Mike Nichols' cinematic mirror on the rise of
the Clintons, Primary Colors proved to be an adept and affecting
story of the tension between political values, electoral success
and human frailty. No need to discuss the plot. It is largely
history. It is an actor's film, so Nichol's direction is also
somewhat besides the point.
The film's failure is Travolta as the Clinton
character. Granted, I have been spoiled by the real Clinton, a
masterful communicator and tactician, and in my judgment, the
greatest American politician. Travolta misses him. He has very
few flashes of the confluence of weakness and sincerity, warmth
and opportunism, self-pity and bitterness. Since he cannot get
close to the whole package, we get Clinton the warm, and next
scene, Clinton the self-pitying, etc . . . It is a tall order to
fill, but Travolta does not come close. At times, you think,
"Oh come on. How could they be buying this?" and that
thought burdens the responses of many other characters. Granted,
I usually have those thoughts when Clinton speaks. But I rarely
question the reality that others are thinking "Yes!"
while I'm internally retching. Travolta fails to so convey.
Still, the screenplay is tight. The characters
talk the talk of presidential campaign work, yet we are not
burdened by the mundane and boring. Divergence into the
philosophical is not stilted or preachy. Every one of the
supporting players is good, and Kathy Bates as a political
operative dominates the second half of the picture. Additionally,
Adrian (?) as the true liberal sucked into the expedience and
fervor of a presidential race serves as an effective guide for
the moral ambivalence of the audience. Finally, Emma Thompson is
excellent as the increasingly embittered and mercenary political
wife, and Larry Hagman's turn as a morally tainted dark horse is
nicely done.
Best, Nichols never gets you rooting for
anyone, and in the end, that sense makes the film. You may like
Travolta and Thompson, but you feel tarnished for doing so. You
may hate them, but you recognize their failures in yourself and
politicans you admire. You are never on the bus.
Eight out of 10 9s.
