Primary
Colors
DOWN &
DIRTY:
Drama: An idealistic young man
joins a southern governor's
campaign for the presidency and
must deal with a less than
reputable campaign and
allegations of sexual
improprieties.
NITTY GRITTY:
You will definitely find
comparisons between the
"fictitious" characters
in this movie and the real-life
characters currently inhabiting
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Based on a best-selling novel,
the story is supposedly a
fictitious tale surrounding the
1992 presidential primaries and
campaign.
Henry Burton (ADRIAN LESTER) is
an idealistic young man who works
on Capitol Hill. The grandson of
a famous Civil Rights leader, he
is a smart political strategist.
For that reason Jack Stanton
(JOHN TRAVOLTA), the southern
governor who is running for
President, wants Henry to join
his team and Henry desperately
wants to work for someone who can
make a difference.
He finally agrees to the task
after falling under the
governor's charm.
Thrust into the middle of the
action, Henry meets Stanton's
wife, Susan (EMMA THOMPSON), his
loyal spouse who remains that way
despite several allegations of
the governor's infidelities.
The Stanton team is made up of
several "specialists"
and consists of campaign manager
Howard Ferguson (PAUL GUILFOYLE),
and spin doctor Richard Jemmons
(Billy Bob Thornton). Also on the
team are troubleshooter Libby
Holden (KATHY BATES), and media
advisor Daisy (MAURA TIERNEY).
As Stanton's team makes their way
through the primaries, they must
contend not only with other
candidates, like former governor
Freddy Picker (LARRY HAGMAN), but
also with sexual allegations
aimed at their man that may just
undo his team's loyalty and his
chances of winning the election.
THE ENDING:
Libby and Henry discover that
their foe, governor Picker, was a
former heavy drug user and had an
affair with a man. They don't
want to use the information and
decide that the info will be a
test for their man, Stanton.
Stanton decides to release the
dirt on Picker to the press.
Stanton fails Libby and Henry's
'worthiness test.'
Libby kills herself outside
Henry's motel room. Henry is
disheartened with Stanton and
politics in general. Stanton goes
on to win the primary.
WHAT EVERYONE WILL BE
TALKING ABOUT:
John Travolta's
donut-eating prez. I wonder if he
hung out with 'Bubba' for
research.
|
|
|
|
