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Primary Colors (1998)

 -  Comedy | Drama  -  20 March 1998 (USA)
6.6
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Ratings: 6.6/10 from 19,415 users   Metascore: 70/100
Reviews: 151 user | 114 critic | 30 from Metacritic.com

A man joins the political campaign of a smooth-operator candidate for president of the USA.

Director:

Writers:

(novel), (screenplay)
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Title: Primary Colors (1998)

Primary Colors (1998) on IMDb 6.6/10

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Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 12 wins & 15 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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...
...
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...
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Mamma Stanton
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Rebecca Walker ...
March
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Lucille Kaufman
Tommy Hollis ...
William McCullison (Fat Willie)
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Izzy Rosenblatt
...
Arlen Sporken
J.C. Quinn ...
Uncle Charlie
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Storyline

Jack Stanton is running for president. The election is seen through the eyes of young Henry Burton. Along the way Stanton must deal with a sex scandal. Written by Anonymous

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

What went down on the way to the top. See more »

Genres:

Comedy | Drama

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong language and sexual references | See all certifications »
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Details

Country:

| | | |

Language:

Release Date:

20 March 1998 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Mit aller Macht  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Box Office

Budget:

$65,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£238,918 (UK) (30 October 1998)

Gross:

£497,545 (UK) (6 November 1998)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

| | |

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The lead was originally offered to Tom Hanks, who turned it down because of his friendship with then-President 'Bill Clinton'. See more »

Goofs

On the morning after Henry's first trip to New Hampshire (which was made spontaneously, without any change of clothes or luggage), his shirt nonetheless changes repeatedly between shots. See more »

Quotes

Susan Stanton: Isn't that the thing experience teaches you? Not to get burned?
Henry Burton: Does anyone ever learn that?
Susan Stanton: Not the best people.
See more »

Connections

Spoofs The War Room (1993) See more »

Soundtracks

"YOU'RE A GRAND OLD FLAG"
Written by George M. Cohan
See more »

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User Reviews

 
Good movie struggles to get out of facile shell
4 February 1999 | by (Brooklyn, NY) – See all my reviews

I was never a big fan of the novel by Joe Klein that this movie is based on. Like Clinton, it seemed more slick and facile than satirical and insightful. There was a good story trying to get out, but it didn't. The movie manages to bring more of that story to the forefront, like the idea that even a nominee with good ideas and good heart needs to do dirty deeds to get elected because of how screwed up the American system is. I think Kathy Bates also deserves all the praise she's been getting, and Emma Thompson, Billy Bob Thornton, and Maura Tierney are also good.

Travolta was a problem. Considering how much the filmmakers tried to distance themselves between their story and Clinton's real-life troubles, this seemed little more than a slick impression, and I found it distracting. I also found missed some of the stuff they cut from the novel, like Thompson's indiscretion with Adrian Lester's character, and the relationship between him and Tierney didn't have the context here that it did in the novel. And again, I was left wondering, "If you hate him that much, why stay?" Overall, an admirable effort, and maybe I'll be more receptive once this whole impeachment garbage fades from memory, but I still found it wanting.


9 of 12 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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So, how close is Stanton to clinton? Godlesslouisianalady
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