Primary Colors (1998)

PRIMARY COLORS  (1998)  ¢ ¢ 1/2
    D: Mike Nichols
    John Travolta, Emma Thompson, Adrian Lester,
    Billy Bob Thornton, Maura Tierney, Kathy Bates,
    Larry Hagman, Diane Ladd, Mykelti Williamson,
    Allison Janney, Rob Reiner, Tony Shalhoub
A popular Southern governor with a catch in his voice, a glad-handing manner, a penchant for lechery and an ability to cry on cue undertakes a campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, and any resemblance to a certain real-life governor (and his ambitious real-life wife) is not coincidental. As satire it's too blunt and as drama it's too obvious, but Travolta's annoyingly good as the candidate, and Bates and Lester stand out in the impressive supporting cast. Based on the best-selling novel by "Anonymous", who turned out to be Newsweek columnist Joe Klein. Nichols' old comedy partner Elaine May wrote the script.