Fantastic, the Arnold Schwarzenegger Biography
On-Screen and Off, The Governator is a Modern Icon
Feb 27, 2009
Laurence Lerner's comprehensive biography of Arnold Schwarzenegger is boldly titled Fantastic. It is the perfect word to summarize a man who has made success for himself wherever he goes, from the obscure enclave of bodybuilding to international movie stardom to American politics. Schwarzenegger has weathered the setbacks that would have halted the rise of lesser stars and, in doing so, provided an example of the kind of man the world is willing to fall in love with, even against its better judgment.
Who is Arnold?
The question central to most biographies is, what is the nature of the subject? Who is this person, and what does examining their life story reveal? Fantastic charts Schwarzenegger's life from his boyhood in Austria through the multi-stage career path that brought him to America and into its cultural elite. Along the way he made a name for himself starring in archetypical action films, blockbuster successes like The Terminator (1984) and True Lies (1994), as well as family-oriented self-parody in movies like Kindergarten Cop (1990). This is to say nothing of numerous disappointing efforts, like the overhyped Last Action Hero (1993) and the oft-mocked Jingle All the Way (1996).
Even this brief list runs the gamut of popular film styles of the late-20th century. It is precisely Schwarzenegger's dynamic ambition that has enabled his continued presence on such a visible level. Foreseeing trends before they are cemented and undertaking risky new ventures, he is opportunistic in a way that is somehow both self-serving and pleasing to his audience. Schwarzenegger inhabits the confluence of giving the people what they want and planning ahead to become the very thing they will want tomorrow and the next day.
Why Do We Love Arnold?
Convincing people of what they want, even what they need, is a function of the art of persuasion, and a mastery of this skill may be Schwarzenegger's greatest asset. Lerner cites his charisma and perpetual self-promotion as keys to his success, but Arnold has earned fans through just about every possible avenue, claiming to embody the American Dream that so many members of his audience want desperately to believe in.
The product of an overbearing father, never satisfied with his present status but always looking toward greater things in the future, crude and unapologetic (yet discreet when it counts), he is, in a strange way, relatable as well as admirable. Film critic Roger Ebert likens Schwarzenegger to Fred Astaire as a figure central to popular spectacle. If jumping out of helicopters has replaced ballroom dancing, then it is worth bearing in mind that Astaire was admired as much for his sincere, believable performances as for his dance numbers. Schwarzenegger's rags-to-riches narrative may have sold as many tickets (or marked his name on more ballots) than his elaborate stunts and pithy one-liners.
Finally, no discussion of Arnold Schwarzenegger can be complete without recalling the other meaning of the word fantastic, the one drawn from its root in fantasy. There is an element of the unreal surrounding him, apparent in his exaggerated masculinity, unlikely longevity, and incalculable success. Movie audiences are accustomed to accepting things that are not quite true, and which version of Arnold Schwarzenegger they attach themselves to may be largely a matter of personal preference.
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