Striking an excellent balance between wry cultural critique and crisp entertainment value, the picture is as smart and funny as any comedy-drama in recent memory.
Primary Colors (1998)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:73
Fresh:58
Rotten:15
Average Rating:7.2/10
Consensus: Well acted and suprisingly funny.
Runtime: 2 hrs 24 mins
Genre: Comedies
Synopsis: In Mike Nichols's PRIMARY COLORS, America's topsy-turvy political process is viewed through the eyes of Henry Burton (Adrian Lester), an idealistic young man who is seduced into managing the... In Mike Nichols's PRIMARY COLORS, America's topsy-turvy political process is viewed through the eyes of Henry Burton (Adrian Lester), an idealistic young man who is seduced into managing the presidential campaign of slick southern governor Jack Stanton (John Travolta). The mesmerized Burton immediately sets up campaign headquarters and meets his new political family: Susan Stanton (Emma Thompson), Jack's wife and partner; Richard Jemmons (Billy Bob Thornton), the sly, improbable political strategist who proudly describes himself as a redneck; Libby Holden (Kathy Bates), the fanatically loyal, overtly lesbian campaign troubleshooter who always has a big mouth and occasionally carries a big gun to match; and Daisy (Maura Tierney), the young, smart, and looking-for-love campaign media adviser. The film is based on the controversial best-selling novel by Anonymous (Joe Klein). Travolta's dead-on, thinly disguised Clinton impersonation alone is well worth seeing. [More]
Starring: John Travolta, Emma Thompson, Kathy Bates, Billy Bob Thornton
Starring: John Travolta, Emma Thompson, Kathy Bates, Billy Bob Thornton, Adrian Lester, Maura Tierney, Larry Hagman, Allison Janney, Paul Guilfoyle
Director: Mike Nichols
Director: Mike Nichols
Screenwriter: Elaine May
Producer: Mike Nichols
Reviews for Primary Colors
Art imitates life imitates art imitates life in this top-notch, straight-on adaptation about the "fictionalized" account of the 1992 presidential campaign.
It's silly and profound at the same time and timely as hell and tells a truth as only a fictionalization can.
Fine performances are turned in by the ensemble of strategists and adversaries including Paul Guilfoyle, and Larry Hagman as Stanton's ultimate opponent.
Those who wonder how good a Clinton impersonation Travolta does miss the point.
May and Nichols may not be right for the material, especially the Searching for Jimmy Stewart component, which feels more labored as the film proceeds.
Primary Colors doesn't even attempt an answer. It's content just going along for the ride. It's too busy having fun.
As is often the case in a Mike Nichols film, even the smallest roles are beautifully cast and performed, and production values are top-of-the-line.
Adapting Joe Klein’s roman a clef of the same name, ferociously witty screenwriter Elaine May and her smooth old compatriot in comedy, director Mike Nichols, have made a zingy drama and have staffed it well.
A funny, and at some times shocking, look at the modern political process.
Primary Colors is a pretty good film with fine performances and quite a bit of humor.
The movie loses something by downplaying the book's arresting contrast between Stanton's smooth dishonesty and Picker's raw sincerity.
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