Bulworth ** (1998, Warren Beatty, Halle Berry, Kimberly Deauna, Sean Astin) – Classic Movie Review 2014

Warren Beatty tries very hard, both as producer-writer-director and star, but seems to have lost his touch in this offbeat 1998 satirical comedy drama.

He plays, quite well, suicidally disillusioned liberal senator Jay Bulworth, who has a breakdown after taking bribes. Planning his own death, he’s freed to stand as a candidate again and this time to tell the voters the plain honest truth, using the rhythms and speech of hip-hop music and culture.

Despite good intentions, excellent scenes and some fine performances, Bulworth makes for very uncomfortable viewing, and not in a good way. Its take on American culture in 1998 seems dated, and you get the impression Beatty has strayed out of his depth or at least out of his natural environment. Beatty’s ‘Bulworth Breakdown’ rap is embarrassing and so is the portrayal of Bulworth’s relationship with mystery woman Nina (Halle Berry).

But, still however, this is a well-made film that triues to be intelligent and remains an interesting and honourable failure. Beatty’s screenplay and story and Jeremy Pikser’s screenplay were honoured with an Oscar nomination.

Sean Astin, Don Cheadle, Jack Warden, Oliver Platt and Christine Baranski also star. And in the supporting cast are Kirk Baltz, Thomas Jefferson Byrd, J Kenneth Campbell, Michael Clarke Duncan, Isaiah Washington, George Furth, John Witherspoon, Jermaine Williams, William Baldwin, Hart Bochner, George Hamilton and Paul Mazursky.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 2014

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