Primary Colors (1998)
Primary Colors (1998)
Primary Colors Photos
Movie Info
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Cast
as Gov. Jack Stanton
as Susan Stanton
as Richard Jemmons
as Libby Holden
as Henry Burton
as Daisy
as Gov. Fred Picker
as Mamma Stanton
as Howard Ferguson
as March
as Lucille Kaufman
as Fat Willie
as Izzy Rosenblatt
as Norman Asher
as Dewayne Smith
as Arlen Sporken
as Uncle Charlie
as Miss Walsh
as Mitch
as Ruby
as Tawana Carter
as Brad Lieberman
as Randy Culligan
as Himself
as Himself
as Himself
as Sailorman Shoreson
as Lawrence Harris
as Martha Harris
as Elegant Woman
as Charlie Martin
as Lorenzo Delgado
as Eddie Reyes
as Loretta
as Jimmy Ozio
as Jack Mandela Washington
as Sam
as Anthony Ramirez
as Peter Goldsmith
as Jennifer Rogers
as Terry Hicks
as Ella Louise
as Amalee
as Bart Nilson
as Cashmere McLeod
as Dr. Beauregard
as Danny Scanlon
as Himself
as Chubby Woman
as Shipyard Announcer
as Pundit
as Linda Feldstein
as Retiree
as Bugger Bugger Woman
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Critic Reviews for Primary Colors
All Critics (75) | Top Critics (21) | Fresh (60) | Rotten (15) | DVD (4)
As satire, it's toothless and indulgent; as drama of conscience, it's not a patch on real life...
Travolta's warmth and expansiveness effectively amplify and embellish the likable and personable side of Stanton.
A smart and savvy piece of work.
Dramatically weak.
The film seldom displays much in the way of directorial hallmarks.
Primary Colors is the Mr. Smith Goes to Washington of our jaded era.
Audience Reviews for Primary Colors
This movie did not age well. There's a scene early in the democratic primary race where everyone in a packed diner is glued to the small television set, watching and commenting on an interview - "Today Show" style - of our candidate and his wife. Either our political culture was very different back in 1992, or this is an example of the movie's unrealistic, self-absorbed sensationalism. Without any clear sense of direction, we watch the plot stumble into one manufactured problem after another. Instead of insight into modern politics, we get guns, drugs, heart attacks, old men sleeping with 17 year olds, and gay sex - all in one race to become the democratic nominee.
Super Reviewer
Primary Colours is a political satire following a southern governor who bears a striking resemblance to Bill Clinton on his presidential campaign trail. This film was obviously aimed far more at mainstream audiences than I was hoping for and so seems very tame to anyone used to the likes of The Thick Of It or even 70s sitcom Yes Minister. The story is shown through the eyes of the idealistic grandson of a civil rights activist played by Adrian Lester, but as we don't get to learn much about him, there is little in the way of emotional involvement; in fact the whole "human drama" aspect of it felt very forced. Travolta's drawling womaniser is shown to be basically an honest and straight talking man with one flaw, and this lack of satirical bite also compromises his character. What does make this film however are the supporting characters; partly Billy Bob Thornton's red neck adviser but mainly Kathy Bates who tears through the film like a large lesbian version of hurricane Katrina. She has the best character and most of the best lines as a disillusioned ex-activist but once again the outcome of her part in the story felt a bit contrived and hollow. It does have wit, intelligence and a message, namely that this era of spin is a Frankenstain's monster that the complicity of a gossip-hungry public and sensationalist media have helped create, and it is always engaging; I just wished it had the cynical, satirical teeth to go in for the kill.
Super Reviewer
A well done, if though occasionally flawed, political comedy/drama that features two golden performances from John Travolta and Kathy Bates. While it does get over-dramatic at some parts and some of the characters could've been fleshed out a tad better, for the most part this is a well executed take on politics and how the people involved in them are never what they seem to be. I wish they had left the ending open-ended and daring the viewer to make their own choice as to what they would do in the situation posed in the film's conclusion, but I understand Nichols instead going with the more accepting finale.
Super Reviewer
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