Film Snail

6.3

Primary Colors

R·1998·143m

Drama

Summary

In this adaptation of the best-selling roman à clef about Bill Clinton's 1992 run for the White House, the young and gifted Henry Burton is tapped to oversee the presidential campaign of Governor Jack Stanton. Burton is pulled into the politician's colorful world and looks on as Stanton -- who has a wandering eye that could be his downfall -- contends with his ambitious wife, Susan, and an outspoken adviser, Richard Jemmons.

Cast

John Travolta

Jack Stanton

Emma Thompson

Susan Stanton

Billy Bob Thornton

Richard Jemmons

Adrian Lester

Henry Burton

Maura Tierney

Daisy Green

Paul Guilfoyle

Howard Ferguson

Larry Hagman

Gov. Fred Picker

Kathy Bates

Libby Holden

Diane Ladd

Mamma Stanton

Rebecca Walker

March

Caroline Aaron

Lucille Kaufman

Tommy Hollis

Fat Willie

Rob Reiner

Izzy Rosenblatt

Ben Jones

Arlen Sporken

J.C. Quinn

Uncle Charlie

Allison Janney

Miss Walsh

Robert Klein

Norman Asher

Mykelti Williamson

Dewayne Smith

James Denton

Mitch

Leontine Guilliard

Ruby

Monique Ridge-Williams

Tawana Carter

Ned Eisenberg

Brad Lieberman

Brian Markinson

Randy Culligan

Geraldo Rivera

Himself

Charlie Rose

Himself

Larry King

Himself

O'Neal Compton

Sailorman Shoreson

Kevin Cooney

Lawrence Harris

Bonnie Bartlett

Martha Harris

Cynthia O'Neal

Elegant Woman

Chelcie Ross

Charlie Martin

John Vargas

Lorenzo Delgado

Tony Shalhoub

Eddie Reyes

Bianca Lawson

Loretta

Robert Cicchini

Jimmy Ozio

William Stanford Davis

Jack Mandela Washington

Harrison Young

Sam

Rolando Molina

Anthony Ramirez

Ross Benjamin

Peter Goldsmith

Stacy Edwards

Jennifer Rogers

Kristoffer Ryan Winters

Terry Hicks

Susan Kussman

Ella Louise

Vickilyn Reynolds

Amalee

Robert Symonds

Bart Nilson

Gia Carides

Cashmere McLeod

Robert Easton

Dr. Beauregard

Scott Burkholder

Danny Scanlon

Bill Maher

Himself

Lu Elrod

Chubby Woman

Michael Haley

Shipyard Announcer

Henry Woronicz

Pundit

Daryce Richman

Linda Feldstein

Rosalie Peck

Retiree

Susan Forristal

Bugger Bugger Woman

James Earl Jones

CNN Voiceover (voice)

Crew

Director

Mike Nichols

Book

Joe Klein

Screenplay

Elaine May

Reviews

Geronimo1967

August 28, 2023

There is something quite worrying about this depiction of an American Presidential nomination campaign - it is plausible... John Travolta ("Jack Stanton") positively oozes charisma - in all it's guises - as he schmoozes, charms, cheats and lies his way through a campaign that simultaneously sees him pat babies on their heads whilst stealing their lollipops... Adrian Lester is the enthusiastic, but naive, campaign manager who together with a feisty Kathy Bates is charged with getting their man into the final race with Emma Thompson as the supportive wife who has to tolerate all that the campaign - and her husband's obvious peccadillos - throw at them. The delivery is fast-paced, witty and authentic; the performances - especially the loyal but principled Bates - really reinforce the ultimate message that Joe Klein's story is trying to convey; and Mike Nicholls manages to keep the whole thing from becoming too overtly Clinton-esque! Adrian Lester is a little out of his depth, though, Emma Thompson isn't on her best form either and though it is nice to see old "J.R" on the screen again, Larry Hagman as a senator in the right place at the right time but with more skeletons in his closet than Roger Corman, doesn't really cut it either. It's also far too long, and struggles when Travolta is away from the action... Certainly entertaining, though...