Hollywood goes political as US election nears

Hollywood is coming out this autumn with a slew of political movies that hit all the hot-button topics as the tight US presidential campaign nears its climax.

From religion to patriotism, gay rights and the presidency of George W. Bush, directors are wearing their political colours on their sleeves, using comedy, true stories and fantasy to send not-so-subtle messages to Americans preparing to choose between Democrat Barack Obama or Republican John McCain on November 4.

"There is a sense now that these political films can really be successful, and they're a genre aimed at one side of the political spectrum or the other," said Robert Thompson, professor of media and popular culture at Syracuse University.

Next week, controversial director Oliver Stone lands his satirical biopic W. that attempts to deconstruct Mr Bush's faith and marriage and the days leading up to the 2003 Iraq invasion.

Tom Ortenberg, executive producer of W., said film-makers were mirroring society, even if the release date of the Stone movie could be seen as politically charged.

"We don't attempt to shape society, but we do reflect it," said Mr Ortenberg. "The movie is an examination of how a man like George W. Bush became president, and frankly how anyone can become president."

Director David Zucker's farce An American Carol and talk show host Bill Maher's documentary that mocks faith Religulous opened on the same day in movie theatres last week.

Mr Zucker, who made hit comedy movies Airplane! and The Naked Gun series, is a liberal-turned-conservative.

An American Carol is a fictional version of left-wing populist Michael Moore who in the movie comes around to loving America just like Scrooge learns to love Christmas.

"I don't think (Moore) does hate America," Mr Zucker said. "I think we're taking dramatic licence."

Mr Moore himself released his latest documentary Slacker Uprising on the internet for free last month. It was seen by two million viewers in the first three days.