Primary Colors (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
'Primary Colors' (directed by Mike Nichols, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, The Graduate, Heartburn, The Birdcage, & more) is the fictionalized tale of a manipulative, opportunistic & womanizing liberal Southern presidential candidate in the 1990s who is aided in his career by his savvy, ambitious, strong-willed, yet emotionally-vulnerable wife -- sound familiar!? Written by the great Elaine May & based on Joe Klein's sprawling, controversial novel on the 1992 Clinton presidential campaign, this film offers an apology for Bill Clinton's sexual discretions & mistakes to make him out as a flawed man of the people who, nevertheless, wanted to do good for mankind. Nichols takes knowing look at American politics and entertainingly exposes it for what it is.
Henry Burton (Adrian Lester) is an idealistic young man who works on Capitol Hill. The grandson of a Civil Rights leader, Henry is a cool, calm, collected, & whip smart political strategist. For that reason, he draws the attention of Jack Stanton (John Travolta, heavier & with gray hair), a little known, but charismatic, progressive governor of a southern state who is now running for POTUS. Stanton wants Henry to join his team as they state-hop during the primaries and, Henry, who desperately wants to work for someone who can 'make a difference', reluctantly agrees after falling under the governor's spell. Stanton exclaims: "I'm gonna do something really outrageous - tell the truth" -- the irony of that statement will not be lost on anyone.
During this time, he meets Stanton's wife, Susan (Emma Thompson), his savvy, ambitious, & loyal wife who remains as such despite allegations of the governor's improprieties. To cover them up, Stanton's colorful team goes into overdrive. They include: campaign manager, Howard Ferguson (Paul Guilfoyle); Richard Jemmons (Billy Bob Thornton), a brilliant spin-doctor & self-proclaimed redneck; Daisy (Maura Tierney), the campaign media advisor; and Libby Holden (Kathy Bates), the gritty, openly gay, dirt-digging trouble-shooter. Barreling through the primaries, they contend, not only with other candidates, like former governor, Fred Picker (Larry Hagman), but also with sexual allegations aimed at Stanton that may undo his team's loyalty and, thusly, chances for victory.
Movie audiences would definitely find comparisons between the fictitious characters in this film & the real-life people sitting in the White House. I mean, the fact that Stanton looks, acts, & sounds like Bill Clinton {likewise for Emma Thompson's Hilar-- ahem, Susan} will absolutely make movie-goers believe that this is a direct exploration of the then-current Presidency. Henry, the young campaigner, is meant to represent unsullied idealism; the belief that there MUST be a perfect candidate who will strive to make the country & world a better place. Unfortunately for Henry, he finds that the complex political machine makes little room for virtue or ideals.
British actor Adrian Lester does very well as initially-optimistic, then beleaguered Henry. John Travolta is fantastic as Clinton-esque Stanton; a man with lofty notions & good intentions that are undermined by his sex-starved libido & skeletons in his closet. Emma Thompson - with a perfect American accent - is great as Hilary-esque Susan Stanton; a woman torn btwn. love for her husband + his potential, and the seething hatred for his deceitful behavior that just about ruins her belief in him. I recall a fabulous scene in which she stands by Jack during an interview discussing the allegations, but once the camera's red light dims, forcefully tosses his hand from hers.
Billy Bob Thornton is humorous as political strategist, Richard Jemmons. After being confronted by Henry about being a redneck, Jemmons says, "I'm blacker than you are. I've got some slave in me. I can feel it". And the best performance in the film comes from Kathy Bates as the 'dust buster' who is continually called-upon to fix her old friends' {Jack Stanton} problems. Her Libby - an out lesbian in a time when it wasn't so accepted - speaks her mind and acts in any way necessary to get a desired effect. Her character arc is the most poignant one in the film. Rob Reiner, Tony Shaloub, Diane Ladd, Mykelti Williamson, Bonnie Bartlett, & Larry Hagman impress in small roles. Hagman's intriguing subplot adds complexion to the main story, at hand.
