Okay, here's the deal. Have you ever been in a theatre, settling in with your NU-Grape and your Sno-Caps, and as the movie unfolds, you realize that you've seen the entire movie before? Not in another movie, mind you, but that you've actually lived through the story you see up there on the screen? Now, I know all of you have seen a particular scene that reminds you of something you've been through. If you sat through Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion without flashing back to high school yourself, you never went to high school. If the period suited you, you might've had the same feelings from Platoon, or That Thing You Do, or The Wedding Singer.
But, go deeper than that. If you're anything like the ol' Doc, there was a certain unsettling feeling that haunted your mind while you watched Wag The Dog. A president, caught up in a scandal involving a young woman, needs a major distraction to keep the public occupied, so his team orchestrates a nice little war with a podunk country. Substitute Iraq for Albania, and that's exactly what we had going on here about two months ago. It was wildly funny on the screen, until you stopped and thought about it, and realized that this was on CNN as you left for the theatre.
And now, thanks to the good folks at Universal Studios, we have it all over again. But this time, it's almost too true to laugh through. When the book Primary Colors was released, it was a thinly-disguised "novel" that changed the right names, but basically chronicled Bill and Hillary's Excellent Adventure in 1992. The backroom scheming, the accusations of illicit nooky, the p.r. bondo in the face of controversy. But the author, Anonymous, later revealed to be journalist Joe Klein, became a sensation because he claimed the book as a work of fiction. Well, Universal Studios has made the book into a movie, and, a fantastic movie at that, but in doing so, have applied some pretty familiar faces to the book's "fictional" names, and suddenly, the reality whacks you with a two-by-four.
For the uninformed, allow me: The movie tells the story of Jack Stanton (John Travolta), a Southern governor who's running for president. Stanton loves to talk to the people almost as much as he loves to eat. His ever-supporting wife, Susan (Emma Thompson), has been through the trenches with Jack more than once, and she's ready to stand by her man as he sprints for the White House, no matter what. When new campaign worker Henry Burton (Adrian Lester) joins the staff, he's smart enough to know that politics is a show, but he still hopes that Jack's "good old boy" attitude has a little bit of truth behind it. And, little by little, he learns that truth is just what somebody else tells you is true.
Folks, this cast, assembled by the Directing Master, Mike Nichols, is, putting it mildly, incredible. Emma Thompson is solid dead-on as Hillary Clint...er, Susan Stanton. She's a tower of strength, who knows every flaw behind her man, and what it takes to keep the faith. Billy Bob Thornton plays political strategist Richard Jemmons, a man weary of life but thriving on the thirsty quest for power. Kathy Bates is in rare form as Libby Holden, a certifiable mental patient who comes out of retirement to serve as the "pre-clean-up" crew, digging up the dirt before the opposition can and burying it. Lester, best known for his work on the British stage, does a fine job as the narrator of sorts for this political "fable". He's going places, this kid. Larry Hagman pulls a nice surprise as a last-minute monkey wrench candidate, a la Ross "Car Doors" Perot, owner of his own shady past.
Director Mike Nichols, who also wrote the script with longtime collaborator Elaine May, has always had an eye for ironic comedy, and here, pulls out all the stops. He knew that Stanton was the focus, and willingly allowed Travolta to create the character according to his own choice. And Travolta chose Bill Clinton. He becomes Bill Clinton, from the throaty, almost-hoarse voice, to the "aw shucks" grin, to the hand motions and vocal patterns. He's stocky and snacky. He has, shall we say, an eye for the ladies. And, like Clinton, Stanton has the uncanny ability to relate to virtually anyone or any story he hears. He tends toward self-destructive behavior, and his closest confidants, wife included, know this and know it's their job to save himself from himself. Or clean up the messes when he slips.
Nichols also has the good sense not to keep throwing Travolta at us. He lets others make some of the observations about the character, so we get to hear the whole story of this guy. And, while the obvious parallels between movie world and Real World are there, Nichols makes no judgments about Stanton. He just shows us the man; how he operates, and how his team operates for him. He maintains "humor mode" throughout, undoubtedly because any other mode would be too uncomfortably true to sit through. When this movie is funny, it's incredibly funny. When it makes its points, it makes them subtly as well as with a tack hammer. But, all in all, this is a textbook example on how to make a great movie.
Alright, it's way early for these predictions, but this is Oscar-caliber from Travolta, Thompson, Bates, and Thornton. The timing is off for them to have a sure shot at the nominations list, but, regardless, Mike Nichols' Primary Colors is that good.
Whether you like to argue politics or not makes no difference with this movie. What does matter is that this is one evermore kickin' movie. It teaches its lessons with a velvet glove, and it has a lot of fun doing it. Don't just go because you're a die-hard Travolta fan, either. Go see Primary Colors . You owe it to yourself...you owe it to your country. (I've always wanted to use that phrase.)
Image copyright Universal Studios.
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