Bulworth (1998)

75% of critics liked it
(63 reviews)
59% of users liked it
(19,185 ratings)

Warren Beatty directed, co-produced (with Pieter Jan Brugge), co-scripted (with Jeremy Pikser), and stars in this political satire, a comedy drama about a U.S. senator who decides to start speaking the truth. Despondent California senator Jay Bulworth (Beatty), up for re-election, is disillusioned… More Warren Beatty directed, co-produced (with Pieter Jan Brugge), co-scripted (with Jeremy Pikser), and stars in this political satire, a comedy drama about a U.S. senator who decides to start speaking the truth. Despondent California senator Jay Bulworth (Beatty), up for re-election, is disillusioned by the usual campaign banalities; his marriage to Constance (Christine Baranski) seems equally hollow. In the midst of a nervous breakdown, Bulworth goes without sleep or food for three days and takes out a ten-million-dollar insurance policy on himself while arranging his own assassination. Drinking during a return to Los Angeles, Bulworth is scheduled to speak at an African-American church in South Central L.A. Once there, he tosses aside his prepared speech, startling both the audience and his campaign manager, Murphy (Oliver Platt), by improvising truthful remarks instead of the familiar rhetoric. These loose-cannon salvos gain the attention of an attractive young woman, Nina (Halle Berry). Bulworth finds an exhilaration with this new freestyle approach, and after shocking a gathering in Beverly Hills with further fulminations, Bulworth invites Nina and her girlfriends into his limo. During a spaced-out sojourn at one of South Central's more frenzied after-hours clubs, Bulworth gains respect for hip-hop culture.Still reeling from insights gained by this nightlife, he arrives the next day for a fundraising function at the Beverly Wilshire, startling everyone with a diatribe delivered in the intonations of a rap artist. His interest in Nina and his new optimistic outlook on life give Bulworth a sense of elation and a will to live. He phones to call off the hit, but the gears have been set in motion. After an assumed hitman turns up during a church appearance, Bulworth flees, and Nina offers him a safe-house hideout at the home of her family, veterans of the civil rights movement. Here Bulworth goes through the final steps in his transformation -- making a Kennedy-styled connection with the disenfranchised as he tunes in to forgotten memories of the '60s. Outfitted in homeboy clothing, the born-again Bulworth heads for a TV station to unleash even more caustic comments on the American political scene. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 47 min.
Directed By: Warren Beatty
Written By: Jeremy Pikser, Warren Beatty
Genres: Drama, Romance, Comedy

In Theaters: May 22, 1998 Wide
On DVD: Mar 16, 1999
Studio: 20th Century Fox

Critic Reviews

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
What gives Bulworth its unique character is that all this silliness is periodically punctuated by cogent, carefully thought-out mini-manifestos...
Janet Maslin, New York Times
Bulworth works, with both urbanity and chutzpah, by viewing political puppeteering with an all-purpose jaundiced eye.
Charles Taylor, Salon.com
As writer, director and star, Beatty flails all over the screen, but he's also made the only recent political satire that draws blood.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
Bulworth is an angry movie, but Beatty is savvy enough to recognize that people respond better to comedies than serious "issue films," so he has camouflaged his message beneath the surface of this original, incisive satire.
Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle
A shrewd political observer for decades, Beatty has fashioned a hilarious morality tale that delivers a surprisingly potent, angry message beneath the laughs.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Bulworth plays like a cry of frustrated comic rage. It's about an archetypal character who increasingly seems to stand for our national mood: the guy who's fed up and isn't going to take it anymore.
Heather Boerner, Common Sense Media
Smug but fun political satire for adults only.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Manages to courageously and seriously address political issues head-on while remaining a funny and entertaining romp.
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
A liberal call to action -- a satire driven by equal parts disgust and hope.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
It's a sharp, brave movie, a little ragged around the edges, but that's to its advantage.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Beatty is a very shielded actor, but he shrewdly finds ways to work within his limitations, and Bulworth is a tour-de-force for him.
Chuck O'Leary, FulvueDrive-in.com
Jaw-droppingly abysmal. Seldom has a major star embarrassed himself so badly.
Chris Gore, Film Threat
While the ending is predictable and unsatisfying, the political issues that the film raises (racism, et. al) are worthy of further discussion.
Brandon Judell, Critics Inc./America Online
one of the hardest-hitting and unblinkingly brave political satires to hit American screens since "Dr. Strangelove."
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews
A middling funny film with a good, if silly, performance by Warren Beatty, and not much more.
Dragan Antulov, rec.arts.movies.reviews
An effective satire that deserves recommendation.
Maitland McDonagh, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Beatty's contribution to the ranks of recent political satire is bold, merciless and frequently very funny, and his performance is just plain fearless.
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
sometimes ambitious failures are more interesting to watch than modest successes, and, though "Bulworth" may offend... it's unlikely to bore anyone.
Eugene Novikov, Film Blather
Warren Beatty is wonderfully wacky here.
John R. McEwen, Film Quips Online
The plot is clever. The acting is genuine.

