Primary Colors

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Thomas M The best acting performance from Kathy Bates! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/25/22 Full Review isla s I thought this was an interesting film, quite character focussed, with some amusing moments, plot twists and the like. It is somewhat thought provoking, in terms of the sort of manipulation and corruption often found in American politics and so on. I felt the characters were quite well portrayed, with some big names playing people I found myself wishing well for. Cast names include John Travolta, Emma Thomson, Billy Bob Thornton and Kathy Bates, among others (including Larry Hagman - J.R.!). It may be just over 20 years old as a film but it still seemed pretty relevant. Its an interesting watch. Not a bad one at all but if your looking for a fast paced and overly dramatic film then this may be a little slow and winding for you but as a depiction of the ever present media circus and the human side of political campaigns, its, as I say, certainly not bad. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member I don't know if it's Travolta's really cheesy southern draw or his Clinton likeness or Bate's late intro and exit to this film that makes me like it so much...but I did. It's on-point political games 90s style. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review Audience Member Could afford to be quite a bit shorter and less wandering but this political dramedy packs a punch with it's ensemble cast's near-raucous performances. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review Audience Member A solid-75, Primary Colors feels like an exaggerated snapshot of the early 1990s when 24/7 media was at the forefront politics, but the internet was still far on the horizon. The Stantons (John Travolta as Jack and Emma Thompson as Susan) are a fictionalized version of the Clintons during the Democratic Primary leading up to the General Election. However, we view the duo — and their grassroots team — from the perspective of Henry (Adrian Lester), a young black man and grandson of a civil rights activist who's hesitant to join Stanton's campaign. At first, believing he is only be used for his name and for a white southerner to have a black man running his campaign, Henry eventually falls for Stanton's charm and joins the action. One scene, Stanton is engaged in a group hug with illiterate adults and the next he's buttoning his shirt while a female union staffer is sneaking out of his bedroom or he's chucking his cellphone out the car window in a rage. Despite Jack's faults, which Travolta plays really well, Henry sees a leader in the man, even oogling in admiration after Stanton delivers a speech to a fisherman's union in New England. This movie would not be made in 2020 for several reasons, the first being they would never have the same guy, Richard (Billy Bob Thorton), expose himself to a female staffer in broad daylight and tell a black man that "I'm blacker than you are" while remaining an otherwise intelligent and likable character. But what really didn't age well was the fact that besides the rampant cheating, the ethical standard in which the campaign holds itself to when they uncover information that would decimate their opponent. Kathy Bates as Libby is in perfect form as the fast talkin', no-nonsense idealist is the beacon that holds the campaign to this standard and suffers because of it. However, in 2020, that standard is comical. The realpolitik ending was refreshing. Overall, Primary Colors is an enjoyable political drama that scratches that 90s-nostalgia itch we can't seem to quit. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review steve d There isn't a lot of insight or any reason to care about a fictional take on Clinton. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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