Rating: 
Summary: The times, they are a-chaangin' BACK. (No, seriously.)
Review: Suddenly, in the increasingly right-of-center autumn of 2001, this 1992 film seems timely all over again. In it, Tim Robbins plays a folk-singing uber-conservative Senatorial candidate (?!?!), running in Pennsylvania. The film follows his campaign's completely successful efforts to cajole, seduce, and flat-out dupe the media into slavishly following his every move. He gets ten times the coverage, as a "media phenomenon," as he might have as a simple candidate. His followers love him as though he were a rock star.Sadly, we may never know whether writer/director/star Tim Robbins consulted the Psychic Friends Network to get the idea for his film. No, wait -- he's still alive. I'll have to ask him about it. Be that as it may, the fact is that two years after the film, in 1994, the Republicans steamrolled their way into Congress fueled by rhetoric that, as often as not, could have been direct quotes from this film... Some of the political issues raised are dated now, such as the savings and loans scandals and the contras. Nevertheless, the basic spirit of an arch-conservative remains the same today, and comes through very clearly. I was bothered by the total vacuousness of Bob's supporters (actually, "disciples" might be a better word), who generally seem to come from less monied, less educated families than the supporters of Bob's opponent. Bob's supporters love him because he's a self-made rich man and he's not ashamed of it... it's true, it is all too easy to dismiss money as unimportant when you have plenty of it. I think, in a nutshell, Bob Roberts' supporters in the film are people who think of America as a "land of opportunity," not as a "society." After all -- many of our ancestors DID originally come here to get rich, which they could never do in most other lands. What his supporters miss is the absolute emptiness behind Bob Roberts' smile, and his arctic, ruthless willingness to do anything to get ahead and stay there. His supporters value hard work and success, which is fine, but they don't see that their idol values these things only insofar as they further his own insane dreams of glory. Today, some of the humorous touches may seem a little obscure for younger audiences. For example -- when BR was made, in 1992, cell phones were much more unusual than today. The fact that Bob's staffers constantly monitor media and stock market information on cell phones is intended to satirize yuppy consultants of the time. Today, it would strike no one as odd that staffers do this. Also, a lot of the music videos for the conservative folk songs are spoofs of particular music videos from the late 80s and early 90s. Another comedic touch that younger audiences might miss, for different reasons, is the way Merilee Dale portrays Bob's wife Polly. A pinker, more precious, perfect, beaming Republican daddy's girl one could never imagine. Watching this film, I imagined frequent catfights breaking out on the set between Dale and Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins' real-life partner and co-star in the film, who is an extremely vocal and opinionated "feminist's feminist." This movie is a lot of fun, and it makes you think about things we should all worry about more. The only reason I'm not giving it five stars is that it felt a little thin for some reason -- maybe it could have used one more subplot. Still absolutely worth owning, however, and seeing again and again. Two thumbs up.
Rating: 
Summary: A Staggeringly Biased and Unrealistic Movie
Review: The basic idea behind this movie is that anyone who is to the right of Tim Robbins politically is a hypocritical fraud. He creates a group of characters who embody the left's worst stereotypes of Conservatives and then proceeds to let us know what awful people they are . It's the kind of thoughtless agitprop that can only come from someone who's never actually met a Republican. If you've ever had a political discussion that was more nuanced than a lite beer commercial, this movie will leave you cold.
Rating:
Summary: biting, clever & unconventional
Review: The first writing/directing feature for Tim Robbins (The Player, Shawshank Redemption) is a biting 'mocumentary' on the functioning of American politics. Robbins plays Bob Roberts, a would-be senator, followed across the US by a British documentary crew during his campaign to be elected to Congress where he will ratify the use of US military forces in The Gulf. The problem is, Bob Roberts is a fanatic right-wing racist already renowned for his racially discriminatory folk music. While many will be put off by the unconventional nature of the film, and American pride is sure to be wrangled by a lot of what this film says, 'Bob Roberts' is nevertheless a fantastic watch and a great predecessor to more successful films such as 'Primary Colors.' If you have any interest in the machinations of American domestic politics or racial discrimination then this is a film worth owning for repeat viewings.
Rating: 
Summary: A Great Comedy With a GREAT Plot!
Review: This film is AMAZING. Not only is it hilarious, but it has a great plot. Some might mock the "folk" songs that he plays, but I think they were great. The music videos were so funny. And the random humor throughout the film fits great with the more serious parts of the film that may be slower. I recommend this film for any one that likes good movies!
