Commander In Chief & The Contender: Jupiter-Pluto in Action
Geena Davis stars in a new television drama in which she becomes the first female President of the United States (POTUS). Commander In Chief was created by Rod Lurie, who also wrote and directed a very-related movie called The Contender, released in 2000.
The Contender is a gripping political thriller about a Democratic female Senator nominated for the Vice-Presidency after the VP's death, and the Republican chair of the Congressional confirmation hearings who tries to destroy her reputation. The themes of this film reflect the planetary combinations at the time of Lurie's birth.
Lurie has Jupiter opposite Pluto. An opposition is a challenging aspect that requires energy for the integration of these conflicting archetypal energies. Pluto relates to power, compulsivity, all things taboo; it intensifies the archetypal energy of whatever planet it aspects, and it also brings out the hidden aspects of that planet. Jupiter is the planet of expansiveness; it rules law, politics, international travel, and the urge to expand one's horizons through higher learning and adventure. This combination symbolizes the intense, obsessive drive (Pluto) for political success (Jupiter)†. With Jupiter expanding the archetypal energies of Pluto, it is no surprise that this film is about the most powerful people in American politics. Lurie's most recent full-feature film, The Last Castle, is about the struggle between a three star General and the warden of a maximum security military prison. His film Deterrence (1999) is yet again about the President of the United States.
The major conflict of the film comes when Sheldon 'Shelly' Runyon (Gary Oldman, who has a tight Jupiter-Pluto sextile), the chair of the Congressional confirmation hearings, accuses the Vice-Presidential incumbent Sen. Laine Hanson (Joan Allen, who has a Jupiter-Pluto conjunction with a ten degree orb) of having had sex simultaneously with two men while in college. He does underhanded, covert (Pluto) things like planting false information into the media because of his moral beliefs (Jupiter) that she is not fit for the office of VP.† Senator Hanson refuses to dignify this accusation with either a denial or an acknowledgement throughout the entire hearing, and the audience does not find out the truth until the very end of the movie, when she tells the President (Jeff Bridges) what happened.
Mercury, the planet of communication, figures prominently in this film. The making and breaking of careers depends on words: in the Congressional hearing; in deal-making between the President and members of the hearing committee; and through important documents. Not surprisingly, Mercury makes aspects to several planets in Lurie's chart. It is part of a T-square with the Jupiter-Pluto opposition (that is, it squares both Jupiter and Pluto, resulting in a combination of three planets that results in great tension). It also trines Saturn and sextiles Mars.
Caution: Spoiler ahead! If you haven't seen the movie and don't want to know the truth about Hanson's sexual past, stop here and rent the DVD.
Throughout 1999 and 2000, Lurie had transiting Pluto squaring his natal Jupiter. In addition to its expansive role, Jupiter is about philosophy, belief systems, and faith. Transiting Pluto intensifies with titanic force whatever planet it aspects; in this case, it drives the already powerful Jupiter-Pluto-Mercury T-square. As it translates into film, Pluto gives tremendous force to Senator Hanson's determination to live by her principles and clarify issues of faith. It takes a great amount of principle to refuse to comment on the truth of sexual allegations that cast a woman as a "whore" (in the words of one of the men in the movie), even moreso when the allegations are false. At the end of the movie, with Runyon's reputation ruined, Hanson tells the President that she did not cave in to the committee because she believes her sex life is nobody's business. After the President learns that Hanson did not participate in the alleged sexual activity, he offers to release to the press two letters that confirm this truth. She refuses, telling him that she does not want to live by her principles only when it is convenient for her. She wants to communicate to the nation that a politician's (Jupiter ) sexual life (Pluto) is a private matter (Pluto). Another Jupiterian moment related to issues of faith occurs during the confirmation hearings. Hanson is criticized by Runyon for being an atheist. She responds during her closing speech that her "church" is the halls of democracy.
Lurie wrote the screenplay of this film specifically for Joan Allen, his favorite actress. Allen has Saturn square a Sun-Pluto conjunction; all these aspects are within a very tight orb (2 degrees). She is an actress who identifies (Sun) with the archetype of the contained (Saturn) and powerful (Pluto) person. What could be a better combination to represent a powerful (Pluto) woman who sets firm boundaries (Saturn) around her personal (Sun) life?
