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Primary Colors (1998)
Rate:
9
Viewed:
6/05, 1/18, 3/22
6/05:
Well, this is an interesting acting challenge for John Travolta as he plays Bill Clinton with JFK tendencies in
Primary Colors.
I must say he pulled off the role very well. The film has good yet predictable twists but feels made-for-TV. There's not
much of insight when it comes to the governor's actual work. It's been mostly about campaigning.
Apart from John Travolta, Adrian Lester steals the show. He does an outstanding job and looks like the next
Denzel Washington. Emma Thompson is also a surprise in her Hillary Clinton-like role.
All in all, if you want to know what Bill Clinton is like, look no further than Primary Colors.
1/18:
While not as powerful as The Candidate, Primary Colors is a fascinating
roman à clef about Bill Clinton's ascent to the presidency.
How much of the story is true is probably a great deal. Even John Travolta gained thirty pounds and had his hair dyed white
in order to keep up with the uncanny resemblance. According to IMDb: "Then-President Bill Clinton enjoyed the film so much
that he even invited John Travolta to a party, on one condition, he must come as Governor Jack Stanton. Travolta declined."
Although Primary Colors is a long movie, it's packed with lots of substance. The strong cast keeps this watchable
from start to finish. Larry Hagman is masterful as the late-comer candidate who finally lets his hair down at the end.
All in all, Primary Colors is The Candidate of the 90's.
3/22:
If you want to get into the essence of what Bill Clinton was all about during his heyday, then look no further than
Primary Colors.
It's a fantastic performance by John Travolta. He knows how to charm people. Then again, that's how Bill Clinton was
elected. Emma Thompson is Hilary Clinton while Adrian Lester is George Stephanopoulos and Billy Bob Thornton is James
Carville. Cashmere McLeod is Gennifer Flowers who was the beginning of the end of the Clintons' façade. Larry Hagman is,
of course, masterful while Kathy Bates nets an Oscar nomination because of one particular scene.
I remember when the book Primary Colors: A Novel of Politics came out in 1996 and nobody knew who wrote it. The
author was named "Anonymous." There was a big discussion in Newsweek of who it might be. Joe Klein was heavily
suspected, and he eventually came out of the closet to confirm the rumors.
All in all, Primary Colors is close to the truth.