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An economist at the movies
Reason magazine, November issue (p.8), asked me to pick the three "best" and "most libertarian" movies of all time. (Exactly how do those values get weighed against each other? Like a good economist I sidestepped the aggregation issue and picked what I wanted to.) My third selection was:
Battle Royale: Why do so few people know this 2000 Japanese cult classic? The underlying political theme is that totalitarianism can end only in a war of all against all. This classic of resistance and liberation shows how tyrannous circumstances degrade mankind.
Can you guess my other selections, including my fourth dark horse pick?
Posted by Tyler Cowen on October 7, 2007 at 07:47 AM in Film | Permalink
Comments
Hmmm, I'll guess (in no particular order):
Blade Runner - somewhat dystopian, but the fact that replicants even exist is a testament to the market and the lack of government interference (some say "oversight").
Oh, and at least in the movie, (some) crime control has in an important sense been privatized - given to the replicants themselves (if you believe Ridley Scott).
Empire Strikes Back
Brazil - sort of an obvious pick so I'm doubting this one
Posted by: Michael Stack at Oct 7, 2007 8:09:35 AM
If I were a betting man, and I'm not, I would place a substantial wager on the dark horse being either The Wizard of Oz, or It's a Wonderful Life.
Posted by: mc at Oct 7, 2007 8:38:47 AM
I disagree with you about the underlying theme of Battle Royale. The all against all only happened because they were ordered to do it. Off the island, there was no all against all.
A better theme... any program that captures the public imagination continues beyond the point where it serves its original purpose (i.e., the organization supposed to protect the country by running these battle experiments devolves into a gambling operation), though that's captured more in the book than the movie.
Posted by: cactus at Oct 7, 2007 8:49:56 AM
Falling Down would be my vote. The self-realization in the line "I'm the bad guy? How did that happen?" is incredibly effective.
Posted by: Mike Huben at Oct 7, 2007 8:52:32 AM
I'm betting that you don't actually have two other picks, but are using our collective experience to get some suggestions for the other two, and the dark horse pick.
V for Vendetta is too obvious. The Order of the Phoenix is too new. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, maybe?
Posted by: jb at Oct 7, 2007 9:00:56 AM
My low-budget, straight-to-DVD, libertarian pick:
Equilibrium (2002): "In a future where freedom is outlawed outlaws will become heroes."
Posted by: Russ R at Oct 7, 2007 9:03:57 AM
Battle Royale is awesome.
You may recognize one of the stars of that movie from "Kill Bill: Vol 1".
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0475752/
Posted by: Xmas at Oct 7, 2007 9:08:43 AM
Serenity is clearly among the "best" but it's a bit of a stretch when people claim it's libertarian. Nevertheless, there's plenty in there for a libertarian to like, so it should count.
If you throw "best" out of the window, there's the film version of The Fountainhead, which has just a terrible script, even for its time.
Posted by: Macneil at Oct 7, 2007 9:41:43 AM
My favorite "Pro-Capitalist" movie is "Cash McCall." [1960] Great Cast! Stars James Garner as Cash McCall, Natalie Wood, Nina Foch, Dean Jagger and E.G. Marshall
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052680/
Posted by: Bill Millan at Oct 7, 2007 9:54:19 AM
How about Trading Places for the dark horse?
Posted by: josh at Oct 7, 2007 9:55:39 AM
The Fountainhead (film) was unintended comedy, it was so bad.
My picks would include "The Last of the Mohicans." Except for Hawkeye's brief speech trashing selfishness (he's remarking on the policies of the kings of Britain and France, but really makes no distinction for the viewer), this film--like the novel--is about the birth of a distinctive American spirit during the French and Indian War. It captures perfectly how the colonists first came to understand that their their lives were considered the fodder of a distant monarch with distant interests. And it has one of the best soundtracks ever.
Posted by: M. Hodak at Oct 7, 2007 10:00:41 AM
Another one that should be on the list: V for Vendetta. (See that Italian comedian turns politician)
Posted by: Cynical Masters Student at Oct 7, 2007 10:20:04 AM
Hmm, I'll guess Other People's Money.
Posted by: G at Oct 7, 2007 10:34:33 AM
Fahrenheit 451
A Clockwork Orange
Posted by: AC at Oct 7, 2007 10:45:31 AM
Barbarian Invasions, The Castle, Tucker, and The Aviator all have strong libertarian elements.
Posted by: Frank at Oct 7, 2007 10:50:03 AM
Demoltion Man-Government paternalism sucks all of the enjoyment out of life. Dennis Leary's rant against the government is priceless.
Posted by: John Pertz at Oct 7, 2007 12:03:29 PM
How about "Red Dawn" which is a celebration of free men (and women) using armed resistance against tyranny. "Brazil" is a brilliant representation of an evil bureaucratic state. "The Pursuit of Happyness" shows that hard work really can get you anywhere.
The princess bride could be seen in this lens. Not only does it have several of the best game theoretic examples of any movie, but it can be seen as the triumph justice against state tyranny.
Posted by: OneEyedMan at Oct 7, 2007 12:11:36 PM
Thank You for Smoking
Posted by: Jeff at Oct 7, 2007 12:15:34 PM
Conan the Barbarian?
Posted by: JMG at Oct 7, 2007 12:22:36 PM
James Stewart in Shenandoah?
Posted by: Jeff Rensch at Oct 7, 2007 12:29:33 PM
Thinking about it, most if not all my favorite movies are kind of subversive, if not libertarian: Duck Soup, Life of Brian, Conan the Barbarian, High Noon, Yojimbo, The Man Who Would Be King, and as a dark horse: Himalaya - l'enfance d'un chef.
On the other hand, I hate V for Vendetta and Clockwork Orange, because I hate being taken for an idiot.
Posted by: Snorri Godhi at Oct 7, 2007 12:42:31 PM
Cowen wouldn't be so "common" as to pick an obviously libertarian movie like V for Vendetta.
He's going to pick something off the wall and argue it has libetarian undertones.
Chances are they will all be foreign or indie flicks, but I'm not well versed in either. So, here's what I think Cowen's three remaining recomendations will be:
1) Bachelor Party - A metaphor for how the good intentions of liberals will only lead to chaos and inappropriate actions with a donkey.
2) To Wong Fu With Love - Can't you see how the state is a blunt instrument? Advocating "soft paternalism" is like trying to put make-up on killing-machine, Wesley Snipes.
3) The Mask 2 - I just love that Alan Cumming, guy. He's so hillarious. But in a very deep and ironic way.
Posted by: Student at Oct 7, 2007 12:52:56 PM
How about "The People vs. Larry Flynt?"
Posted by: David Strutt at Oct 7, 2007 1:04:23 PM
For myself, I would have selected Brazil and Demolition Man because both show the depredations of government control in very different ways.
Like Student, I don't think Cowen will choose the obvious films, so I have no idea what he would select.
Posted by: Yancey Ward at Oct 7, 2007 1:13:21 PM
Guy Ritchie's "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" shows how competitive situations
batter down vested interest groups, without the help by the central
goverment. It is also very game theoretic.
"Trainspotting" demonstrates how the heroin addict (Renton) behaves rationally (finally, he succeeds in quitting heroin and changing himself without the help by the goverment. Also,
it shows the relationship between addiction and a discount rate, in a manner
completely consistent with Gary Becker's theory.
Posted by: tt at Oct 7, 2007 1:13:46 PM
