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Primary Colors (1998)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
20 March 1998 (USA) moreTagline:
What went down on the way to the top. morePlot:
A man joins the political campaign of a smooth-operator candidate for president of the USA. full summary | full synopsisAwards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 9 wins & 15 nominations moreNewsDesk:
(52 articles)
Slideshow: Hollywood Collectors Show Chicago Portraits of Tia Carrere, Mickey Rooney, Jonathan Frakes, More (From HollywoodChicago.com. 28 October 2009, 10:51 PM, PDT)
Mike Nichols Has Achieved Much in His Lifetime, Says AFI
(From FilmSchoolRejects. 12 October 2009, 11:51 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
Much better than I was expecting more (144 total)Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| John Travolta | ... | Governor Jack Stanton | |
| Emma Thompson | ... | Susan Stanton | |
| Billy Bob Thornton | ... | Richard Jemmons | |
| Kathy Bates | ... | Libby Holden | |
| Adrian Lester | ... | Henry Burton | |
| Maura Tierney | ... | Daisy Green | |
| Larry Hagman | ... | Gov. Fred Picker | |
| Diane Ladd | ... | Mamma Stanton | |
| Paul Guilfoyle | ... | Howard Ferguson | |
| Rebecca Walker | ... | March | |
| Caroline Aaron | ... | Lucille Kaufman | |
| Tommy Hollis | ... | William McCullison (Fat Willie) | |
| Rob Reiner | ... | Izzy Rosenblatt | |
| Ben Jones | ... | Arlen Sporken | |
| J.C. Quinn | ... | Uncle Charlie |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Mit aller Macht (Germany)Perfect Couple (Japan: English title)
Primary Colors (France)
more
MPAA:
Rated R for strong language and sexual references.Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
143 minLanguage:
EnglishColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 moreCertification:
Denmark:7 | Australia:M (re-rating after appeal) | Australia:MA (original rating) | Iceland:L | South Korea:12 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:M18 | Spain:13 | Finland:K-3 (new rating: 2001) | Argentina:13 | Belgium:KT | Canada:PG | Chile:14 | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:12 (w) | Hong Kong:IIB | Netherlands:AL | Portugal:M/12 | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:RFun Stuff
Trivia:
The lead was originally offered to Tom Hanks, who turned it down because of his friendship with then-President 'Bill Clinton'. moreGoofs:
Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Norman Asher suggests going on talk shows, his lips say, "Oprah," but the soundtrack says, "Montel." moreQuotes:
Jack Stanton: [about the cellphone] You wouldn't have found it if I hadn't thrown it out the car! moreSoundtrack:
TENNESSEE WALTZ moreFAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (144 total)
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I thought "Primary Colors" (1998:***) was pretty good. It appears to be a lot easier on "Jack Stanton," the Clinton surrogate played by John Travolta, than the book reportedly was. The movie presents "Stanton" as flawed but essentially decent (at least as decent as any politician running for high office can be). Travolta's imitation of Clinton is OK for a "Saturday Night Live" sketch, but it sometimes gets in the way of his performance over the 2-1/2 hour length of the film. However, he's often effective, and Emma Thompson is first-rate as "Susan Stanton", by turns pragmatically worldly-wise and fiercely supportive. Actually, the focal point of the film is not that of the Stantons but the young, black grandson of a highly regarded civil rights leader, who gets sucked into Stanton's roller-coaster campaign and has his idealism sorely tested. He's well-played by an actor named Adrian Lester. There are also great turns by Kathy Bates, Larry Hagman and Billy Bob Thornton, among many others.
For me, the only big drawback of the picture was the melodramatic suicide of a key player in the drama (I won't say who). I thought it was something this particular character would never do. Otherwise, "Colors" is absorbing and funny and moving nearly all the way. Good moment: The Stantons do a "60 Minutes"-like reaffirmation of their marriage, but as soon as the cameras are turned off, she yanks her hand out of his in a flash.