picture quizzes are usually film-based, for those interested I have also done TV ones before, with American drama and cartoons.
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Answers below
Zoe Barnes: We’re in a very grey area. Ethically, legally. Which I’m okay with…
Francis Underwood: I just love this painting, don’t you? We’re in the same boat now, Zoe. Take care not to tip it over, I can only save one of us.
Kate Mara and Kevin Spacey in the political drama House of Cards (2013 – ), which tells of a scheming Democrat desperate to become American President.
Sort of inspired by the very funky film fan Drama Llama and her Alphabetical Movie Meme, I wanted to create something that reflected my website a bit and could be just as easily adapted by others. I came up with an acrostic of my site name linking it with an explanation of my favourite TV show with that letter. So feel free to take on the challenge yourself, either with TV shows, or films, albums, singers, celebrities, recipes, cities or whatever else suits your blog.
Alex Raphael 