Review of Primary Colors (1998) by Bill S — 15 May 2015

With the 2016 Presidential election on the horizon, it is interesting to go back and look at some films which show the campaign process. Using the Democratic Party as a platform, Primary Colors is a satirical political dramedy about the inner workings of a candidacy.

There are obvious links to the Bill Clinton presidential run in 1992 and with Hilary Clinton looking like a viable candidate for 2016 the film takes on a new relevance. Two other films mentioned in recent reviews touch upon similar topics: the documentary The War Room (1993, Chris Hegedus) and the political thriller The Ides of March (2011, George Clooney).

It is suggested that audiences watch these films as well. Primary Colors is unique in that it uses a comedic angle to critique American politics. It is also refreshing that the film stays within one political party and one election - the primary election, or the election which decides who will be chosen as a certain political party's candidate for the general presidential election between the major political parties.

The film contains a fantastic hook at the beginning with an adult literacy meeting (just watch and listen). However, the film runs long and gets very drama-laden and melodramatic towards the end. It abandons its light-hearted feel, which is a mistake that leaves viewers wondering what happened to the funny satire.

Mike Nichols is a great director whose credits include Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf (1966), The Graduate (1967), and more recently Charlie Wilson's War (2007); but Nichols piles on too much final act melodrama for Primary Colors to be considered a great movie.

Nevertheless, Billy Bob Thornton and Kathy Bates make the film very watchable in key supporting roles. Adrian Lester who plays the idealistic aide is also very good (he should be more active in today's cinema).

Emma Thompson is memorable, but not realistic as the long-suffering wife of John Travolta's philandering politician. Travolta is riding the crest of a late-nineties career upswing since 1994's Pulp Fiction directed by Quinton Tarantino put him back on the Hollywood playing field; it would unfortunately be a short-lived winning streak for Travolta who would later sink back into the Hollywood doldrums with his epic box-office bomb Battlefield Earth (2000, Roger Christian).

Finally, honorable mention goes to Larry Hagman as the reluctant rival candidate; Hagman makes everything he's in better.