Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore? is about Jeff Smith, an unknown, running in the 2004 Missouri Democratic primary. With massive grassroots campaigning he becomes a real contender for the seat, running against a local dynasty. Aside from being a good underdog story, it gives some great insight into the state of American politics. The movie seesaws back and forth from inspiring to funny to massively depressing. It’s highly watchable, even if you’re not usually interested in this kind of thing. Certainly worth checking out.

Street Fight is one you may have actually heard of, on account of its being nominated for an Academy Award. Although that’s a pretty highly ignored category, that is unless Michael Moore’s fat head is up for the award.

Anyhow, Street Fight covers the 2002 run for mayor in Newark, NJ. It’s much harsher than Mr. Smith, and the politics get a lot dirtier. Watching it makes you appreciate how accurate the mayoral elections in The Wire were portrayed. The movie follows Cory Booker, who like Smith, is the underdog of the election. Also like Smith’s movie, Street Fight feels fast and easy to watch. If you do decide to watch this one, do yourself a big favor and avoid reading anything about the election until after you’ve seen the movie. Some of the aftermath is pretty crazy.