Rating: 
Summary: Primary Colors
Review: "Primary Colors" is a hilarious and entertaining satire on the Clinton administration directed with wit by Mike Nichols and brilliantly acted. It covers the presidential campaign of Jack Stanton (played superbly by John Travolta), a southern governor that no one has ever heard of. Assisting him are his wife Susan (Emma Thompson), a young and optimistic aide named Henry (Adrian Lester), and a whacky, half-crazy dirt digger named Libby (Oscar nominated Kathy Bates) Much of the comedy comes from the fact that Jack and the majority of his staff have absolutely no idea how to run a political campaign. (Their campaign anthem is "You Are My Sunshine!) Jack is an incompetant leader at first, concerned more with the fact that his hotel room cable does not have CNN. He also has to face scandal after scandal, mostly due to the fact that he can't keep his pants on. Added
to that, his competition in the race, played expertly by Larry Hagman, is viewed as a saint. Jack, Susan, and their staff become a dysfunctional family, all relating to one another in different ways. Even though much of "Primary Colors" is light-hearted farce, as the end of the campaign nears, we get to find out what these people are really like, and the results are harsh and sad. The acting in this film is top notch. John Travolta is incredible as Jack Stanton, getting Bill Clinton's mannerisms down pat without making the character into an impersonation. Underneath Jack's smile and slick talk lies a driven manipulator who can and will not change his ways. Emma Thompson, one of the best actresses working, makes Susan Stanton a fiercely real and compelling character. Susan loves and respects her husband. But when she discovers that all of the rumors about his affairs are true, she bitterly and heartbreakingly self-destructs in a scene that is both intense and moving. Afterwards, Susan becomes a cold and ruthless political machine, power driven and emotionall barren. She stays with Jack because she too wants power, but all of her warmth and love has been taken away from her. Kathy Bates nearly steals the movie as the "dirt digger" Libby. She is devoted to Jack and Susan and is certifiably insane. Her escapades provide the bulk of the film's humor, and they also provide its saddest moments as well. Libby's final scenes are wrenching in their raw emotionalism: "You see that moon? That's me. It needs the sun to keep it alive. The Stanton's were my sun. Without them I'm cold, barren, and alone." Kathy Bates succeeds in creating a complex woman who is very funny, but underneath is vulnerable and alone. The reason I have rated this film four stars istead of five is the ending. It is meant to be cynical, dark and depressing, showing the victory of greed and political power over truth. That would be fine, but it doesn't work for this film. It goes against character developement and has virtually no impact. Bad ending aside, "Primary Colors" is a film well worth your time. Great acting, great direction by Mike Nichols (of course). and a funny and touching script by Elaine May. See it.
Rating:
Summary: Good, happy!
Review: I like this movie because it's happy, and the characters aren't dull! Moments are a bit sad, but that stupid Harris needed a punishment, just like Mike Harris. Oh well! All you americans won't know what I'm talking about, and we don't hate you, at least I don't. Anyhow, back to the story. It's about a presidential campaign. They are running for president. The leader of this party(Travolta) is an overall sweet and caring guy. Than, there's his wife(Thompson). They're all in this to win the election. Problems occur during the way. Well, that's that story, americans rule!
Rating: 
Summary: Incessant profanity was a real turn off
Review: The acting and story line were fine but the incessant and unnecessary profanity marred my enjoyment of this film. Is it really necessary to have characters swearing constantly in films? I now know why I can not go to a mall or down a street without hearing the "F" word everyday. If hollywood stars spew such trash I can understand why impressionable young people believe it is ok to use such trashy language in everyday speech. The actors in this film were portraying supposedly educated persons who want to govern the citizens of the United States but they talk like uneducated bums! Hollywood, clean up your act!!!
Rating: 
Summary: "Passion for People"?!?!?
Review: So, the liberal slant in this particular film has to do with a faulty man (Clinton) who nevertheless has a "passion for people," eh? I remember seeing an interview with Emma Thompson, in which she said that really ambitious, motivated people have stronger appetites than the rest of us, and they apply these appetites across the board. That, she argued, is what makes a great politician, and that is apparently why we have wonderful people like Clinton, who must "councel" (in the words of Hillary) every young woman he possibly can...because the poor sap is just too "passionate"! Hmmm...I'm still trying to figure out where the "passion for people" fits into the big picture. Was it in his unwanted sexual advances (Brodrick, etc), his groping of married women in the white house, or his possible involvement in a mysterious suicide? Was it "passion" that drove him to lie under oath before the grand jury, or to parse the definition of the word "is"? Was "passion" behind the looting of the White House and Air Force One, or the hundreds of last-minute, dubious pardons? Was it a "passion" that caused Clinton to spend 10 times more in travel expenses (with taxpayer cash) than any president before him? Rob Reiner makes a cameo in this, and in case you haven't had your fill of leftist propaganda, check out Reiner's own "The American President."
