Bob Roberts

Critics Consensus

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97%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 39

78%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 7,607
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Bob Roberts Photos

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Movie Info

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
  • Rating:
    R
  • Genre:
    Comedy
  • Directed By:
    Tim Robbins
  • Written By:
    Tim Robbins
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Paramount

Cast

Tim Robbins
as Bob Roberts
Giancarlo Esposito
as Bugs Raplin
Ray Wise
as Chet MacGregor
Rebecca Jenkins
as Delores Perrigrew
Brian Doyle-Murray
as Terry Manchester
Harry Lennix
as Franklin Dockett
John Ottavino
as Clark Anderson
Robert Stanton
as Bart Macklerooney
Gore Vidal
as Sen. Brickley Paiste
John Cusack
as `Cutting Edge' Host
James Spader
as News Anchor Chuck Marin
Alan Rickman
as Lukas Hart, III
Helen Hunt
as Reporter Rose Pondell
Peter Gallagher
as News Anchor Dan Riley
Susan Sarandon
as News Anchor Tawna Titan
Fred Ward
as News Anchor Chip Daley
Brian Murray
as Terry Manchester
Jack Black
as Roger
Matthew Faber
as Calvin
Matt McGrath
as Burt
Shannon Holt
as Rita the Obsessive Fan
Brent Hinkley
as Bif the Patriot
Pamela Reed
as News Anchor Carol Cruise
Rhonda Aldrich
Tom Atkins
as Dr. Caleb Menck
Merrilee Dale
as Polly Roberts
Eva Amurri Martino
as Child in Hosptial
Jim West
as Bus Driver
Lynne Thigpen
as Kelly Noble
Bingo O'Malley
as Robert Roberts Sr.
Kathleen Chalfant
as Constance Roberts
Ruth Lesko
as School Teacher
Kelly Willis
as Clarissa Flan
Anita Gillette
as The Mayor's Wife
Charles R. Altman
as Debate Moderator
Staci Marie Marcum
as Miss Philadelphia
Shira Piven
as Penn State Protester
Steve Pink
as Penn State Protester
Fisher Stevens
as Reporter Rock Bork
Gil Robbins
as Reverend Best
Angela Hall
as Choir Soloist
Jery Hewitt
as Stunts #2
Terry Lee Robbins
as Organ Player
Bob Balaban
as Producer Michael Janes, `Cutting Edge Live'
June Stein
as Carol, `Cutting Edge Live'
Allan F. Nicholls
as Director, `Cutting Edge Live'
Adam Simon
as Head Writer, `Cutting Edge Live'
Ned Bellamy
as Uzi Kornhauser, `Cutting Edge Live'
Natalie Strong
as Kala Kornhauser, `Cutting Edge Live'
Robert Hegyes
as Reporter Ernesto Galleano
Larry John Meyers
as Police Spokesman
Anthony di Leo Jr.
as Reporter
Pat Logan
as Policeman
Burnice Brourman
as Nurse
Tom Tully
as Reporter
Anthony DiLeo Jr.
as Reporter
Jane Crawford
as Reporter
Gabrielle Robbins
as Singing Vigilante
Adele Robbins
as Vigilante
Brian Powell
as Vigilante
Paul Quinn
as Vigilante
Dean Robinson
as Vigilante
Jeffrey Foster
as Vigilante
Jeremy Piven
as Candle Seller
Lee Arenberg
as Religious Zealot
David Sinaiko
as Liberal
David Strathairn
as Bug's Attorney Mack Laflin
Ann Talman
as Reporter
Lamont Arnold
as Reporter
Hal O'Leary
as Senator Haydn
Don Brockett
as Chairman
Linda King
as DC Reporter
Nichole Bixler
as Dancer
Susan Shaw
as Dancer
Kristin Altfather
as Bob Roberts's Dancer
Jennifer Clippinger
as Bob Roberts's Dancer
Lori Doycich
as Bob Roberts's Dancer
Crystal Galipeau
as Bob Roberts's Dancer
Tracey Generalovich
as Bob Roberts's Dancer
Julie Harkness
as Bob Roberts's Dancer
Nadine Isenegger
as Bob Roberts's Dancer
Shari Jackson
as Bob Roberts's Dancer
Stephanie Lang
as Bob Roberts's Dancer
Erika Lingley
as Bob Roberts's Dancer
Cheryl Mann
as Bob Roberts's Dancer
Michelle Nagy
as Bob Roberts's Dancer
Keri Nowe
as Bob Roberts's Dancer
Elena Porco
as Bob Roberts's Dancer
Joy Short
as Bob Roberts's Dancer
Carolyn Sibray
as Bob Roberts's Dancer
Jennifer Stetor
as Bob Roberts's Dancer
Janine Willett
as Bob Roberts's Dancer
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News & Interviews for Bob Roberts

Alan Rickman: 1946-2016
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Critic Reviews for Bob Roberts

All Critics (39) | Top Critics (11) | Fresh (38) | Rotten (1)

  • After a summer in Hollywood fantasyland, at last we have an American movie that rattles our cage-and pokes a sharp spear into the body politic. Now that's entertainment.

    February 8, 2018 | Full Review…

    David Ansen

    Newsweek
    Top Critic

  • This nose-thumbing mock documentary is so prescient, so astonishingly up-to-the-minute, it creates the eerie effect of having been ripped from tomorrow's headlines.

    September 7, 2011 | Rating: B- | Full Review…

    Owen Gleiberman

    Entertainment Weekly
    Top Critic

  • A sometimes brilliant if overloaded pseudodocumentary satire.

    July 8, 2009 | Full Review…

    Jonathan Rosenbaum

    Chicago Reader
    Top Critic

  • 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.

    June 10, 2008

    Todd McCarthy

    Variety
    Top Critic

  • Bob Roberts is not merely a satirical fictional biopic, but a wry exploration of the relationship between political reality and manufactured image.

    February 9, 2006 | Full Review…

    Geoff Andrew

    Time Out
    Top Critic

  • 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.

    May 20, 2003 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

    Vincent Canby

    New York Times
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (39)

Audience Reviews for Bob Roberts

  • Jun 25, 2017
    Gets a bit too peachy at times, but overall the political commentary and satire play well (arguably even more so now than in '92).
    Alec B Super Reviewer
  • Feb 14, 2013
    Decent American political satire which sadly lacks teeth.
    Marcus W Super Reviewer
  • Jan 17, 2012
    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 "
    Jeffrey M Super Reviewer
  • Jan 20, 2011
    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.
    Aj V Super Reviewer
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