Jamie Reidy connects the Russian prime minister’s post-victory reaction to a classic bit of 80s pop culture.
I am fairly certain I’m the only person to ever link a Russian election to a Cameron Crowe movie scene.
As reported by Robert Mackey in the New York Times blog “The Lede,” Vladimir Putin wept after winning the Presidency.
Perhaps the only unexpected aspect of Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin’s victory in Sunday’s Russian presidential election was the tear in his eye as he stepped to the microphone to address supporters outside the Kremlin walls in Moscow.
More likely than the sunrise, the Russian oligarch/czar/supreme being’s win should not have surprised him. It certainly should not have triggered happy tears.
Putin is like Taylor Swift at every award show ever. What?! Me?! Oh, jeez. You guyyyys! I can’t even believe it! Cue waterworks.
Which is what reminded me of “Say Anything,” Cameron Crowe’s 1989 classic that launched John Cusack into superstardom. Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes” was not the only memorable song from that film.
Writer/director Mr. Crowe included a kegger scene in which the heartbroken Lili Taylor awkwardly but hilariously plays guitar and sings all 65 songs she’s ever penned about her ex.
“Joe lies…Joe lies…Joe lies when he cries,” she wails.
So does Putin. And so will I if his KGB cronies track me down for this commentary.
What do you think, was the new Russian President crying for realsies or not?
(Note: I searched all over youtube, but could not come up with a video clip of “Joe Lies.” I only found one which came in too late in the scene for that song.)
Photo: Associated Press
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05 Joe LiesEditor’s Note: Thanks to the wonder of Twitter, we now have a copy of “Joe Lies.” The Good Men Project team is deliriously appreciative of director Cameron Crowe, who contacted Jamie and emailed him the MP3. Lloyd Dobler would be proud!