A Look Back at PRIMARY COLORS (1998) and THE WAR ROOM (1993)
After hearing the media's relentless obsession over President Clinton's sexual life and personal affairs (not to mention "Wag the Dog"), we get Mike Nichols' irreverent, deeply hysterical "Primary Colors" that centers on a presidential candidate trying to evade questions about purported sexual dalliances. This couldn't be a more timely subject and make no mistake, this film is about President Clinton. "Primary Colors" also reminded me of the intoxicating documentary "The War Room" from 1993, which focused on Governor Clinton's run for the presidency in 1992. The same basic premise exists for both films: the underdog aiming for the presidency amid a flurry of rumors and personal bashing.
"Primary Colors" stars John Travolta as the white-haired, doughnut-eating, Arkansas-bred Jack Stanton who vies for the presidential office. As played by Travolta, Jack is quite a charmer and full of charisma, more so than Clinton. He is even married to a Hillary Clinton-type, played to the hilt by Emma Thompson using an authentic American accent. Stanton gets help from his campaign staff headed by a James Carville-redneck-type (Billy Bob Thornton), and a promising, idealistic campaign staffer Henry Burton (Adrian Lester). Jack has fleeting sexual flings with co-workers while the staff prepares a campaign aimed at proving to the people that Stanton believes in putting the people's needs first.
Unfortunately, Stanton's sexual history is put at the forefront of the political forum and is exploited by fellow candidates, including Gov. Fred Picker (Larry Hagman in top form) who enters the race late - Picker may intentionally remind you of Ross Perot. In order to defend himself against verbal attacks and seemingly fabricated tape recordings, Jack enlists the help of an old friend, Libby Holden (an intense Kathy Bates) a.k.a. "Dustbuster," a lesbian, all-purpose troubleshooter who has no qualms about placing a gun on a man's privates.
"Primary Colors" is based on the book of the same name by Anonymous (recently known as political journalist Joe Klein), and it is rife with richly drawn characters, an acidly sharp script by Elaine May, and astute direction by Mike Nichols. It is a film that begins as comedy and slowly evolves into a dark satire - a reproach of the process by which someone like Jack Stanton gets elected despite the personal allegations.
"The War Room" is a vibrant, witty excursion into the presidential campaign of 1992 when then Gov. Clinton was running for office. The film follows the campaign process via chief political strategist James Carville and adviser George Stephanopolous, and is all set in the "war room," formerly a Little Rock newspaper office.
Carville and Stephanopolous are two of the most charismatic characters I've seen in a documentary (or film) in a long time, and they couldn't be more opposite in their physical demeanor. Carville, in his Southern drawl, is always actively making decisions whether it's about prepared speeches, the look of a campaign poster, or arguing endlessly on the phone about the other candidates or Clinton's past - "Every time somebody even farts the word 'draft,' it makes the paper." Stephanopolous is the more timid, quiet, reserved individual - he reminds me a lot of Michael J. Fox's character Alex P. Keaton in "Family Ties"; Fox subsequently played a variation of George in "The American President." George is more subtle and calm than Carville, and operates in an equally articulate manner. At one crucial point, George receives a call from a black woman claiming to have given birth to Clinton's child. George convinces the caller that she will be ridiculed in the press if she comes out with such a sensational story. This scene is reminiscent of the scene in "Primary Colors" where Stanton's advisers visit a teenage black girl claiming to have the candidate's baby.
As directed by D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus, "The War Room" is very keen on details and conversations between staff and personnel regarding the plight of the Clinton campaign. The atmosphere grows more and more tense as we get to the inevitable climax where Clinton wins the nomination in the election victory. On the eve of the election, Carville gives an emotional speech regarding the strong effort he and his aides have made in helping Clinton, and the positive effect politics has had on his life. George is even questioned by the secretary as to how he feels: "Exhausted."
"The War Room" could have used more footage of Clinton and perhaps the filmmakers could have catched him in truly private, unguarded moments as to how he really felt about the adultery charges. Still, "The War Room" and "Primary Colors" greatly succeed in capturing the political atmosphere and the exhausting process in which a candidate is elected. The irony is that Clinton and Stanton's adulterous affairs not only sidestepped their political agendas, but made them stronger candidates for the presidency. In other words, give the people what they want.
For more reviews, check out JERRY AT THE MOVIES at http://buffs.moviething.com/buffs/faust/
E-mail me with any questions, comments or general complaints at Faust667@aol.com or at jerry@movieluver.com
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