PRIMARY COLORS
US, 1998, 143 minutes, Colour.
John Travolta, Emma Thompson, Adrian Lester, Kathy Bates, Billy Bob Thornton, Paul Guilfoyle, Maura Tierney, Alison Janney, Chelcie Ross, Caroline Aaron, Tony Shaloub, Rob Reiner, Larry King, Geraldo Rivera.
Directed by Mike Nichols.
Primary Colors was a cause celebre when 'Anonymous' published a novel that resembled Bill Clinton's presidential campaign. On screen, at this time of attack on the president for his philandering, yet of overwhelming public support, John Travolta shows us what the public and private Clinton might be like. And Emma Thompson for Hilary Clinton.
Director Mike Nichols and writer Elaine May have worked together for decades. This collaboration and a top cast which also includes Billy Bob Thornton and Kathy Bates is a funny and depressing look at ambition for public office and the PR (including promotion as well as cover-up) efforts that are possible in a democracy. There are tears, hearts and flowers and ruthless lying. It is not merely a particular president who is on show here but the processes for gaining public office. As satire it is expertly funny. As realism it is alarming.
1. A film of the 1990s? Bill and Hillary Clinton? The two campaigns? Their success? An expose, their personalities? Imagination of what might have been? In hindsight of the success of their subsequent careers, especially Hillary Clinton?
2. America in the 1990s, the southern states, the governors, the style of government? The campaigns, in the range of states? From New Hampshire to Florida? The rallies, the meetings, the campaign headquarters, the private campaign, the public campaign? Musical score – and songs, You Are My Sunshine…?
3. The title, expectations, American elections, the primaries? The success of the novel? The anonymity of the author? The subsequent revelation of Joe Klein(**??) and his career as a Time Magazine political correspondent?
4. Audience response to Bill Clinton, as governor, as president, as a person, his flaws, sexuality, the impeachment? Popular, populist? People accepting him with his faults? The comparisons with womanising presidents and candidates? Scandals and exposes? Forgiveness, acceptance? John Travolta’s performance embodying all of this?
5. Susan as the governor’s wife, as a strong campaigner, as first lady? Dignity, ability, Hillary Clinton and the later senate success, as secretary of state? The parallels with Susan? Accepting her husband, her devotion to family, a cool and cold manner, yet politically effective?
6. The audience seeing the proceedings through the eyes of Henry Burton? The black man? The status of his grandfather, everybody quoting and respecting him? The comment on his growing up as privileged? His previous campaigning, willing to give it up, not liking the candidate, believing him? His observing Jack Stanton, with the students, listening to the stories about literacy, their eloquence? Everybody moved? The teacher, his response but not being sure? Pressurised by Howard, by Daisy, the persuasion, taken for granted that he would accept? His relationship with his girlfriend, her work, civil rights, her attitudes towards the candidates, his impatience with her? His giving up his job, his idealism, naivety? Going on the plane, not being able to phone his girlfriend, her anger and hanging up? Accepting the job? The later encounter with the girlfriend and her questions about Jack Stanton’s arrest, Chicago, the deal with the mayor? Henry as a flawed man, his interpretation of Stanton, his changes of stances, audience judgment on him – and with him and through him?
7. The staff, Howard, his friendship, determination, advice, wanting Henry to join? Handling the difficult cases, the babysitter’s pregnancy and discussions with her father? Daisy, her skills, hard work, advice, her sexual relationship with Henry? Her strong performance on television with Larry King, pleading for Jack Stanton? Her enthusiasm, yet her leaving? Jack wanting her to come back to the campaign after the success?
8. Billy Bob Thornton as Richard, strong character, reputation, political skills, working hard, cynical remarks, his strong intuitions about situations, motivations for decision, foretelling what would happen? His clashes with Henry? Admiration for Jack, Jack relying on him? His using material coming in, wanting to use dirty tactics? Not knowing about the babysitter’s pregnancy? His friendship with Daisy and then with Henry? His decision to leave? Invited back to campaign once the candidate had success?
