Primary Colors **** (1998, John Travolta, Emma Thompson, Kathy Bates) – Classic Movie Review 928

Producer-director Mike Nichols’s 1998 film stars John Travolta, who enjoys himself enormously as US presidential candidate Jack Stanton, a virtually unknown Southern governor on a quest for the White House, with his savvy, ambitious wife Susan (Emma Thompson) and their colourful political team (Billy Bob Thornton, Paul Guilfoyle).

Director Nichols proves politics really is a dirty business in a cutting dark-comedy-drama tale of sex and power, uncannily reflecting true-life events. It turns out the highly sexed Stanton has fathered an illegitimate child along the way and the team have to hush things up if they can.

Thompson is on fine form too (with a good American accent) as the disillusioned, cuckolded wife, and Kathy Bates is wonderful as the tragic lesbian political spin doctor. But then there’s super work in the acting all round.

Nichols keeps a long film (137 minutes) pounding dramatically along in his reunion with his old-time partner Elaine May as screenwriter, with her screenplay based on a book by Anonymous – apparently Joe Klein. The result is a convincing, often hilarious, sometimes heart-wrenching satirical story of the rollercoaster ride to the White House.

Larry Hagman, Adrian Lester, Maura Tierney, Diane Ladd, Caroline Aaron, Rob Reiner, Ben Jones, Mykelti Williamson, Bonnie Bartlett and Tony Shalhoub are in the distinguished support cast, giving fine performances.

(C) Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Film Review 928 derekwinnert.com