Michael Douglas on His Timely Doc ‘America’s Burning’ and His Own Political Ambitions: ‘In “American President,” I Knew How the Script Ended’

by

David Smick was pondering over the title for his upcoming documentary depicting America’s division. He mentions he had several witty, intellectual titles in mind. However, it was executive producer Barry Levinson who suggested: “Dave, haven’t you heard of the movie ‘Dangerous Marine Life on Cape Cod Coast’? No, because they call it ‘Jaws.'” With this in mind, Smick opted for “America’s Burning,” as he envisioned that title would be easily visualized and he expected the situation to worsen.

Last year at the Tribeca Film Festival, Smick debuted “America’s Burning,” a film narrated and executive produced by Michael Douglas. The movie includes interviews with notable figures like James Carville and Leon Panetta, delving into the divide among people with opposing political views. It also encourages optimism, advocating for unity among individuals and politicians. At its premiere, Douglas remarked that it may have seemed excessive, but now he believes it underestimates the events since then. However, he emphasizes that “The message remains more vital and powerful than ever.

Smick, the head of Johnson Smick International, a macroeconomic advisory firm, and also an acclaimed author and filmmaker, is determined to keep a hopeful perspective. “I’m fundamentally optimistic,” he admits, “but there are numerous hurdles we didn’t encounter a year ago.” He warns, “If we’re not cautious, we could be on the verge of significant social upheaval during a potential recession.” Smick highlights the deep-seated economic frustration in the nation due to wealth distribution issues, despite our economic system being admired globally.

Or:

Smick, who leads Johnson Smick International, a prominent macroeconomic advisory firm, and is known for his books and films, continues to uphold an optimistic stance. “I’m essentially an optimist,” he says, “but we face challenges we didn’t see coming a year ago.” He cautions that if we don’t take care, we might be facing significant social unrest during a possible recession. Smick underlines the simmering economic resentment in the country over income inequality, despite our economic system being regarded as the best in the world.

Smick remarks, “We’re generally thriving, but there’s a hidden risk of cancerous issues that could escalate. If a severe economic downturn occurs, these problems might become evident, leading many to express their frustration, and I believe this could take people by surprise.

Even though the world has significantly evolved since the initial release of the film, Smick expresses that he didn’t feel compelled to include an epilogue or coda for its streaming version. In his own words, “I didn’t believe it required updating.” However, he remains open to delving deeper into the subject matter in a more extensive format. He often reflects on the audience responses at screenings, wishing he had more time to discuss various issues because there are so many aspects worth exploring. If they were to expand it, Smick suggests that such an expansion might be driven by someone who wants to create a series.

Inviting the actor who delivered the iconic “greed is good” line in his Oscar-winning role for “Wall Street” was a brilliant move by Smick, and he found an excellent collaborator in Douglas. The actor joined the project when Smick shared an early version of the film with him, where Smick had provided his own narration. As he put it, “The voiceover was already excellent, they didn’t need me.” However, Smick felt that his soft and unremarkable voice wouldn’t stand out, so he consulted his producer Ian Michaels about hiring a well-known figure to take the lead. He worked with a casting director, explaining, “I wanted someone who was slightly to the left of center, but still centrist, someone troubled by the country’s division. I believe there’s a part of the country we can’t agree on, but we could rally behind a film that represents about 70-80% of the country. Michael was at the top of my list.

Douglas found himself immediately drawn in. “It struck a chord with me, echoing my worries about the dwindling middle class, the excessive funds permitted in elections by the Supreme Court, and the absence of bipartisan cooperation. I thought it was a powerful message, and if I could lend my support to it, I would.

Smick emphasizes that Douglas deserved his EP credit on the project; it wasn’t a mere reading of a script or recording promos. In fact, Smick praises Douglas’ significant input, as he had ideas about reorganizing scenes and enhancing the overall flow. According to Smick, at least half of the film’s energy came from Douglas’ suggested changes.

Douglas expressed his satisfaction in endorsing the film to draw interest, however, he found it challenging to secure distribution for the project. “Many firms,” he disclosed, “initially seemed hesitant and perhaps even a bit fearful of it, despite our efforts to maintain a non-partisan approach.” He continued by praising Amazon for taking on the film and expressed his gratitude that they eventually agreed. Additionally, he acknowledged David’s foresight in anticipating its success.

Despite playing one of cinema’s most iconic presidents in Rob Reiner’s 1995 film “The American President”, Douglas himself has no desire to become a real-life president. He humorously dismisses the idea, stating, “No, no, I’m 80 now. That seems to be the age when people stop considering you for such roles.

Smick mentions that people frequently approach Douglas to recite lines from the movie, stating it happens around ten times a month. In response, Douglas explains, “In ‘The American President,’ I was aware of how the story would conclude. That’s the main distinction.

Read More

2025-06-07 23:46