Civil Servants on the Silver Screen

In the movies, government often finds itself in a variety of roles from villain to supporting cast, and rarely, if ever, the hero. A frequent component of that role is the bureaucracy and as documented in Civil Servants on the Silver Screen: Hollywood’s Depiction of Government and Bureaucrats, bureaucrats are routinely found on screen. This book investigates how government bureaucrats are portrayed in the top ten box office grossing films from 2000 through 2015. Perhaps unsurprisingly, government is generally portrayed poorly, while individual government bureaucrats are typically depicted positively. These images of government on screen are particularly important given the ability of movies to influence the attitudes and perceptions of its audiences. The nature of these depictions and potential implications are considered as bureaucrats in film are categorized.

In this lively and well-researched book, Dr. Pautz tells us much about how we view the government through the stories we tell. I strongly recommend this book to those students, teachers, and writers who are interested in the intersection of politics and film., Michelle Pautz brings her life-long passion for films and the movie-going experience, along with her considerable insights concerning public administration, to help us understand how civil servants and government workers are portrayed on the screen. The implications of how these individuals and their jobs are portrayed, a reflection of the public’s attitudes, fears, and hopes about government and civil servants, have implications for public sector support and efficacy. In Civil Servants on the Silver Screen, Pautz utilizes a conversational tone to challenge readers to think about their preconceived ideas and biases regarding government. She also demonstrates how films shape and reinforce audience perceptions. This invaluable text highlights the role of government workers, who are often overlooked. This type of book, research, and inquiry is long overdue.

Michelle C. Pautz is associate professor of political science and assistant provost of the Common Academic Program at the University of Dayton.