Well my spy from the New Jersey area (well that's where he is living now, prior to this he lived in eastern Europe and had shady dealings that I barely know about) saw PRIMARY COLORS the feature. Now we all know of the book by ANONYMOUS, which by the way is a way to get my support. I just love them people out there that are willing to get a little mystery going, stir up the public's imagination, and to bring a little romance to this grey world we live in. Tis why I do the spy names, makes one feel as if the world HAS secret agents in it that DON'T assassinate people. It makes the wind crisper and bottled water a bit more tasty. But ANYWAY... On to PRIMARY COLORS, this is probably one of the most anticipated films, in the since that ol Matt Drudge is chomping at the bit to take a gander at this baby!!! Come on Matt, I know you are (PS I hate you for already seeing TITANIC) Looks like from this person's perspective it's a winner.
There ARE SPOILERS!!!! Suffice to say the spy below says, "This had to be one of the finest character driven movies I've seen in YEARS. The closest to it, was 'The Shawshank Redemption' No explosions, no shocks or scares, just pure, believable characters, a glimpse in the turbulant life of a campaign, and the tolls it takes on all involved." WOW two winners at the "great" level in the same day. Hmmmmm, I certainly hope so, wouldn't it be a grander world if they were?
I got to see a screening of "Primary Colors", Starring John Travolta, Emma Thompson, Billy Bob Thorntan, Kathy Bates, and Adrian Lister. It was Directed by Mike Nichols, Mr. "The Graduate" himself.
Call me Kent... Verbal Kent. I may not be a rat, but I sure do talk alot....
Now on to the SPOILER filled review:
The movie opens with a hand shaking other hands, and a voice-over explaining the signifigance of each type of shake. Holding the wrist means one thing, clasping the hand means deep attachment to a particular statement, excetera. Camera pans up, and here we see John Travolta, with a very Bill Clinton-esqe hair style. (John's weight size on screen caused many members of the audience to laugh, weird group eh?)
When the Camera reverses, we meet Henry, whose last name escapes me right now, played by Adrian Lister. (And who, mark my words, has the making of a fine, if not exceptional acting career.)
From the beginning of the movie, everyone around Henry is convinced that he has already joined the campaign to get Jack Stanton (Travolta), to be the Democratic nominee for President. Henry is not commited yet, feeling he needs to see inside the perspective candidate before he can commit. A session with a group of minorities that were taking reading lessons convinces Henry to at least hear Jack out.
Watching Jack and his wife Susan interact with so-called "common-folk" is enough for Henry, and he signs on as one of Jack's many campaign assistants, and the movie is off and running.
But there are many hurtles to overcome on the road to the Nominee. Jack can't seem to keep his hands off women, nearly any woman for that matter. (Including the teacher of the reading group he met at the start of the film.) To which his wife Susan, (Thompson) turns a blind eye to. Settleing on getting Jack to the White House first. In like a frieght train rolls Billy Bob Thornton, as another campaign manager, with an eye for how people react, and an abilitiy to predict the movement of potential opposition.
Henry also has his problems, his girlfriend is a member of the Black Press, and she isn't too keen that her boyfriend is going to campaign for a white man. (Did I happen to mention that Henry was black, and that his Grandfather was some kind of Civil Rights leader from the 60's? Of course I didn't!)
But Henry is undetered, he feels he can see greatness in Jack, his shortcomings aside. And the movie flip-flops on Jack's good/bad side more often than a politician changes policy. Then the real fun begins. When Henry's girlfriend reveals that she knows about Jack being arrested in the 60's, but was let go due to political connections, the team smells trouble, and decides to be pro-active about any other possible bombshell the Press might come up with.
That means, all of Jack's infidelities, all his sins must come to light if the team is going to be able to spin it in Jack's favor. This leads to a hysterical scene with Billy Bob Thornton making an outragious analogy to the press and it's treatment of public figures.
But Susan feels that they need someone who has a take no prisioners attitude to help them out of this press mess. In walks Libby, (Kathy Bates) a once prominant campaign manager, who had a bit of a "down turn" and had to spend time in a rubber room.
But in she walks, like the earth stands still at her voice, and dammit everyone in the theatre did too. Libby announces, almost immediatly that dirt can't stay hidden forever, and demonstrates her innate abilities to see it coming by predicting that Susan's former Hair-Stylist is going to a tabloid about her affair with Jack.
Next day...
The fit hits the shan.
The movie deals with the tumbling dice of politics, one minute your the chosen one, the next a flavor of the month, all seen through the eyes of Henry, who hopes for a perfect candidate for a less than perfect world.
Through scandal after scandal, including one involving a pregnant 17 year old girl, the movie shifts on-screen as it does through Henry's eyes. And that's one of the things about this movie that is great.
The end, brings no surprises, but you couldn't help but be moved by Bates' performance. Nor could you blaime Henry for putting in his resignation, to which Jack responds, "I don't accept it."
The movie never says if Jack wins, or if Henry does stay with the campaign, but I didn't feel that was the point.
This had to be one of the finest character driven movies I've seen in YEARS. The closest to it, was "The Shawshank Redemption" No explosions, no shocks or scares, just pure, believable characters, a glimpse in the turbulant life of a campaign, and the tolls it takes on all involved.
They never say for sure, but you know that Henry stays on with the campaign, and you know that Jack will eventually win. That's another thing that made this movie so great, no definate answers, no "The lesson learned was.." just real life. Just excellent film making, just superb acting.
I applauded at the end, so did some other people. I know this movie will get slaughtered in the final cut, because Universal is looking for a hit, not a thought provoking movie. I was saying to my friend aloud, that I wish Mirimax, or Polygram was releasing this movie, because they would have the balls to keep it as it was. I call this, the "Fargo" of the politcal kind.
The movie clocked in at 2 hours, 22 minutes, I bet ya it's released at 1 hour 45 minutes, and that it won't be half as powerful as it was tonight. One last kudo to a surprise visit from Larry Hagman, as Candidate Hopeful Picker, who pulls an 11th hour appearance, and a top notch performance.
Kudos all-around, don't change a thing PLEASE!! Oh.. But One P.S.? Lose Henry's Black Press Girlfriend, my dead cat gives a more emotional performance than she does.
Peace Harry!
Verbel Kent.
