Why? He wasnt as dumb as shown.
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kag2-1 — 16 years ago(September 27, 2009 11:04 AM)
Good question. I don't know why they did this, either.
In reality Martin Van Buren was a very intelligent man, and at least competent as President. Also, Van Buren later ran for President on a 3rd-party free-soil ticket opposed to the expansion of slavery into the territories (if not slavery in total). -
jaystarstar — 14 years ago(January 10, 2012 06:45 PM)
the Free-Soil party was very much an abolitionist party.
The movie botches things up by implying Van Buren was pro-slavery, although I don't believe in any time of the movie did he actually SAY anything that was explicitly pro-slavery instead, as a stereotype politician, he mainly doesn't want to be bothered with the issue or have it become a political liability.
Certainly Van Buren did not lose the election to William Henry Harrison because of some massive outpouring of abolitionist voters. Harrison was anti-slavery too, I believe.
In fact, the Supreme Court did not issue its Amistad decision until March 9, 1841, five days after Harrison took office (and 25 days before he died).
While Van Buren is not portrayed as "dumb" per se, he is certainly portrayed as a little oblivious and naive (as in when he reacts with surprise when he is told a new judge can be appointed to presumably deliver the trial verdict they want).- You ever seen Superman $#$# his pants? Case closed.
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IceboxMovies — 13 years ago(April 07, 2012 04:14 AM)
This film's superficial portrait of Van Buren is a blight on Franzoni's otherwise-excellent script.
Also, this is off-topic, but
Anton Chigurh is dead and Spider-Man 3 is superior in every way to Funny Games.
I don't get this signature. Why do you want to believe Anton Chigurgh is "dead"? Don't you think that goes completely against the point the Coens & Cormac McCarthy were trying to make with the story?
"What I don't understand is how we're going to stay alive this winter." -
Lawdog1527 — 11 years ago(April 21, 2014 12:02 PM)
I've read a couple of articles that characterized him as difficult. Not to say he wasn't intelligent. He would show up late to meetings and events, he could be absent minded, and often seemed bored.
Let me put it this way. One of his relatives is Curb your Enthusiasm and Seinfield creator Larry David. (Which is why David has made references to Van Buren in his series) -
jaystarstar — 11 years ago(February 28, 2015 11:56 PM)
Martin Van Buren is the ONLY U.S. President not related/descended in some degree to King John of England.
Therefore, all the other presidents (including Obama) are related to each other but Van Buren is not.- You ever seen Superman $#$# his pants? Case closed.