Cannon

Author(s): Dpac
Location: Appleton

“Cannon"

Directed by Bennett Miller
Produced by Chris Cooper and William Vince
Screenplay by Dan Futterman
Music by Danny Elfman

Principal Cast:

Bishop James Cannon Jr. - Alan Alda
Al Smith - Chris Cooper
Senator Carter Glass - Peter O'Toole
Bishop's Secretary - Catherine Keener
Miss Lura Virginia Bennet- Sally Field

Tagline: “He plunged from the heights as America's moral mentor to obscurity as one of
America's fallen angels"

Synopsis: Born in Maryland, U.S.A, in 1864, James Connor Jr. was the son of James and Lydia Connor. He completed his education by 1888 and married Miss Lura Virginia Bennet in the same year.

In the late 1920s and early 1930s "Bishop Cannon" became a household word in much of America. Methodist bishop James Cannon, Jr., was probably the most influential southern churchman between the Civil War and World War II and certainly the most controversial. A paradoxical figure, he seemed as comfortable in the secular world of business and public affairs as in the church, and critics condemned him as an exemplar of the materialistic values of the 1920s.

He then plunged into politics to protect prohibition and went on to become the most powerful leader of the temperance movement. He also gained popularity in leading the revolt against Al Smith in the presidential election of 1928 which sparked a feud between the two.

He was celebrated by his followers but at the same time he was denounced by critics for his anti-Catholicism and nativism. Political enemies arose and accused him of stock gambling, adultery long before his wife's death, hoarding, conspiracy and embezzling campaign funds, especially Senator Carter Glass. The next few years of his life were hell for him but it created sensational headlines for the newspapers.

This movie takes a comprehensive look on the long and controversial career of one of the most fascinating figures in twentieth-century American history, as a churchman, reformer, and politician. And that man's name is Bishop James Cannon Jr.

What the press would say:

Today the memory of Bishop James Cannon Jr. is dim, but in the 1920's many considered him as the most powerful cleric in America. He was so powerful that even his long time foe Henry Louis Mencken said, "Congress was his [Bishop Cannon's] troop of boy scouts and Presidents trembled whenever his name was mentioned...." But that power of his was short-lived and Cannon witnessed the rapid erosion of all his power, reputation and influence. And this movie is about that man, Bishop Cannon and shows us his life from birth to death and also shows us how deep his fall from his pinnacle of glory to the ground was.

The team that brought you the Oscar-winning movie Capote brings you another biopic about Bishop James Cannon Jr. The man behind the camera, Bennett Miller does an amazing job directing one of the best movies this year that has an equally good screenplay by Dan Futterman. The supporting performances in 'Cannon' are, well, magnificent. Chris Cooper's (Adaptation) performance as presidential candidate Al Smith is worth a nomination. Sally Field is magnificent as the very faithful wife of the Bishop who doesn't live long enough to find out that her husband cheated on her. But special attention should be given to the subtle performance of Peter O'Toole (Venus) as Senator Carter who is set on destroying Bishop Cannon's career. The scenes where they confront each other and accuse each other are simply, in one word, perfect! If Peter O'Toole isn't nominated, I will never forgive the Academy. But the whole show lays in Alan Alda's (Aviator) performance. He undertakes the complex role of Bishop Cannon, with such intelligence. He shines in the role that I bet, was made just for him. Playing a man of such power is difficult and who would've thought Alan Alda could do it? It was a very good move by the casting directors and Alan will be surely rewarded for this performance come Oscar time. Catherine Keener rounds up the perfect cast. Cannon is that kind of movie which the Academy will not resist and am sure will go on to win a handful of Oscars....

Possible Nominations-

Best Picture
Best Director
Best Original Screenplay
Best Actor - Alan Alda
Best Supporting Actor - Peter O'Toole and Chris Cooper
Best Supporting Actress - Sally Field
Best Cinematography
Best Sound Editing
Best Song – ‘Fall’ by Annie Lennox
Best Editing
Best Original Score