Lurie's Uranus tightly conjoins Allen's Sun-Pluto conjunction and squares her Saturn. His writing/directing serves to liberate this powerful combination in Allen's chart. Moreover, Allen's Jupiter is conjunct Lurie's Pluto and opposite his Jupiter (orbs less than 2 degrees). Thus, she expands upon the issues of power and faith that play an important part in Lurie's psyche. No wonder she received an Oscar nomination for this performance!
The archetypal combination of Jupiter and Pluto resonates throughout this film. On the release date (10/13/2000) of the film, Jupiter and Pluto were exactly in opposition in the sky. Additionally, transiting Pluto was conjunct Jeff Bridges' Sun, and transiting Jupiter was opposite his Sun. (The Sun is King, aka POTUS)†
Jupiter-Pluto conjunctions occur often in the charts of famous leaders: Nelson Mandela; Mohandas Gandhi; Franklin D. Roosevelt; George Washington; Abraham Lincoln; Mikhail Gorbachev. This combination can correspond with moral (Jupiter) use of power (Pluto)†. It is no wonder Lurie's film career has focused almost exclusively on POTUS!
Commander In Chief (finally!)
Lurie first wanted Joan Allen and then Sigourney Weaver for the part of POTUS in Commander In Chief, and apparently his third choice was Geena Davis. However, this choice is apt, because Davis has a tight Jupiter-Pluto conjuction in Leo (sign of leadership). Lurie's Uranus is conjunct her Jupiter-Pluto conjunction.
On 9/27/05, the series premiere, transiting Uranus was conjoining Lurie's natal Jupiter and exactly opposing his natal Pluto, awakening the dynamics of this stressful aspect. Jupiter was sextile Pluto in the sky within two degrees.
†Many insights into the various ways the Jupiter-Pluto combination manifests in The Contender are attributed to Matthew Stelzner. Any poor interpretations are the author's own.
Links
Commander In Chief pilot episode summary
Michael WolfStar's take on Geena Davis's Uranus-Sun opposition
Technorati Tags: geena davis • joan allen • jeff bridges • astrology • movies
The Contender is a gripping political thriller about a Democratic female Senator nominated for the Vice-Presidency after the VP's death, and the Republican chair of the Congressional confirmation hearings who tries to destroy her reputation. The themes of this film reflect the planetary combinations at the time of Lurie's birth.
Lurie has Jupiter opposite Pluto. An opposition is a challenging aspect that requires energy for the integration of these conflicting archetypal energies. Pluto relates to power, compulsivity, all things taboo; it intensifies the archetypal energy of whatever planet it aspects, and it also brings out the hidden aspects of that planet. Jupiter is the planet of expansiveness; it rules law, politics, international travel, and the urge to expand one's horizons through higher learning and adventure. This combination symbolizes the intense, obsessive drive (Pluto) for political success (Jupiter)†. With Jupiter expanding the archetypal energies of Pluto, it is no surprise that this film is about the most powerful people in American politics. Lurie's most recent full-feature film, The Last Castle, is about the struggle between a three star General and the warden of a maximum security military prison. His film Deterrence (1999) is yet again about the President of the United States.
The major conflict of the film comes when Sheldon 'Shelly' Runyon (Gary Oldman, who has a tight Jupiter-Pluto sextile), the chair of the Congressional confirmation hearings, accuses the Vice-Presidential incumbent Sen. Laine Hanson (Joan Allen, who has a Jupiter-Pluto conjunction with a ten degree orb) of having had sex simultaneously with two men while in college. He does underhanded, covert (Pluto) things like planting false information into the media because of his moral beliefs (Jupiter) that she is not fit for the office of VP.† Senator Hanson refuses to dignify this accusation with either a denial or an acknowledgement throughout the entire hearing, and the audience does not find out the truth until the very end of the movie, when she tells the President (Jeff Bridges) what happened.
