Rating: 
Summary: A film that should be re-released theatrically
Review: In the wake of the disastrous _Battlefield Earth_, it's good to remember that John Travolta can, indeed, act. No better proof of his abilities exists than _Primary Colors_. Strangely unnoticed theatrically, this film has surfaced more successfully on the home video market.That's because it's a brilliant film, with acting and scripting that should've won Oscars (R). By turns comic and tragic, _Primary Colors_ is not the simple indictment of the Clinton presidency that its previews might portray. No, the film creates whole characters and leaves its audience with much to think about. Each major character's point of view is given ample screen time, so that the audience has a multitude of morals to choose from. Indeed there are compelling characters throughout. Not only is Travolta's Jack Stanton fully realized, Adrian Lester's portrayal of the politically naive campaign manager, Henry Burton, is at least as complex. In some ways the moral voice of the film, he can come no closer to indicting Stanton than Stanton can come to being unlikable. Larry Hagman's brilliant portrayal of Governor Fred Pucker is easily the actor's best work: we see him alternate between (probably) genuine compassion to despair and ultimately to redemption. Billy Bob Thornton and Kathy Bates both turn in commanding performances of two campaign staffers who operate with similar style but who have hearts made of different stuff. We get to see them wrestle with the ambiguities of politics and come away with very different solutions. Strangely, if there is any character who shows a consistent, almost driven, image, it's Emma Thompson's Susan Stanton. She of all the principal players seems most unchanged throughout the events of the movie-and there's a lesson in that as well. Great characters notwithstanding, though, what makes the film great, as opposed to merely good, is that its insightful political commentary is wrapped in frequently uproarious humor. The scene in which the campaign management team has to meet with Mrs. Stanton to explain the political disadvantages of her husband's infidelity is especially noteworthy-but so are Stanton's trips to the countryside barbecue joint, Richard Jemmons' good-ole boy attempts at sexual harassment, and Libby Holden's persuasive abilities. If anything disappoints about this DVD it is the lack of any significant additional features. A director's commentary would've been especially welcome here, as the efforts to get this film to theatres must've been interesting enough for a few words.
Rating:
Summary: Easily on my TOP 10 list!
Review: I just finished reading the book, and all book/movie bickering aside, this was a great adaptation. I love politics. I love Hilary Clinton (Bill ain't bad). And I love satire! Even though PRIMARY COLORS is "fiction" we all see the '92 campaign looming as its backdrop. Anyway, John Travolta is great, but Emma Thompson makes the film the treat it is. This is definaely not a movie to watch just for the hell of it: it IS rather slow and, to some people, boring. It's a bit esoteric, but fans of satire or politics will enjoy! Watch for Kathy Bates... Can't miss her. She steals the movie. I think PRIMARY COLORS gets better each time I watch it, so I watch it often!
Rating: 
Summary: Very good movie.
Review: I have no use for politics and politicians, so my interest in this movie was minimal. It was, however, a pleasant surprise. I'm a Travolta fan and was not disappointed. He captures the Clinton demeanor very well. Sad, too. His character, like Clinton, seems to really care about the people but is too immersed in politics, let alone his philandering, to do anything major. Emma Thompson is a favorite of mine and did a wonderful job. Of course, since it was Emma, I felt more compassion for her character than ever I did for Hillary. In the end, however, she was just as political as anyone. The rest of the cast was very good in their respective roles with the best-of-the-rest being Kathy Bates. That woman can act. Casting Larry Hagman as the last minute candidate was a casting coup. How utterly unlike J R Ewing. Rob Reiner was wasted but, then again, that was how he was supposed to come of, so he did well. There were parts of this movie that seemed superfluous, like the relationship between Henry and Daisy and the lesbian relationship of Kathy Bates. Had no real impact on the story in my estimation. In all, the movie was well done. It didn't tell me anything I didn't know about politics and politicians nor about the Clinton situation it mirrors, but it was a good movie nonetheless.
Rating: 
Summary: slow&boring
Review: this is a poor attempt on Bill Clinton&crew.in fact a movie is supposed to be fantasy but this one lags in excitement.it's a waste of time.the real Life Bill Clinton is far more interesting than this screen version.and that's not fantasy but fact.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Films About the American Political System
Review: This film has outstanding performances all around. Bates is phenomenal, and I agree will a previous reviewer that she should have gotten an Oscar for her role here. I am a political junky and a sometime activist. This film really captures the excitement and drama of working on a political campaign. A colorful biography of presidential candidate "Jack Stanton," the movie is based on the "Primary Colors" author's perception of the 1992 Clinton campaign. The movie is somewhat sympathetic to the Stanton (Clinton) vision, but ultimately presents the Stantons (Bill and Hillary Clinton) as amoral opportunists. The movie's climatic event, invoving Bates and caused by a "Stanton" moral failure, seems to be a rather harsh an assessment of the actual Bill and Hillary Clinton. In that sense I think "Primary Colors" is a little unfair. But we all know it's just a movie, right? The film is very deftly executed and a great pleasure to watch.
Rating: 
Summary: Frontrunner
Review: Primary Colors is a modern tragedy. And that's a compliment. Okay, it's not exactly Death of a Salesman, but it does chronicle the rise and fall of an idealist. You could never accuse presidential hopeful Jack Stanton (John Travolta) of being a dime a dozen, but let's just say we've seen his kind before. Primary Colors is director Mike Nichols best film in years. He has something say again. Finally. And he and writer Elaine May mold their seething satire into something admirably meaningful. It's a real killer, in fact. The laughter comes while you wince at the moral corruption and game playing. But forget all the comparisons to our own first family (although Travolta's dead-on impersonation makes it difficult); instead pay attention to Henry (the young political aide). The decay he witnesses as part of the greatest political campaign of the 20th century takes its toll. The bright eyes and bushy tail can't survive. His innocence is lost; a country is gained.
Rating:
Summary: Bates makes it worthwhile!
Review: Kathy Bates gives her best performance since Misery. She definately should have won the Oscar for her breathtaking performance in this underrated film. Her not winning the Oscar makes us all ask, "Where's the justice?" Her character proves that there are good people who want to do good in politics, which is something that is obsolete today. She was very passionate about "Libby Holden" and beneath all the cursing lies a fragile woman. Travolta, Thompson and Thornton also are hillarios in the film and were all unrecognized.
Rating:
Summary: Good for Adrian and Bates
Review: Other than Adrian Lester (obviously a passionate and dedicated actor) and Kathy Bates (anything she is in is better because of her participation), the acting was mediocre and the story did not interest me in the least. Travolta played a scumbag, through and through. But the characters played by Adrian & Kathy were very interesting to me.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent look at behind the scenes at the Clinton camp
Review: I love this movie. Its so funny; I laughed all the way through it. John Travolta as Bill Clinton, Emma Thompson as Hillary, Billy Bob Thornton as James Carville...okay so those aren't the characters' names in the movie but you can figure out who they are supposed to be as the movie goes along. Kathy Bates deserved an Oscar for her moving performance. Rent it, buy it, watch it, you won't regret it. Forget about the Clinton scandals and watch it for its own worth as an excellent movie.
Rating:
Summary: Great film!!!
Review: This is a great film! An excellent cast with an excellent screenplay!!! Great performances by the whole crew! Hilarious and truly entertaining!! A must see!
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