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Bulworth

R Released May 15, 1998 1h 46m Comedy Drama TRAILER for List
76% Tomatometer 68 Reviews 68% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Jay Bulworth (Warren Beatty), a financially ruined senator, is now disillusioned with politics. The forlorn statesman orders a contract killing -- the target himself -- so his family will be able to collect a fortune from his insurance policy. Facing imminent death, a devil-may-care Bulworth speaks his mind in public, forsaking platitudes for honest but controversial observations. But when he falls in love with a hip young woman (Halle Berry), Bulworth urgently rethinks his impending murder.
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Bulworth

Bulworth

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Critics Consensus

Star and director Beatty's ambitious take on race and politics in 20th-century America isn't perfect, but manages to provide more than its share of thought-provoking laughs.

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Critics Reviews

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Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly Rated: C+ Sep 7, 2011 Full Review Geoff Andrew Time Out It's a sharp, brave movie, a little ragged around the edges, but that's to its advantage. Jun 24, 2006 Full Review Globe and Mail Rated: 2.5/4 Apr 12, 2002 Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com ...has a dynamic, if not revolutionary view of the political world, leavened with jokes and complete with a shock ending... Rated: 4/5 Jan 4, 2022 Full Review David Walsh World Socialist Web Site Bulworth is an angry and politically astute film. More than that, it is in many ways a liberating film. Feb 16, 2021 Full Review Gilbert Adair Independent on Sunday Beatty is to be congratulated on even attempting to prick America's conscience in these conservative times, but the real reason for seeing it is the panache with which it captures the irresistible flash and filigree of American politics. Nov 27, 2017 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Ari V Holds up very, very well. Special one. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/24/24 Full Review Van E This movie is underrated. It's got some stamps from it's time that are sort of absurd, but as far as biting political satire goes, I'm hard pressed to think of a better more current example that isn't just some try-hard nonsense. Bullworth pushes the envelope... in mainly really entertaining ways. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/21/23 Full Review Mark N Heart, soul and plenty of laughs. A political comedy that's not afraid to draw blood literally to make its point. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/21/23 Full Review Audience Member Uneventful, nothing was pulling me in Rated 1 out of 5 stars 05/23/23 Full Review ryan p Prime example of just how much better your mediocre pic/performance could benefit with a bit of Joe Don Baker. Vittorio Storaro's saturated candescence oscillates from unremarkable to just plain ugly. Albeit maybe perfect for such an ugly little vanity project? Does not hold up (then or now) — probably why, even The Only Game in Town (1970) has been remastered for home video (HD preservation) and this is still meandering in Warner Bros' MoD 480i archive. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review dave s Suicidal and on the verge of a nervous breakdown, disillusioned U.S. senator Jay Bulworth makes arrangements for his own assassination in order for his daughter to collect a ten-million-dollar insurance claim. However, things take an awkward turn on the campaign trail when he decides to speak the uncensored truth, shifting his voter base from the powerful and affluent to the poor and disenfranchised. Warren Beatty wrote, produced, directed and starred in Bulworth, a film that starts out a bit frantic, unfocused and noisy but works its way into a nice rhythm once it finds its way. The satire sometimes feels overstated, but it certainly forces the viewer to question whether or not they want their politicians to create their election platforms based on the truth. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis Jay Bulworth (Warren Beatty), a financially ruined senator, is now disillusioned with politics. The forlorn statesman orders a contract killing -- the target himself -- so his family will be able to collect a fortune from his insurance policy. Facing imminent death, a devil-may-care Bulworth speaks his mind in public, forsaking platitudes for honest but controversial observations. But when he falls in love with a hip young woman (Halle Berry), Bulworth urgently rethinks his impending murder.
Director
Warren Beatty
Producer
Warren Beatty, Pieter Jan Brugge
Screenwriter
Warren Beatty, Jeremy Pikser
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Production Co
Twentieth Century Fox
Rating
R
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 15, 1998, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$26.4M
Runtime
1h 46m
Sound Mix
Surround
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