Primary Colors: Difference between revisions

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Both works are inspired by the 1992 presidential campaign of [[Bill Clinton]]. Events are seen from the perspective of Henry Burton (Lester), a former Congressional worker who becomes the campaign manager of a Southern politician. The candidate Jack Stanton (Travolta) is Governor of an unnamed state. He is a charismatic but flawed political leader. His philandering ways eventually affect the campaign. His wife Susan Stanton (Thompson) is in some ways the driving force of the campaign and the mediator between the figures involved. Richard Jemmons (Thornton) is the lead strategist of this campaign. Libby Holden (Bates) is the media consultant of the campaign, an outspoken lesbian who has been tasked with nullifying the potent threat of negative media reporting. She is the source of much of the verbal humor and of the film.

The film was not a commercial hit. Its worldwide gross is estimated to 52,090,187 dollars. Which would mean it failed to even cover its budget. About 39 million of these dollars came from the United States market, where it was the 54th most successful film of its year. However, it was a critical hit and remains a well- respected film. It has been praised as "a savvy and thought-provoking look at the nature of contemporary American politics" and as successfully straddling "the line between comedy and tragedy". However there have also been criticisms that it failed to capture the humor of the novel. Elaine May was nominated for an Academy Award for "Best Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium". She lost to Bill Condons of ''[[Gods And Monsters]]''. Kathy Bates was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. She lost to [[Judi Dench]] of ''[[Shakespeare in Love]]''.

 

* [[Billing Displacement]]: Adrian Lester (TV's Hustle) is listed FIFTH in nearly all material for the film, despite obviously being the lead character. John Travolta, Emma Thompson, Billy Bob Thornton, and Kathy Bates are all listed above him. Even though Thornton and Bates play much smaller characters, and even Travolta and Thompson (as a fictional Bill and Hillary Clinton) are back-ups to Lester's Henry Burton.

* [[Fake American]]: Emma Thompson playing the politically-active wife of an American politician. The actress is British from London. Adrian Lester himself is a British Jamaican from Birmingham, England. He is playing an African-American.

[[Category:Films of the 1990s]]

[[Category:Primary Colors]]