ANOTHER FILM CLASSIC – AT 9:17 P.M. ET:  I know you'll want to order your tickets early:

BANDUNG, Indonesia (AP) - Young Barry Obama is struggling with his pingpong shot.

Or rather, 12-year-old Hasan Faruq Ali is struggling to play left-handed in imitation of the character he is portraying in a new Indonesian film, "Little Obama."

Are they thanking the academy already?  Actually, it sounds like a crime movie, like "Little Caesar."

The film tells the story of Obama's childhood in Jakarta, where he lived with his mother and Indonesian stepfather from age 6 to 10.

"It's about his friendships, his hobbies, just a childhood story," said screenwriter and co-director Damien Dematra. "It's not about politics, it's just the story of a boy."

Oh, of course it's not about politics.  Who could even think about politics.  Why, it's just like "Lassie."

The movie is taken from Dematra's book "Obama Anak Menteng"—"Obama, the Menteng Kid"—a fictionalized biography based on interviews with about 30 old friends and neighbors.

Wait, wait.  If you're going to do 30 interviews, why make it a fictionalized biography?  What part is fiction?  Will we be told?

Ready to be sick?  Do it now:

Dematra said he was a Hillary Rodham Clinton fan until he researched Obama.

"I just felt that this guy is an extraordinary person," Dematra said. "The reason I'm doing this is I want people around the world to know that Obama can become who he is because of his background in Indonesia. The different religions and races, the pressures that he had. I want the film to inspire people."

No, dork.  He can be who he is because he's an American.  You might note that we also have different religions and races.  We're not perfect, but we've done it better than anyone else. 

I'm sure the film will inspire people.  What they'll be inspired to do is a different matter altogether.

I'd rather see a rerun of "Casablanca."

May 20, 2010