Rating: 
Summary: An Absolute Masterpiece
Review: This movie gets ranked in my top twenty of all time, no doubt about it. It has layers and sub layers. It is deep and meaningful, thoughtful and disturbing, humorous and tragic. The performances by the entire cast are terrific. The screenplay, superb. This is a film about choices, about honesty and morality. It begs the questions from all who view it: How far would I go? What would I do once I get there? Primary Colors is about selling one's soul. It is a morality play. It is about compromise for the greater good. I cannot recommend this film enough. One of the best I've ever seen.
Rating:
Summary: this is bad
Review: I am not going to apologize about the one star. I would give it a zero if I could. Of course only Hollywood would make Clinton a hero. What else would one expect from Hollywood. Talk about barf! A man is running for president he is sleeping with every girl in town. Even old ladies. Oh, and the best part is that he is married and he doesn't care one bit because he thinks everyone loves him and he can do anything. Because he is going to win. The reason is he is going to reveal a big bad secret about the guy who is running against him and it's okay. Becaue he is a great man. Such a great man that he gets his best friend's daughter pregnant. He is suppose to be a hero? Oh, I forgot he is a great man because he cares about the people. If he cared so much he would not have slept with his friend's daughter in the first place. To top it all of we are suppose to care about the bad boy's wife. She was a complete doormat. She never knew? Please!!! Every womens knows when her man is sleeping with another woman especially if he is sleeping with everywomen in town like fatso in the movie was doing. What am I talking about. This is Hollywood where everything is about feelings and emotions and lets all feel good and hug eachother and lets all get along. Avoid this at all cost.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutley Boring
Review: John Travolta fan, but this movie practically put me too sleep. Humor is sophmoric and the story is listless. One of the worst five movies I have ever seen.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting movie, but too politically motivated.
Review: I'm sorry for giving this movie just one star I think that in terms of acting it deserves at least three. But what totally turns me off by this movie(as well as other Hollywood flicks with a subliminal motive) is how the character(who is undoubtedly a resemblence of Clinton) is laughded(albeit ever so slightly)as a hero. THIS GUY(portrayed by Travolta)IS A SICK SCUMBAG WHO DESEVES TO BE TARRED AND FEATHERED AND RUN OUT OF POLITICS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.The character mportrayed in the movie is a sick person who cares more about himself and his polirtical career than anyone else including the people who voted for him. He is a miserable example of a human being and should be portrayed as such.
Rating:
Summary: High Entertainment with A Great Travolta and Bates
Review: Art imitates real life? Or is it the other way around in "Primary Colors" the laugh-riot ode to a Presidential Campaign? Few political films rival this one for sheer wit, pathos and drama. A superb cast led by John Travolta as a Clinton-like candidate whose delusions of grandeaur actually add up. Kathy Bates delivers another award winning effort, as the tragic conscience of the film. Only Emma Thompson suffers as the Hilary C prototype...playing American requires more from this gifted actress than speaking through tightly pursed lips. Devastatingly sad and poingnant at times, but also remarkably funny at others, "Primary Colors" glows,
Rating:
Summary: BITTERSWEET ENTERTAINMENT
Review: The machinations of a presidential campaign in "Primary Colors" is presented through the eyes of Henry Burton (British actor Adrian Lester). Henry is a privileged young African American feldgling politician whose grandfather was a civil rights legend. While trying to find out who the candidate is, Henry is virtually kidnapped by the presidential campaign of an obscure Southern governor, Jack Stanton (played flawlessly by John Travolta). Stanton's politically savy, smart lawyer wife Susan (amazingly played by Emma Thompson) is often the brains of the campaign. The parody on Bill and Hillary Clinton is obvious. Of course, the idealistic Henry and aging Stanton loyalist, Libby Holden (Kathy Bates who possibly hands in the film's best supporting performance) keep hoping that Jack and Susan are as good as they seem. Inevitably, the Stantons compromise everything to win the campaign and power, leaving without much integrity as the campaign progresses. The movie is very funny and works as a Clinton parody without being offensive. Indeed, the magical collaboration between director Mike Nichols and screenwriter Elaine May produces a very clever and entertaining political melodrama. After three viewings, I'm not tired of this movie. At the end, I gained even more respect for the talents of Travolta, Thompson, Bates, Billy Bob Thornton et al. This is a must see film.
| 