Rating: 
Summary: A latter-day "Triumph of the Will"
Review: This film left me ambiguous. It is clearly a thinly veiled piece of left-wing ... to help Clinton with his election—something "The Contender" was meant to do in year 2000—yet it was (1) quite cleverly done; (2) it offered insight in the nature of the American voter; and (3) it had an impressive cast. The movie reminded me of an inverted version of "The Triumph of the Will" by Leni Riefenstahl, a 1934 documentary of the congress of the German National Socialist Workers' Party in Nuremberg. Tim Robbins had all the workings of ..., down to simple details like the extended-arm greeting. You are expected to become emotionally involved by showing aversion to the obviously bad guy, shed a tear when the news of the rogue reporter's death come in and, above all, you're expected to be angered with the political stance presented by Tim Robbins's character. It is possible that rhetoric students would have a field day studying this film, but maybe not—because it was intended to expose cliches, but it did so employing another, rather blatant cliche in itself. So let's just call it a case study for the beginning rhetoric and film student. What is worrying though is that the events depicted in "Bob Roberts" rang very familiar. It was like watching the Bush vs Gore campaign all over again, except that the cinematic rendition was created nearly 10 years previously. Despite what actor-...-writer-...-director (in another word, "auteur") Robbins was implying so desperately, neither side seemed too convincing. I still reserve the right to view Brickley Paiste's economic policy as utter poppycock, yet it seemed bizarre for such a seemingly educated public that Americans claim to be to enter this frenzy of a zero-sum devotion to one candidate as a package deal. Have they no reason, or is it some Freudian search for a missing identity in the vast, homogenous crowd that the USA is? If it was just a parody, I wouldn't worry; yet the Charles Manson associations at times portrayed these excesses quite well. Another thing that I found interesting was the appearance of some rather unexpected stars. For a smallish and forgotten film, complementing Tim Robbins (who did a better job as a dim-witted loser in "Erik the Viking" and "The Hudsucker Proxy") and Alan Rickman ("Galaxy Quest," "Dogma") were John Cusack, Bob Balaban (the small, funny-looking kinda guy from Woody Allen movies and "Waiting for Guffman"), Helen Hunt as a minor reporter, Jack Black as the mental kid of the Mayor of Harrisburg, Susan Sarandon as news presenter, Jeremy Piven ("PCU," "The Grifters," "Kiss the Girls")—basically, it was fun to look out for another familiar face in the many crowds featured on this imaginary campaign trail. I'm giving "Bob Roberts" three stars because it carries a clear message of warning—and not of the hippie leftist type that Giancarlo Esposito's character was trying to convey. Even if this film doesn't call for reason, a cerebral viewer should be able to infer this, and it's even redundant for me to note that if indeed you are a cerebral viewer.
Rating:
Summary: ultimate election night party DVD
Review: This is a great DVD to watch with friends during an election year. We had a group of 15 people howling with laughter. You have to love a politician who closes a letter to a 7-year-old Vermont girl with the admonition "Don't do crack; it's a ghetto drug."
Rating:
Summary: ultimate election night party DVD
Review: This is a great DVD to watch with friends during an election year. We had a group of 15 people howling with laughter. You have to love a politician who closes a letter to a 7-year-old Vermont girl with the admonition "Don't do crack; it's a ghetto drug."
Rating:
Summary: Excellent: The sad truth of American politics
Review: This is a most important film I fisrt saw it in the cinema when it came out during the Bush/Clinton Campaign. A timely release. I have rented it several times after that and finally bought it from Amazon. I can't say enough good things about it! I'm glad I did. Tim Robbins is remarkable. He has his finger on exactly what happens in the political arena in the United States. He assails the media and the political system in such a real way it is easy to believe it is a genuine documentary. Because it is so well done, it makes one shudder to see so much truth portrayed and illustrated in one two hour sitting. Very entertaining yet great for any University level Poli-Sci course and any film course. Tim Robbins wrote it and apparently all of the songs too. Listen carefully to the lyrics. Tim Robbins illustrates what is truly being said by many Americans in an un-subtle way, yet so many Americans dont seem to hear it! Again, an important, yet disturbing film. A must see for every American and member of any "Democracy." If there really is such a thing!
Rating:
Summary: Prerequisite for Voters
Review: This is a very important movie. See how politicians manipulate the masses. Also note how the same arguments to attack Iraq in 1990 are being rerun today in 2003. This movie should be shown in every high school and college and theater around the world. Tim Robbins has really created a masterpiece.
Rating:
Summary: Bad
Review: This is the second worst movie i have ever seen, only barely edging out a horrible movie entitled "Shakes the Clown" for the Absolute Worst Honors. If you like to think for yourself and have half the brain then this movie is probably not for you.
| 
