Movies

Robert De Niro’s ‘Zero Day’: A Political Thriller Reflecting Today’s Turmoil!

BBG News

In the opening sequence of the Netflix thriller Zero Day, a previous U.S. President is touring the scene of a lethal subway explosion in Manhattan when someone among the spectators starts yelling about fake crisis participants. A brawl ensues. The barriers collapse. The turmoil shocks George Mullen, a highly respected figure portrayed by Robert De Niro, who has been called upon to reassure the public following a devastating incident. “What’s your problem?”, he reprimands the agitator. “If we continue shouting at each other, what will we achieve? We are Americans!… You’re scared. And you believe that if you get riled up over some nonsense conspiracy theory, it won’t make you afraid? No. You’re not acting like an American, nor a patriot.

This text is a heartfelt vent, acknowledging that stern lectures from leaders may not resolve conspiracy beliefs, especially when considering the questionable moral compass and off-the-cuff speeches of recent U.S. Presidents. However, Mullen stands out as an exceptional figure due to his intelligence, integrity, and courage—qualities every reasonable person would desire in a President. As admirers observe, he was also “the last modern President who could consistently garner bipartisan support.” These points bring up intriguing questions: Which political party does Mullen affiliate with? What specific policies did he champion, and what significant accomplishments did he achieve during his presidency?

In their careful avoidance of labeling characters by political affiliations or positions, creators Eric Newman (known for “American Primeval” and the “Narcos” series) and Noah Oppenheim, former president of NBC News, seem to have made a conscious decision. The result is “Zero Day,” a skillfully crafted political thriller featuring an impressive cast and high-end production values. The show meticulously builds an environment that echoes the current state of division and mistrust. However, its reluctance to delve into the heart of contemporary American polarization, a tactic becoming more prevalent in Hollywood as it strives for hits that can play in red states, blue states, and globally, somewhat undermines its authenticity. The show’s attempts at avoiding offense and offering generic statements about truth and freedom instead of providing more specific, potentially controversial perspectives, feel like a letdown to the straightforward character at its core.

Upon encountering former President Mullen, one finds him enjoying the tranquil lifestyle of retirement in picturesque upstate New York. He spends his mornings jogging with his canine companion and lounges by an exquisite outdoor pool that would grace the pages of Architectural Digest. However, a long-overdue memoir remains untouched as his publisher becomes increasingly impatient.

However, when America experiences a crippling cyberattack – causing widespread power outages resulting in numerous fatalities and a chilling message “This Will Happen Again” appearing on every smartphone screen – the current POTUS, Angela Bassett, enlists George’s help to identify the perpetrator and thwart another disaster. Even when he is no longer president, a president’s duties never truly end. Although Russia appears to be the prime suspect, the evidence seems to point elsewhere. George demonstrates his unwavering honesty by pursuing the truth wherever it may lead.

There’s a feeling that by heading the investigative committee, he’s tying up loose ends from his past. A well-regarded former president who chose not to seek re-election following the demise of his grown son (one might draw comparisons to a recent resident of the White House), George appears both principled and astute. However, despite his reputation, George is an older individual with a bathroom cabinet filled with medications. Occasional bouts of confusion, possibly accompanied by hallucinations, cause him to doubt the clarity of his mind, and it’s not just him who shares these concerns.

As a movie enthusiast, I must admit that Netflix pulled out all the stops for the gripping series “Zero Day.” Known for her exceptional work on shows like “Homeland” and “Mad Men,” Lesli Linka Glatter skillfully directed this six-episode thriller. It’s as sleek and swift as any big-screen action flick, and it makes brilliant use of its star-studded cast.

My wife, a judge played by Joan Allen, expresses genuine concern about me that leads her to plead with my former White House chief of staff, portrayed by Connie Britton, to intervene. Lizzy Caplan plays my troubled daughter, Alex, who is now a Congresswoman. She’s found an influential mentor in Matthew Modine’s character, the smooth-talking House Speaker. Jesse Plemons portrays me as I struggle to keep up with events. Gaby Hoffmann, Dan Stevens, and Bill Camp each deliver pivotal performances in smaller roles.

