Primary Colors
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Movie Reviews of Primary Colors
Movie Review: Bill and Hillary on DVD?
Summary: 4 Stars
Based on the best-selling book by the same name, Primary Colors is a beyond belief film about a smooth-operating candidate who runs for President of the United States. When the book first hit shelves in 1996, Primary Colors drew immediate parallels between its chief character and the then sitting president, Bill Clinton. Written by "Anonymous" (which probably fueled the book's mass appeal and rise to the top of the best-seller lists), the book has since been attributed to journalist Joe Klein. Amazingly, Bill Clinton never denied that Primary Colors bore an astounding resemblance to his own life and campaign. Instead, he joked around with the White House Press Corps, saying "I too would like to know - who wrote this book!" ...Startling, considering that the book paints a less than flattering picture of the candidate and the man...
Primary Colors begins when campaign operative Henry Burton (Adrian Lester) is introduced to a potential candidate for the presidency. Burton notes the deft with which the man handles his craft - the way he shakes hands, maintains eye contact, and tells compelling stories to his audience. The infatuating man is Southern Governor Jack Stanton (John Travolta), and he wants Burton to join his campaign as a top aide. (Travolta does an amazing job in the performance of this role).
After much thought, Burton throws his support behind the seemingly idealistic governor, but he soon learns that Stanton is less than what he first appears to be. Stanton is an incessant womanizer, to the point that he can barely control himself. He stretches the truth, and outright lies, if it means a good sound-bite for the cameras or convincing a group of illiterate inner-city adults that he "feels their pain" and understands the obstacles they face.
Flanked by an aggressive, power-hungry wife, Governor Stanton is kept in line by Susan (Emma Thompson) who makes certain her husband maintains a tight focus on the goals ahead. Bombastic and arrogant, Primary Colors paints a picture of the woman (i.e. Hillary Clinton) that is anything but complimentary. As the campaign picks up a number of seedy characters from Stanton's past, such as Richard Jemmons (Billy Bob Thornton) and Libby Holden (Kathy Bates), Burton struggles with his own inner demons. Is it right to support a man of flawed character in order to carry out what he believes are good policy measures that will help millions of people? Do the ends justify the means?
When the campaign is forced to dig up dirt on opposition candidate Governor Fred Picker (Larry Hagman), the entire campaign including Governor Stanton must struggle with a bruised conscience obtained from wallowing in the mud...
One of the more interesting films of the decade, Primary Colors draws its appeal from a sort of gossipy voyeurism. Audiences want to see what happens "on the inside" of the president's inner circle and on a campaign trail. What they see is not pretty. If Primary Colors really does portray a semi-accurate picture of the 1992 Clinton campaign as some people portend, then it's a testament to the strength and durability of the American republic that we survived those years with relative peace and stability. Regardless of one's political affiliation, Primary Colors is a true eye-opening experience, and it's close correlation to the Clinton campaign, and the history thereof, is what makes Primary Colors a must-see film...
The DVD Report
Movie Review: Primary Colors
Summary: 4 Stars
"Primary Colors" is a hilarious and entertaining satire on the Clinton administration directed with wit by Mike Nichols and brilliantly acted. It covers the presidential campaign of Jack Stanton (played superbly by John Travolta), a southern governor that no one has ever heard of. Assisting him are his wife Susan (Emma Thompson), a young and optimistic aide named Henry (Adrian Lester), and a whacky, half-crazy dirt digger named Libby (Oscar nominated Kathy Bates)
Much of the comedy comes from the fact that Jack and the majority of his staff have absolutely no idea how to run a political campaign. (Their campaign anthem is "You Are My Sunshine!)
Jack is an incompetant leader at first, concerned more with the fact that his hotel room cable does not have CNN. He also has to face scandal after scandal, mostly due to the fact that he can't keep his pants on. Added
to that, his competition in the race, played expertly by Larry Hagman, is viewed as a saint. Jack, Susan, and their staff become a dysfunctional family, all relating to one another in different ways. Even though much of "Primary Colors" is light-hearted farce, as the end of the campaign nears, we get to find out what these people are really like, and the results are harsh and sad.
The acting in this film is top notch. John Travolta is incredible as Jack Stanton, getting Bill Clinton's mannerisms down pat without making the character into an impersonation. Underneath Jack's smile and slick talk lies a driven manipulator who can and will not change his ways.
Emma Thompson, one of the best actresses working, makes Susan Stanton a fiercely real and compelling character. Susan loves and respects her husband. But when she discovers that all of the rumors about his affairs are true, she bitterly and heartbreakingly self-destructs in a scene that is both intense and moving. Afterwards, Susan becomes a cold and ruthless political machine, power driven and emotionall barren. She stays with Jack because she too wants power, but all of her warmth and love has been taken away from her.
Kathy Bates nearly steals the movie as the "dirt digger" Libby. She is devoted to Jack and Susan and is certifiably insane. Her escapades provide the bulk of the film's humor, and they also provide its saddest moments as well. Libby's final scenes are wrenching in their raw emotionalism: "You see that moon? That's me. It needs the sun to keep it alive. The Stanton's were my sun. Without them I'm cold, barren, and alone." Kathy Bates succeeds in creating a complex woman who is very funny, but underneath is vulnerable and alone.
