Bob Roberts (1992)

A conservative folk singer turns his hand to politics, running for the US Senate. He is not above dirty tricks and smear campaigns to gain an advantage over his opponent.

Director:

Tim Robbins

Writer:

Tim Robbins

Stars:

Tim Robbins, Giancarlo Esposito, Alan Rickman

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 4 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tim Robbins	...	Bob Roberts
Giancarlo Esposito	...	Bugs Raplin
Alan Rickman	...	Lukas Hart III
Ray Wise	...	Chet MacGregor
Brian Murray	...	Terry Manchester
Gore Vidal	...	Senator Brickley Paiste
Rebecca Jenkins	...	Delores Perrigrew
Harry Lennix	...	Franklin Dockett
John Ottavino	...	Clark Anderson
Robert Stanton	...	Bart Macklerooney
Kelly Willis	...	Clarissa Flan
Merrilee Dale	...	Polly Roberts
Tom Atkins	...	Dr. Caleb Menck
David Strathairn	...	Mack Laflin
James Spader	...	Chuck Marlin

Storyline

Documentary-style look at the fictional Senatorial campaign of Bob Roberts, an arch-conservative folk singer turned politician. This political satire includes several original songs co-written and performed by writer/director/star Tim Robbins, and cameo appearances by other stars as reporters and news anchors.

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Plot Keywords:

political satire | folk singer | election campaign | satire | mockumentary | 

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Taglines:

Vote first. Ask questions later.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for momentary language

Details

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 September 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bob Roberts - Candidato ao Poder

Filming Locations:

Eisenhower Auditorium, Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$4,479,470

Company Credits

Production Co:

Miramax, Live Entertainment, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jack Black's feature film debut.

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Goofs

In a scene where Bob gets off the bus in "Harrisburg" a police barrier clearly says "City of Philadelphia."

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Quotes

Cutting Edge Host: In the beginning, our great company provided appliances for the neighborhood. We heated your home, we refrigerated your food, and improved the quality of your life. We prospered, and you loved us. And we grew into a large multinational corporation. In fact, we own this very network. Our chief source of income, however, is... the arms industry! Yes, we rely heavily on those fat government contracts, to make these useless weapons of mass destruction. And even though we have been indicted and ...

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Crazy Credits

At the very end of the credits there is the screen-filling four-letter word 'VOTE'.

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Connections

References Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (1968)

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Soundtracks

Beautiful Girl
Music and Lyrics by David Robbins & Tim Robbins
Produced and Arranged by David Robbins
Horns Arranged by David Campbell
Robbins Egg Music (c) 1992, A.S.C.A.P.

User Reviews

Might be the best political satire of all time

Tim Robbins has made one heck of a statement with this film presenting politics as it really is, crooked and disturbing. The screenplay is brilliantly clever brimming with brutal honesty about the political battle in washington.Robbins plays the right-wing politician perfectly portraying a crooked yuppie business man willing to do anything to get elected to the US Senate a must see film one of the best films of the decade.