Zero Day, in essence, represents the epitome of what’s often referred to as “dad shows”. These series offer a sanctuary for men of a certain maturity level amidst a TV landscape dominated by reality soaps, Bridgerton-like period dramas, and auteur comedies. Dad shows typically feature protagonists who are traditionally masculine, often AARP-eligible, engaged in solving crimes, leading empires, or defending their families – sometimes even all three simultaneously. Genres can range from action thrillers like Hijack, starring Idris Elba, to medical dramas such as The Pitt, or the western franchise Yellowstone, featuring Kevin Costner and Harrison Ford. The common theme is the portrayal of a noble figure with the courage to save the day. Unlike many dad shows, Zero Day goes beyond the norm in humanizing this character, which speaks volumes about the quality of its writing and Robert De Niro’s performance as a respected leader grappling with his own decay and that of a nation he once ruled with supreme authority.

The story cleverly employs 21st century events to create a believable fictional predicament. George’s detective work resembles Robert Mueller’s closely scrutinized investigations. Just as Rudy Giuliani provided comfort before his disgrace, he reminds us of the reassuring figure who eased a nation’s fear after 9/11 following a subway crash. The tech tycoon portrayed by Hoffmann seems authentic in the era of privacy concerns and surveillance capitalism. A character’s outcome mirrors aspects of the Jeffrey Epstein case. Despite the increasingly implausible plot developments, George’s world remains relatable to our own reality.

The vivid portrayal of modern-day corruption and unrest in Zero Day is so convincing that its neutral stance on political allegiances borders on the eerie, suggesting a widespread unease among Americans prior to the event, although specifics remain blurry. The series subtly leans on viewers’ assumptions, regardless of their political leanings, without explicitly favoring any particular ideology. Like another recent, cautiously nonpartisan Netflix thriller, The Madness, it universally abhors extremism, irrespective of its purpose. A character in the show expresses frustration towards “half the country trapped in a delirium of falsehoods and conspiracy theories, while the other half is preoccupied with pronouns and their grievances” – a reflection of current events that also serves as an age-old false equivalence.

In a time when TV content catering to broad audiences, from Netflix’s extravagant “The Diplomat” to Amazon’s seemingly dimwitted spy series “Citadel”, frequently tries to establish stories within governments while steering clear of political bias, the show “Zero Day” distinguishes itself by tackling American polarization without explicitly revealing the political affiliations of its characters. This leaves us uncertain about their motivations and connections. The fact that Newman and Oppenheim felt compelled to go to such lengths to ensure viewers across the political spectrum, including red, blue, and independent, could rally behind a hero portrayed by De Niro, highlights just how deeply entrenched our biases have become, or perhaps how apprehensive production platforms and creators are about them.

In relatively recent times, approximately two weeks into Barack Obama’s second term, Netflix premiered “House of Cards,” a series chronicling a ruthless Democrat’s ascension to power, seemingly without concern for offending liberals. Similarly, when Shonda Rhimes placed “Scandal” within the White House of a weak and adulterous GOP President who accidentally won the election, there were no raised eyebrows. Aaron Sorkin’s beloved works, “The West Wing” and “The American President,” also portrayed admirable Democratic Presidents. However, when the satire “Veep” failed to identify its Vice President’s political affiliation, it was due to a purposeful omission. This was because the individuals who hold positions of power are often too consumed by pettiness, vanity, and incompetence to prioritize ideals.

As a movie buff, I’d say it like this: “To be clear, the schemers, fools, and betrayers in ‘Veep’ are quite unlike the pioneers of our current administration. If you remember Trump 45 as a rule-breaking circus master with his faceless followers, then Trump 47 is simply one name amidst an eccentric, scandalous crowd that includes Elon Musk and his DOGE-loving, college-aged disrupters. The politicians in ‘Zero Day’ wouldn’t embrace chaos the way they do; they usually make their decisions with the aim of avoiding it.

Originally conceived prior to Trump’s presidency in January, Zero Day didn’t foresee the specifics of this new period. However, its failure to reflect the zeitgeist in more fundamental ways makes it as much a casualty of our poisonous times as it is a call for ethical guidance amidst them. The universally applicable moral dilemma it ultimately presents George with is whether prioritizing safety and self-preservation over the confrontation of an unpopular truth becomes inevitable. This question could very well have been posed to the creators themselves.

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2025-02-20 13:07

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