52. Bob Roberts

The film’s tagline was “Vote first. Ask questions later.” It would be a hilarious beginning to an exuberant film, if its prophetic warnings didn’t become so alarmingly true. Tim Robbins wrote, directed, starred in and created the music (with his brother David) about a super patriotic arch-conservative folk singer campaigning for a Senatorial seat in Pennsylvania.

On the surface, Roberts is young and charismatic, the polar opposite of his liberal opponent, Sen. Brickley Paiste (Gore Vidal). But look a little closer, as independent reporter Bugs Raplin (Giancarlo Esposito) has, and you'll find just another corrupt, greedy person out solely for himself and his buddies. Prescient when it was released in 1992, its comedic jabs at the right wing today have become tragic reminders of an age of innocence which never shall return. (Edward Havens)