Primary Colors (1998)

Directed by Mike Nichols. Starring Adrian Lester, John Travolta, Emma Thompson, Billy Bob Thornton, Kathy Bates, Paul Guilfoyle, Maura Tierney, Larry Hagman, Rebecca Walker, Diane Ladd, Stacy Edwards, Tommy Hollis, Kevin Cooney, Allison Janney. [R]

Joe Klein’s same-named satirical farce (a roman à clef novel with insight into Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign) becomes a political movie that’s both wise and obvious, both funny and self-satisfied; in short, an entertaining but flawed mixed-bag that’s still worth seeing. Travolta snappily captures the true-believer empathy and Slick-Willie charm of the Clinton stand-in, as well as the ravenous womanizing urges and commitment to do whatever it takes to win, regardless of ethics. Fine support is offered by Thompson as his shrewd and strategic wife, Thornton as his temperamental political strategist, and wild card Bates, a brassy barnstormer who lifts up every scene in which she appears. Unfortunately, there’s a vacuum at the center of the film since the movie’s ostensible protagonist, an idealist played by Lester who joins the campaign wanting to believe this candidate is the real deal, is such an uncharismatic and uninteresting blank slate. Works better as a cynical comedy than a bitter morality tale; a lot of the irreverent jokes land, but the sense of reality has been marginalized and the dramatic components never quite ring true. Screenplay by Elaine May, marking the final motion picture collaboration between her and old comedy partner Nichols. Numerous cameos are featured, sometimes playing fictional characters (Rob Reiner, Tony Shalhoub, Mykelti Williamson, etc.), sometimes playing themselves (Larry King, Bill Maher, Charlie Rose, etc.).

61/100