New Reagan Biopic Falls Short

“Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall,” challenged Ronald Reagan in his historic speech before the Berlin Wall on June 12, 1987.  The Cold War was careening toward a massive American victory and Reagan’s righteous delivery of the line remains one of the conflict’s most iconic moments. In November 2019, on the 30^th anniversary of the Berlin Wall’s fall, a bronze statue honoring the 40^th president was unveiled near the site of speech, despite rising tensions in America’s relationship with the united Germany of the 21^st century and steady attempts by the academic left to deny Reagan any credit for his Cold War victory. Sean McNamara’s biopic Reagan, released on Aug. 30, adds to the hagiography but offers little by way of reflection.