The reason I have rated this film four stars istead of five is the ending. It is meant to be cynical, dark and depressing, showing the victory of greed and political power over truth. That would be fine, but it doesn't work for this film. It goes against character developement and has virtually no impact.
Bad ending aside, "Primary Colors" is a film well worth your time. Great acting, great direction by Mike Nichols (of course). and a funny and touching script by Elaine May. See it.
Movie Review: A Fun Comedy that Tells the Truth about Politics
Summary: 4 Stars
When I saw this film for the first time my Mom and I both busted out laughing hysterically and after getting the DVD and watching it with an opened mind from start to finish, I have to say that this film is definitely relevant for today especially, with the coming election this November. "Primary Colors" is a film that showcases one Senator's long road to the White House and the many pros and cons behind an unforgettable campaign. Based on the Novel that chronicles the bitter secrets of the Bill Clinton era and what happens on the campaign trail, you begin to see just how far people will go to paint the perfect picture of a presidential candidate. As well as, those who will stop at nothing and risk everything to expose the truth behind the dark facade of an aspiring leader of the free world. From tapping cell phone conversations, digging up the dirt on inappropriate relationships to proving that a presidential candidate is not the father of his babysitter's child. These are the kinds of ill moral issues that often go unnoticed by the public when choosing a truly respectable person for president.
Aside from all the dirt and outrageous ploys that go on behind the scenes with desperate and sometimes unorthodox campaign managers and volunteers, the film's actors serve to tell a very compelling story about what lies beneath the deceptively clean cut and celebrity persona of a willing presidential candidate. John Travolta gives an Academy Award winning performance as a cocky and narcissistic smooth operating Bill Clinton AKA "Governor Jack Stanton." And Billy Bob Thornton has his memorable moments on camera using insanely funny metaphors behind closed doors to protect his boss's eroding credibility in the mist of public scandals and other political calamities that often plague the campaign. Amongst everyone else who is involved in cleaning up after a sloppy Governor's mess, Kathy Bates on the other hand will go to any lengths to expose the truth about why someone like Governor Stanton should not become president. Even if it means threatening to blow a man's family jules off with an unloaded gun.
With all the dark humor and political nonsense aside, this film's story serves to shed light behind a very powerful man's political veil and the kind of desperate measures that people will take to ensure the success of a political victory even if it means destroying one's reputation to get at the truth behind an entire curtain of lies and deception. In the end, before you go to the polls and vote for the next president, "Primary Colors" leaves you with one important message about a presidential candidate, as Rupert Thorne in "Batman the animated series" once said, "The Brighter the picture, the darker the Negative."
Movie Review: Hillary
Summary: 4 Stars
Much has been written about the miscasting of John Travolta as Bill Clinton in this movie. Not much has been written about Emma Thompson's casting.
Arguably, Emma Thompson, star of movie versions of Jane Austen stories, would be just as badly suited for the Hillary role as Travolta was for Bill's. Hillary was raised in suburban Chicago, has no apparent ties to England, and is far from genteel, by reputation.
However, Emma does a wonderful Hillary; in fact, since trashing Bill Clinton has little further purpose, Hillary-watching promises to be much more fun in the future. So who is the Hillary as seen not only by the writers but also by Emma Thompson?
She is a compassionate, calculating, flawed, hyper-intelligent individual. She is, as written in the movie, "more moral" than Bill so far as observing a code of personal conduct, but "less moral" in politics. As the movie would have it, she would hesitate a lot less than Bill in using relatively brutal political tactics.
She shows great willingness to externalize her feelings, and accepts very little personal responsibility. Like so many of us, she sees where noble ends might justify means, and expects others around her to do the same.
This is a remarkable performance. As Hillary's star continues to rise in the future (it almost certainly will), this movie might become sort of an emotional lynchpin in understanding a very complex and very fascinating person.
Movie Review: Is It Real or Just Fiction?
Summary: 4 Stars
I watched this film recently while reading Bill Clinton's book, "My Life," and after watching another DVD, "The War Room," and I have to say it's hard to tell if this "story" is fiction or a factual summary of Clinton's original run for the Presidency.Regardless of the story behind the story this movie stands on its own as an excellent political film. John Travolta is fantastic (amazingly close to the real Clinton!) as Stanton the Southern candidate running for office. He leaves behind all hints of his normal sexiness and turns himself into a slick, conniving out of shape politican beant on winning his campaign. He pulls off this role with amazing ability as an actor, tearing up when necessary and showing anger without any brutality, he held it all in his eyes.
Kathy Bates plays a crazy campaign manager who tries to keep Stanton out of the dog house one too many times. She is brilliant in this role as a tough lesiban who succumbs to the reality of politics. She rants, she raves and she delivers great ethical speeches as her character attempts to right all of Stanton's wrongs (which are amazingly similar to Clinton's!).
I believe this film will open up a new level of awareness as to what actually occurs during a presidential campaign. An interesting film with a slow growing message and quite appropriate for political followers. I just wish Stanton/Clinton would finally show his TRUE colors!