Primary Colors

1998’s “Primary Colors” directed by Mike Nichols.

Starring John Travolta, Emma Thompson, Kathy Bates, Adrian Lester, Maura Tierney, and Billy Bob Thornton.

Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress (Bates), and Best Adapted Screenplay (Elaine May).

What is it about?

We meet young and impassioned Adrian Lester, who wants to make a difference by working for his chosen political party during an federal election. More than that, he wants to believe in a political candidate. Running for president is Travolta (doing a Bill Clinton impression), who like Bill loves people, seems to feel deep empathy for them, and has his share of scandals while saying what needs to be said to get the job done. Lester leads the campaign, and bears witness to the mud wrestling that is American Politics.

 Nichols starts the film off with purpose, showing the American flag waving with “Camptown Races” playing. We are introduced to a political couple (Travolta and Emma Thompson, doing something very Hillary Clintonesque), and their army of assistants (political consultants Billy Bob Thornton and Kathy Bates, aides Maura Tierney and Lester). They immerse themselves in the campaign, with the manic swings of emotion and constant burnout inducing vigilance, and see first hand the disconnect between the people living in the republic of America and the candidates they have to vote for to represent them. More importantly, we meet America. Working class, struggling, impoverished, and desperate for a political candidate that will actually represent their best interests. In “PC” we see that the hunt for a good candidate often will need to continue.

Why is it worth seeing?

 

Primary Colors is interesting in that we see a fictionalized version of the Clintons and their various chicanery dynamics, but what is great about it is when it takes a step back and reveals how difficult it is to be anywhere on the political spectrum- except on the cynical axis. While the movie drags at the end, Elaine May’s script can at times be somewhat forced in it’s character’s speeches, and Lester’s girlfriend character is hard to take seriously as she naively gives a shrill performance, “PC” shows our true colours wonderfully and is hard hitting in it’s honesty about the futility of being true to yourself when ambition and blackmail are the only currency available.

As Travolta charismatically slings politics at the local rib joint where he is sleeping with the owner’s teenage daughter, we see how impossible it is to advance in politics without getting your hands dirty.

3.5/5

Trailer: Click Here.