Read all 23 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Thomas J

A decent social/political satire.
Jason R

One of my all time favorite movies ever. Engaging characters, great humor, and poignant political satire (if you listening closely to Warren Beatty's raps).
Daniel J D

Simultaneously very silly and poignant. It's like Chris Rock or Robin Williams trying to make a satirical, humorous political film, only it came out much sooner. A great cast and crew, but it seems just a bit too stereotypical for a movie so bent on destroying stereotypes.
Michael G

Ehhh...
Aaron N

Bulworth is basically having a midlife crisis and decides to have himself assassinated. Because of this, he doesn't have to care about anything, so he starts to tell things like they are to everyone. At first it's shocking, but then people accept it and embrace. Meanwhile,… More
Bulworth is basically having a midlife crisis and decides to have himself assassinated. Because of this, he doesn't have to care about anything, so he starts to tell things like they are to everyone. At first it's shocking, but then people accept it and embrace. Meanwhile, Bulworth has taken a liking to black culture and channels his energy through that. The supporting cast fits well, and Warren Beatty is great. He wrote, directs, stars, and raps in this movie and it's hilarious.
Alec B

One of the braver comedies I have seen. It takes a lot of risks and succeeds and fails in many regards. I think Warren Beatty gives a terrific performance in this film, as does Oliver Platt as his campaign manager. There are some hilarious moments, likes the scene where Beatty tries… More
One of the braver comedies I have seen. It takes a lot of risks and succeeds and fails in many regards. I think Warren Beatty gives a terrific performance in this film, as does Oliver Platt as his campaign manager. There are some hilarious moments, likes the scene where Beatty tries to operate a car with hydrolics. Unfortunatley The writing flounders at times, for a movie that seems to be challengeing a lot of political norms it views many things as black and white, which is far too simplistic. But I liked the film overall esspecially the ending where two infamous photographs are recreated.
Curt C

I love the opening scene. Tons of personality, completely captivating, and it all comes from a simple presence; a politician decides to start telling the truth. The opening scene still gives me chills.
Marcus W

Great idea - politician has a nervous breakdown and starts telling the truth, which makes him popular with the voters and unpopular with everyone else. Sadly they try too hard, chuck in waaay too many subplots (him becoming "black" never really works) and push it until it… More
Great idea - politician has a nervous breakdown and starts telling the truth, which makes him popular with the voters and unpopular with everyone else. Sadly they try too hard, chuck in waaay too many subplots (him becoming "black" never really works) and push it until it collapses in on itself and at the end it fizzles out where there should be a big bang. Platt is completely brilliant though. Man Of The Year with Robin Williams did a better job.
Dimitris S

What a thrilling...bore...Ha,it could've been so much better.The ludicrous policy of the constitutional personas in and out of the socialite isn't Beatty's forte.Come to think of it he strides his way alongside those people he attempts to mock and he marginally declines… More
What a thrilling...bore...Ha,it could've been so much better.The ludicrous policy of the constitutional personas in and out of the socialite isn't Beatty's forte.Come to think of it he strides his way alongside those people he attempts to mock and he marginally declines to denude them.Stripping your glove doesn't make you Rita Haywarth...
Nate H

Awkward. Not really funny, totally unsubtle and the idea of Warren Beatty rapping is distracting outlandish. I'm pretty sure he only made this movie to hook up with Halle Berry.