Mercury, the planet of communication, figures prominently in this film. The making and breaking of careers depends on words: in the Congressional hearing; in deal-making between the President and members of the hearing committee; and through important documents. Not surprisingly, Mercury makes aspects to several planets in Lurie's chart. It is part of a T-square with the Jupiter-Pluto opposition (that is, it squares both Jupiter and Pluto, resulting in a combination of three planets that results in great tension). It also trines Saturn and sextiles Mars.
Caution: Spoiler ahead! If you haven't seen the movie and don't want to know the truth about Hanson's sexual past, stop here and rent the DVD.
Throughout 1999 and 2000, Lurie had transiting Pluto squaring his natal Jupiter. In addition to its expansive role, Jupiter is about philosophy, belief systems, and faith. Transiting Pluto intensifies with titanic force whatever planet it aspects; in this case, it drives the already powerful Jupiter-Pluto-Mercury T-square. As it translates into film, Pluto gives tremendous force to Senator Hanson's determination to live by her principles and clarify issues of faith. It takes a great amount of principle to refuse to comment on the truth of sexual allegations that cast a woman as a "whore" (in the words of one of the men in the movie), even moreso when the allegations are false. At the end of the movie, with Runyon's reputation ruined, Hanson tells the President that she did not cave in to the committee because she believes her sex life is nobody's business. After the President learns that Hanson did not participate in the alleged sexual activity, he offers to release to the press two letters that confirm this truth. She refuses, telling him that she does not want to live by her principles only when it is convenient for her. She wants to communicate to the nation that a politician's (Jupiter ) sexual life (Pluto) is a private matter (Pluto). Another Jupiterian moment related to issues of faith occurs during the confirmation hearings. Hanson is criticized by Runyon for being an atheist. She responds during her closing speech that her "church" is the halls of democracy.
Lurie wrote the screenplay of this film specifically for Joan Allen, his favorite actress. Allen has Saturn square a Sun-Pluto conjunction; all these aspects are within a very tight orb (2 degrees). She is an actress who identifies (Sun) with the archetype of the contained (Saturn) and powerful (Pluto) person. What could be a better combination to represent a powerful (Pluto) woman who sets firm boundaries (Saturn) around her personal (Sun) life?
Lurie's Uranus tightly conjoins Allen's Sun-Pluto conjunction and squares her Saturn. His writing/directing serves to liberate this powerful combination in Allen's chart. Moreover, Allen's Jupiter is conjunct Lurie's Pluto and opposite his Jupiter (orbs less than 2 degrees). Thus, she expands upon the issues of power and faith that play an important part in Lurie's psyche. No wonder she received an Oscar nomination for this performance!
The archetypal combination of Jupiter and Pluto resonates throughout this film. On the release date (10/13/2000) of the film, Jupiter and Pluto were exactly in opposition in the sky. Additionally, transiting Pluto was conjunct Jeff Bridges' Sun, and transiting Jupiter was opposite his Sun. (The Sun is King, aka POTUS)†
Jupiter-Pluto conjunctions occur often in the charts of famous leaders: Nelson Mandela; Mohandas Gandhi; Franklin D. Roosevelt; George Washington; Abraham Lincoln; Mikhail Gorbachev. This combination can correspond with moral (Jupiter) use of power (Pluto)†. It is no wonder Lurie's film career has focused almost exclusively on POTUS!
Commander In Chief (finally!)
Lurie first wanted Joan Allen and then Sigourney Weaver for the part of POTUS in Commander In Chief, and apparently his third choice was Geena Davis. However, this choice is apt, because Davis has a tight Jupiter-Pluto conjuction in Leo (sign of leadership). Lurie's Uranus is conjunct her Jupiter-Pluto conjunction.
On 9/27/05, the series premiere, transiting Uranus was conjoining Lurie's natal Jupiter and exactly opposing his natal Pluto, awakening the dynamics of this stressful aspect. Jupiter was sextile Pluto in the sky within two degrees.
†Many insights into the various ways the Jupiter-Pluto combination manifests in The Contender are attributed to Matthew Stelzner. Any poor interpretations are the author's own.
Links
Commander In Chief pilot episode summary
Michael WolfStar's take on Geena Davis's Uranus-Sun opposition
Technorati Tags: geena davis • joan allen • jeff bridges • astrology • movies
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