9. Libby, her story, campaigning in 1972, friendship with Jack and Susan, their idealism, Jack telling her not to use dirty tricks or negative reaction? Her breakdown? In an institution, people’s comments on her? Her putting on weight, her direct personality, blunt way of speaking? Accepting the job, knowing how to ward off crises? Picking the staff, picking Jennifer? Her relationship with Jennifer, lesbian? Her watching the campaign, her enjoyment of it? Her standards? The issue of the pregnancy – and the false blood test but knowing that Jack thought it was possible that he was the father? Her investigation on the governor, taking Henry with her? The connection with the editing of files? The fabrication of the tape on Larry King? Her taking back the report, talking frankly with Jack and Susan, remembering the past, taking a stance, not wanting to be negative, her disillusionment with Jack and Susan’s reaction, killing herself?
10. The teacher at the beginning, her enthusiasm about learning, slipping on the steps, connecting with Jack, the sexual encounter? The babysitter, trusted at home with the son? Her father as a friend of Jack’s? The pregnancy, the father visiting, Howard and Henry visiting him, the money offer? The look from the mother? The test, the false test, Uncle Charlie’s blood sample?
11. Jack and his smooth style, with the learning difficulty students, his long story about Uncle Charlie and his need for literacy (and the truth that Uncle Charlie was helping with the campaign)? His friendship with people, chatting at the bar? The factory, his speech, telling the truth, their enthusiasm? On television, folksy, able to argue the point? His smooth talking and affection for Susan?
12. The debate, pleasant, Senator Martin, taking advantage of him, confusing him, the quips, winning? The points for the campaign? The chat show in Florida, talking about celebrities, his mother in Las Vegas, the phone call from the senator, the confusion, the senator’s collapse – and his wife going on television, the governor and his offer of blood (and the Stanton camp wanting to do something similar)?
13. Frederika, going on television with the senator’s wife, taking his place, the public response, the risk, the offer of giving blood and audience response to it? His collapse in 1978, withdrawal from the race, the alleged reasons? The investigation, Libby and Henry going to the sources, the information about the cocaine, the man coming out of prison and dying with AIDS, the sexual relationship, the senator and his concern about his family, cocaine causing his marriage collapse, his sons in university and his not wanting them to know the truth? Jack coming to visit him, talking, being honest, not using the information but the governor knowing that the information could be tracked down? The consequences?
14. Hoping for the vote, despondent and thinking of withdrawing during the first primary, Jack in the streets canvassing votes in the rain? Coming second? The chances for success?
15. Henry and the effect of the campaign, his enthusiasm, his error about the governor giving the speech and the son’s advantage, Jack and his letting loose in anger? The reconciliation, the phone call, wanting him to have the weekend off? Henry and his relationship with the other members of the team, hardworking, using his ingenuity, listening? His former girlfriend and the interjection, her finding out the information about Jack in Chicago? Susan’s hairdresser, coming forward with the tapes about the affair? Their being played on the media? The effect on Libby?
16. The hairdresser and the lawyer, the actual tapes, Susan and her reaction? Libby going to the editor? Taping Larry King from his cell phone? Constructing a false tape? His reaction on air? Daisy and her going on television and speaking strongly to counter the effect? Jack and Susan appearing on television as a couple, pleading their cause – and Henry amongst ordinary people in the bar listening to the comments, especially about Susan’s hair?
17. Susan, strong, love for her family, their son and the phone calls, the Thanksgiving dinner, Jack’s mother, the party, inviting poor people? Being upset, keeping her dignity as well as her anger with her husband, coping, slapping Henry’s face for not giving her the information, her not living up to Libby’s expectations? Wanting to win?
18. Jack, representing the US in the 1990s, Clintonesque?
19. The victory, his speech, everyone present and applauding?
20. American democracy, the people and the causes, the votes, the Democrats and the Republicans? Campaign processes, primaries? The possible candidates and their qualities? Making a good president – even if flawed? This film coming out pre-George W. Bush, pre-Barack Obama?
