Primary Colors (1998)

80% of critics liked it
(75 reviews)
56% of users liked it
(18,916 ratings)

Mike Nichols directed this Elaine May screenplay adapted from the 1996 bestseller by "Anonymous" (Joe Klein), who fictionalized Bill Clinton's first presidential campaign. In the New Hampshire primary, Governor Jack Stanton (John Travolta) convinces Henry Burton (Adrian Lester), grandson of a… More Mike Nichols directed this Elaine May screenplay adapted from the 1996 bestseller by "Anonymous" (Joe Klein), who fictionalized Bill Clinton's first presidential campaign. In the New Hampshire primary, Governor Jack Stanton (John Travolta) convinces Henry Burton (Adrian Lester), grandson of a respected civil rights pioneer, to become his deputy campaign manager. Stanton's smart wife Susan (Emma Thompson) always comes through with public support for her philandering husband. The film's parallel for James Carville is Stanton's redneck advisor Richard Jemmons (Billy Bob Thornton), who knows every strategy and tactic but worries, "The woman thing, that's the killer." Sure enough, problems during the New Hampshire primary include charges of adultery. To get a handle on past peccadillos, Stanton's staff brings in an old family friend, lesbian Libby Holden (Kathy Bates), who knows how to clean up dirt. Stanton, a strong debater, moves on to Florida and New York. When one opposing candidate drops dead of a heart attack, he's replaced by Florida's Governor Fred Picker (Larry Hagman), but Holden holds the skeleton key to the skeleton in Picker's closet. Just how the Stantons put this information to use reveals whether they are ruthless politicians or inspirational leaders with ideals. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 2 hr. 23 min.
Directed By: Mike Nichols
Written By: Elaine May
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Mar 20, 1998 Wide
On DVD: Sep 8, 1998
Studio: Universal

Critic Reviews

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
A smart and savvy piece of work.
Todd McCarthy, Variety
Travolta's warmth and expansiveness effectively amplify and embellish the likable and personable side of Stanton.
Susan Stark, Detroit News
The movie itself makes no judgment. It's smart enough to ask you to do that by yourself and for yourself.
David Denby, New York Magazine
This entertaining but rather peculiar movie asks extraordinary questions, and I wish it were better equipped to give the answers.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
Primary Colors doesn't even attempt an answer. It's content just going along for the ride. It's too busy having fun.
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly
Adapting Joe Klein's roman a clef of the same name, ferociously witty screenwriter Elaine May and her smooth old compatriot in comedy, director Mike Nichols, have made a zingy drama and have staffed it well.
Charles Cassady, Common Sense Media
Well-acted drama full of Clinton-era jabs.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
A savvy and thought-provoking look at the nature of contemporary American politics.
Jon Popick, rec.arts.movies.reviews
Travolta is amazingly Clintonesque as Stanton, a role that I never believed he could pull off.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
The film owes a few doggie bones to "Wag the Dog," which came first in pointing out what Primary Colors only seconds.
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
Primary Colors successfully straddles the line between comedy and tragedy.
Gary Brown, Houston Community Newspapers
Primary Colors becomes a political morality play, and quite frankly, its mechanics cause it to crawl in across the finish line.
Derek Adams, Time Out
As satire, it's toothless and indulgent; as drama of conscience, it's not a patch on real life...
James Plath, Reel.com
A spot-on political satire which ranks with The Candidate, All the President's Men, and Wag the Dog as one of our best films about power and the Presidency.
Chris Gore, Film Threat
It used to be that we had to wait 20 years for the fictionalization of history -- now that gap seems to have closed to less than five years. Kinda sad. But also kinda entertaining!
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews
John Travolta has himself a good deal of fun with his take-off on President Clinton.
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
an alarmingly topical comedy-drama that dredges up far more issues than it can address in its two-and-a-half hours. But give Nichols, writer Elaine May and everyone else an 'A' for effort.
John R. McEwen, Film Quips Online
John Travolta continues to establish himself as one of the best actors of the younger generation, and this may be his best job yet.
Margaret A. McGurk, Cincinnati Enquirer
Mike Nichols and screenwriter Elaine May have produced one of the smartest, funniest political movies of the past 20 years.
Kevin N. Laforest, Montreal Film Journal
The film asks if it matters if a man's got a questionable personal life if he's good at his job, and God knows this is a relevant question.

