In the tradition of This Is Spinal Tap, producer/ director/ star Tim Robbins' Bob Roberts is a satire disguised as a documentary. Robbins plays the titular Roberts, a wealthy, well-connected young man running for a senatorial seat in Pennsylvania. On the surface, Roberts is an ingratiating glad-hander, a sincere believer in the restoration of such intangibles as national pride, family values, etc. But the longer Roberts is followed about by documentary filmmaker Brian Murray, the more we become
aware that the candidate is a textbook case of cynicism and contempt. Only Giancarlo Esposito, a reporter for an underground newspaper, is willing to dig beneath Roberts' veneer--a habit that leads to the film's ironic conclusion. Several well-known actors make cameo appearances as TV commentators, notably Tim Robbins' longtime partner Susan Sarandon. Bob Roberts started out as a Tim Robbins-directed short subject for the TV series Saturday Night Live, then was expanded into a $4 million feature. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
A sort of political This Is Spinal Tap, Bob Roberts is both a stimulating social satire and, for thinking people, a depressing commentary on the devolution of the American political system.
A very funny, sometimes prescient satire of American politics, and of the comparatively small, voting portion of the electorate that makes a Bob Roberts phenomenon possible.
Watching it might be an education for some voters, who will recognize in the movie political techniques they see being practiced all the time in real life.
Robbins's satire is savvy and complex enough to send mixed signals to the viewers about politics and pop culture; both Democrats and Republicans may find supporting evidence for their arguments in his picture.
Excelente análise sobre o sistema político americano e a forma com que a manipulação da mídia pode criar novos heróis. Atuação brilhante do diretor/roteirista Robbins, que também compôs as músicas de seu personagem.
I hate these boring political dramas that try to be slightly satirical, as if that's going to entertain people. Politics is so boring, and this movie doesn't do anything (except maybe adding Rickman as eye candy) to make the audience interested in it. It's not one of the worst movies out there, but I really didn't
care for it.
Bob Roberts is a hilarious political satire mockumentary, relating the events of a fictional senatorial campaign. Despite coming out in 1992, many of the issues it brings up are surprisingly timely (occurring in the midst of the Gulf War), it has a lot of interesting (if not unfamiliar) things to say on our political
system. The film's politics are driven by liberal-cliches, but it's done in a smart way that mocks the overall system rather than one party, and does so with some poignant thoughts from the great Gore Vidal (who also stars in the film). By far the best things about the film is the unbelievable cast filled with cameos from the top actors of the 90s (James Spader, John Cusack, etc), but also a number of laugh out loud lines such as:"Don't smoke crack. It's a ghetto drug." "I could use a strong finisher myself sometimes "
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