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Primary Colors

1998

Mike Nichols

John Travolta, Emma Thompson, Billy Bob Thornton, Kathy Bates ...

5.7

4,507

Drama Henry, the idealistic grandson of a civil rights leader, joins the campaign of presidential hopeful Jack Stanton, the progressive and libidenous governor of a southern state. Also on the team are Richard, a redneck campaign strategist, and Libby, a gay, gun-toting trouble shooter. Stanton's roller coaster, scandal-ridden, campaign opens Henry's eyes to the harsh realities that are all a part of being a politician seeking office in late 20th century America. [+]

	Author	Review
United States	Roger Ebert rogerebert.com	"It's a superb film--funny, insightful and very wise about the realities of political life (…) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 4)"	POS
United States	Todd McCarthy Variety	"Frequently funny, wonderfully performed, eerily evocative of recent history and gratifyingly blunt (...) pic also lacks something crucial at its center that prevents it from being an entirely credible portrait of its subject"	NEU
United States	Duane Byrge The Hollywood Reporter	"It's easily the funniest and, perhaps, most cynical portrait of a political campaign since 'The Candidate'"	POS
United States	Stephen Hunter The Washington Post	"So good is Thompson, in fact, that you feel her presence in a way you don't feel Travolta's (...) The movie captures the considerable pleasures of the campaign lifestyle"	POS
United Kingdom	Caroline Westbrook Empire	"Spot on satire with pitch perfect performances and a colourful script (…) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)"	POS
United States	James Berardinelli ReelViews	"While the film is smart and perceptive in its take on American politics, it's dramatically weak (…) Rating: ★★★½ (out of 4)"	NEU
United States	Peter Travers Rolling Stone	"'Primary Colors' emerges as a big winner by refusing to be a vendetta or a valentine (...) [A] provocative film [that] touches a nerve"	POS
United Kingdom	Almar Haflidason BBC	"A gripping drama edged with sly humour (...) Nichols' superb direction brings out the most in an absorbing and clever script (…) Rating: ★★★★★ (out of 5)"	POS

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