Read all 21 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

xGary X

Primary Colours is a political satire following a southern governor who bears a striking resemblance to Bill Clinton on his presidential campaign trail. This film was obviously aimed far more at mainstream audiences than I was hoping for and so seems very tame to anyone used to the… More
Primary Colours is a political satire following a southern governor who bears a striking resemblance to Bill Clinton on his presidential campaign trail. This film was obviously aimed far more at mainstream audiences than I was hoping for and so seems very tame to anyone used to the likes of The Thick Of It or even 70s sitcom Yes Minister. The story is shown through the eyes of the idealistic grandson of a civil rights activist played by Adrian Lester, but as we don't get to learn much about him, there is little in the way of emotional involvement; in fact the whole "human drama" aspect of it felt very forced. Travolta's drawling womaniser is shown to be basically an honest and straight talking man with one flaw, and this lack of satirical bite also compromises his character. What does make this film however are the supporting characters; partly Billy Bob Thornton's red neck adviser but mainly Kathy Bates who tears through the film like a large lesbian version of hurricane Katrina. She has the best character and most of the best lines as a disillusioned ex-activist but once again the outcome of her part in the story felt a bit contrived and hollow. It does have wit, intelligence and a message, namely that this era of spin is a Frankenstain's monster that the complicity of a gossip-hungry public and sensationalist media have helped create, and it is always engaging; I just wished it had the cynical, satirical teeth to go in for the kill.
Dan S

A well done, if though occasionally flawed, political comedy/drama that features two golden performances from John Travolta and Kathy Bates. While it does get over-dramatic at some parts and some of the characters could've been fleshed out a tad better, for the most part this is… More
A well done, if though occasionally flawed, political comedy/drama that features two golden performances from John Travolta and Kathy Bates. While it does get over-dramatic at some parts and some of the characters could've been fleshed out a tad better, for the most part this is a well executed take on politics and how the people involved in them are never what they seem to be. I wish they had left the ending open-ended and daring the viewer to make their own choice as to what they would do in the situation posed in the film's conclusion, but I understand Nichols instead going with the more accepting finale.
Cassandra M

#4 Primary Colours Okay, technically, Travolta doesn?t play a president in Primary Colours, he plays a presidential candidate. But it can be argued that Travolta?s character - a womanizing, intelligent Southern governor - is based upon the pre-presidential days of one William… More
#4 Primary Colours Okay, technically, Travolta doesn?t play a president in Primary Colours, he plays a presidential candidate. But it can be argued that Travolta?s character - a womanizing, intelligent Southern governor - is based upon the pre-presidential days of one William Jefferson Clinton (Bill to us). President Speak: "We can do incredible things. We can change this country. I'm gonna win this thing. Look me in the eye, Henry, and tell me that you don't want to be a part of it."
Daniel J D

Definitely an important movie. A bit subversive at parts, but easily the best presidential election movie I've seen. A bit too silly in many parts, but it also manages to be pretty intense near the end. The movie asks a lot of serious questions about politics and yourself.
jay n

Emma Thompson & Kathy Bates stand out but everyone is good. Could have stood trim here and there.
Sarah G

John Travolta is the spitting image of Bill Clinton in this.
Alec B

The film almost lost me in its final moments. What starts as a indictment of the political process ends on what to me is a falsely hopeful note. However the other 3/4 of the film is pretty amazing and is full of great comedic performances that never loose the right touch of realism.
Sunil J

Pretty well-written political thriller.
Moe E

John Travolta as Bill Clinton... Might have thought it was funny if I hadn't suffered through a long 8 years of that scumbag's administration...

Read all 9 featured audience ratings

Cast

            John Travolta as Gov. Jack Stanton

            Emma Thompson as Susan Stanton

            Billy Bob Thornton as Richard Jemmons

            Kathy Bates as Libby Holden

            Adrian Lester as Henry Burton

            Maura Tierney as Daisy

            Larry Hagman as Gov. Fred Picker

            Diane Ladd as Mamma Stanton

            Paul Guilfoyle as Howard Ferguson

            Rebecca Walker as March

            Caroline Aaron as Lucille Kaufman

            Tommy Hollis as Fat Willie

            Rob Reiner as Izzy Rosenblatt

            Ben Jones as Arlen Sporken

            J.C. Quinn as Uncle Charlie

            Allison Janney as Miss Walsh

            Robert Klein as Norman Asher

            Mykelti Williamson as Dewayne Smith

            Tony Shalhoub as Eddie Reyes

            Brian Markinson as Randy Culligan

            Ned Eisenberg as Brad Lieberman

            O'Neal Compton as Sailorman Shoreson

            Chelcie Ross as Charlie Martin

            Bonnie Bartlett as Martha Harris

            John Vargas as Lorenzo Delgado

            Stacy Edwards as Jennifer Rogers

            Gia Carides as Cashmere McLeod

            John Milford
            
            Robert Symonds as Bart Nilson

            Harrison Young as Sam

            Sally Insul
            
See full cast

Primary Colors (1998)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Cast

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