I prefer the 1st half of the film to its 2nd and, the movie is a touch too long for what it is. It also gets a liiiiittle too preachy about the rights & wrongs in politics. But on the whole, I was highly beguiled by this sometimes satirical, sometimes cynical, sometimes heart-wrenching, sometimes hilarious, sometimes sobering, mainstream entertainment. While I wouldn't call 'Primary Colors' a masterpiece, it is very good, with excellent performances and it is, for me, in the top echelon of films in 1998.
Henry Burton (Adrian Lester) is an idealistic young man who works on Capitol Hill. The grandson of a Civil Rights leader, Henry is a cool, calm, collected, & whip smart political strategist. For that reason, he draws the attention of Jack Stanton (John Travolta, heavier & with gray hair), a little known, but charismatic, progressive governor of a southern state who is now running for POTUS. Stanton wants Henry to join his team as they state-hop during the primaries and, Henry, who desperately wants to work for someone who can 'make a difference', reluctantly agrees after falling under the governor's spell. Stanton exclaims: "I'm gonna do something really outrageous - tell the truth" -- the irony of that statement will not be lost on anyone.
During this time, he meets Stanton's wife, Susan (Emma Thompson), his savvy, ambitious, & loyal wife who remains as such despite allegations of the governor's improprieties. To cover them up, Stanton's colorful team goes into overdrive. They include: campaign manager, Howard Ferguson (Paul Guilfoyle); Richard Jemmons (Billy Bob Thornton), a brilliant spin-doctor & self-proclaimed redneck; Daisy (Maura Tierney), the campaign media advisor; and Libby Holden (Kathy Bates), the gritty, openly gay, dirt-digging trouble-shooter. Barreling through the primaries, they contend, not only with other candidates, like former governor, Fred Picker (Larry Hagman), but also with sexual allegations aimed at Stanton that may undo his team's loyalty and, thusly, chances for victory.
Movie audiences would definitely find comparisons between the fictitious characters in this film & the real-life people sitting in the White House. I mean, the fact that Stanton looks, acts, & sounds like Bill Clinton {likewise for Emma Thompson's Hilar-- ahem, Susan} will absolutely make movie-goers believe that this is a direct exploration of the then-current Presidency. Henry, the young campaigner, is meant to represent unsullied idealism; the belief that there MUST be a perfect candidate who will strive to make the country & world a better place. Unfortunately for Henry, he finds that the complex political machine makes little room for virtue or ideals.
British actor Adrian Lester does very well as initially-optimistic, then beleaguered Henry. John Travolta is fantastic as Clinton-esque Stanton; a man with lofty notions & good intentions that are undermined by his sex-starved libido & skeletons in his closet. Emma Thompson - with a perfect American accent - is great as Hilary-esque Susan Stanton; a woman torn btwn. love for her husband + his potential, and the seething hatred for his deceitful behavior that just about ruins her belief in him. I recall a fabulous scene in which she stands by Jack during an interview discussing the allegations, but once the camera's red light dims, forcefully tosses his hand from hers.
Billy Bob Thornton is humorous as political strategist, Richard Jemmons. After being confronted by Henry about being a redneck, Jemmons says, "I'm blacker than you are. I've got some slave in me. I can feel it". And the best performance in the film comes from Kathy Bates as the 'dust buster' who is continually called-upon to fix her old friends' {Jack Stanton} problems. Her Libby - an out lesbian in a time when it wasn't so accepted - speaks her mind and acts in any way necessary to get a desired effect. Her character arc is the most poignant one in the film. Rob Reiner, Tony Shaloub, Diane Ladd, Mykelti Williamson, Bonnie Bartlett, & Larry Hagman impress in small roles. Hagman's intriguing subplot adds complexion to the main story, at hand.
I prefer the 1st half of the film to its 2nd and, the movie is a touch too long for what it is. It also gets a liiiiittle too preachy about the rights & wrongs in politics. But on the whole, I was highly beguiled by this sometimes satirical, sometimes cynical, sometimes heart-wrenching, sometimes hilarious, sometimes sobering, mainstream entertainment. While I wouldn't call 'Primary Colors' a masterpiece, it is very good, with excellent performances and it is, for me, in the top echelon of films in 1998.