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Movies / On DVD / Bob Roberts
Bob Roberts

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Bob Roberts (1992)

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Reviews Counted:33

Fresh:33

Rotten:0

Average Rating:7.6/10

Runtime: 1 hr 43 mins

Genre: Comedies

Synopsis: Tim Robbins stars in his directorial debut as right-wing folksinger Bob Roberts in this satirical mock documentary. Roberts is joined on the Pennsylvania senatorial campaign trail by a British... Tim Robbins stars in his directorial debut as right-wing folksinger Bob Roberts in this satirical mock documentary. Roberts is joined on the Pennsylvania senatorial campaign trail by a British documentary filmmaker who offers insight into Roberts, his staff, and his supporters. Roberts is the anti-Bob Dylan, wowing his supporters with tunes such as "Times Are Changin' Back" and "Wall Street Rap" (which includes a video send-up of Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues"). With his clean-cut good looks and squeaky-clean image, Roberts appears as American as apple pie. Yet, like most politicians, he harbors some nasty secrets, including potential involvement in illegal drug trafficking and bank scandals. And like most politicians, he is a master at manipulating the media. Roberts's political trickery turns serious when an innocent man is accused of attempting to assassinate the candidate. Some of Hollywood's best appear as news anchors and reporters, including Susan Sarandon, James Spader, Peter Gallagher, and Helen Hunt. Gore Vidal is immensely believable as the liberal incumbent trying to keep his Senate seat, battling Robbins, who is the consummate politician of the 1990s: lots of fluff and not much substance. [More]

Starring: Tim Robbins, Alan Rickman, Giancarlo Esposito, Ray Wise

Starring: Tim Robbins, Alan Rickman, Giancarlo Esposito, Ray Wise, Gore Vidal, Brian Murray, Rebecca Jenkins, Harry J. Lennix, John Ottavino, Robert Stanton, Jack Black, Bob Balaban, John Cusack, Peter Gallagher, Robert Hegyes, Helen Hunt, Pamela Reed, James Spader, Susan Sarandon, Fred Ward, Fisher Stevens, David Strathairn, Kelly Willis, Lynne Thigpen

Director: Tim Robbins

Director: Tim Robbins
Screenwriter: Tim Robbins
Producer: Forrest Murray
Composer: David Robbins

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Reviews for Bob Roberts

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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Bob Roberts is not merely a satirical fictional biopic, but a wry exploration of the relationship between political reality and manufactured image.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
Geoff Andrew
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

An over-strung last act aside, this is funny, brilliant and sickening all at the same time.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
01/01/00
Angie Errigo
Angie Errigo
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A sometimes brilliant if overloaded pseudodocumentary satire.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
07/08/09
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader

A sort of political This Is Spinal Tap, Bob Roberts is both a stimulating social satire and, for thinking people, a depressing commentary on the devolution of the American political system.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
06/10/08
Todd McCarthy
Todd McCarthy
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

No review available.

comment Comment
11/04/07
Cole Smithey
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com

Robbins's satire is savvy and complex enough to send mixed signals to the viewers about politics and pop culture; both Democrats and Republicans may find supporting evidence for their arguments in his picture.

Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | comment Comment
04/29/06
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

Characteristically and welcomingly Tim Robbins

comment Comment
01/24/06
Clint Morris
Clint Morris
Moviehole

No review available.

comment Comment
05/20/05
Jeffrey Westhoff
Jeffrey Westhoff
Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

No review available.

comment Comment
04/04/05
Larry Ratliff
Larry Ratliff
San Antonio Express-News

No review available.

comment Comment
11/21/04
Jules Brenner
Jules Brenner
Cinema Signals

No review available.

comment Comment
03/24/04
Frank Swietek
Frank Swietek
One Guy's Opinion

No review available.

comment Comment
02/13/04
Carol Cling
Carol Cling
Las Vegas Review-Journal

No review available.

comment Comment
12/12/03
Michelle Alexandria
Michelle Alexandria
Eclipse Magazine

Excelente análise sobre o sistema político americano e a forma com que a manipulação da mídia pode criar novos heróis. Atuação brilhante do diretor/roteirista Robbins, que também compôs as músicas de seu personagem.

comment Comment
07/25/03
Pablo Villaca
Pablo Villaca
Cinema em Cena

A very funny, sometimes prescient satire of American politics, and of the comparatively small, voting portion of the electorate that makes a Bob Roberts phenomenon possible.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
05/20/03
Vincent Canby
Vincent Canby
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Admittedly, this is an uneven film, but it has a lot more pluses than minuses.

Full Review Source: Laramie Movie Scope | comment Comment
03/23/03
Robert Roten
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope

This Tim Robbins-helmed political satire about demogougery makes for an appropriate election-season re-release.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
03/10/03
Marjorie Baumgarten
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle

No review available.

comment Comment
01/17/03
Kit Bowen
Kit Bowen
Hollywood.com

No review available.

comment Comment
01/07/03
Philip Martin
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Tim Robbins' documentary about singing Senate candidate is funny, scary political satire.

Full Review Source: Netflix | comment Comment
11/07/02
James Rocchi
James Rocchi
Netflix
 
 
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