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Movies / On DVD / Primary Colors
Primary Colors

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Primary Colors (1998)

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80 %
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Reviews Counted: 65

Fresh: 52

Rotten:13

Average Rating: 7.3/10

Consensus: Well acted and suprisingly funny.

Runtime: 2 hrs 24 mins

Genre: Comedies

Synopsis: In Mike Nichols's PRIMARY COLORS, America's topsy-turvy political process is viewed through the eyes of Henry Burton (Adrian Lester), an idealistic young man who is seduced into managing the presidential campaign of slick southern... In Mike Nichols's PRIMARY COLORS, America's topsy-turvy political process is viewed through the eyes of Henry Burton (Adrian Lester), an idealistic young man who is seduced into managing the presidential campaign of slick southern governor Jack Stanton (John Travolta). The mesmerized Burton immediately sets up campaign headquarters and meets his new political family: Susan Stanton (Emma Thompson), Jack's wife and partner; Richard Jemmons (Billy Bob Thornton), the sly, improbable political strategist who proudly describes himself as a redneck; Libby Holden (Kathy Bates), the fanatically loyal, overtly lesbian campaign troubleshooter who always has a big mouth and occasionally carries a big gun to match; and Daisy (Maura Tierney), the young, smart, and looking-for-love campaign media adviser. The film is based on the controversial best-selling novel by Anonymous (Joe Klein). Travolta's dead-on, thinly disguised Clinton impersonation alone is well worth seeing. [More]

Starring: John Travolta, Emma Thompson, Kathy Bates, Billy Bob Thornton

Starring: John Travolta, Emma Thompson, Kathy Bates, Billy Bob Thornton, Adrian Lester, Maura Tierney, Larry Hagman, Allison Janney, Paul Guilfoyle

Director: Mike Nichols

Director: Mike Nichols
Screenwriter: Elaine May
Producer: Mike Nichols

[See More Credits]

DVD Info

 
 
 
 
Release:

May 4, 1999

[DVD Details]
 
 

DVD Features:

  • Region 1 Encoding

Reviews for Primary Colors

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
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Full Review Source: Dark Horizons | comment Comment
04/02/05
Garth Franklin
Dark Horizons
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

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Full Review Source: In Film Australia | comment Comment
01/01/00
Luke Buckmaster
In Film Australia
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
01/01/00
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile
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Ratings Image

The film owes a few doggie bones to "Wag the Dog," which came first in pointing out what Primary Colors only seconds.

Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | comment Comment
11/03/08
Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Ratings Image

Primary Colors successfully straddles the line between comedy and tragedy.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
09/22/07
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com
Ratings Image

Primary Colors becomes a political morality play, and quite frankly, its mechanics cause it to crawl in across the finish line.

Full Review Source: Houston Community Newspapers | comment Comment
08/13/07
Gary Brown
Houston Community Newspapers
N/R

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Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Derek Adams
Time Out
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Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Film Threat
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Reeling Reviews | comment Comment
04/09/05
Robin Clifford
Reeling Reviews
Ratings Image

an alarmingly topical comedy-drama that dredges up far more issues than it can address in its two-and-a-half hours. But give Nichols, writer Elaine May and everyone else an 'A' for effort.

Full Review Source: Kalamazoo Gazette | comment Comment
07/31/03
James Sanford
Kalamazoo Gazette
N/R

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Full Review Source: Film Blather | comment Comment
05/22/03
Eugene Novikov
Film Blather
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Full Review Source: Palo Alto Weekly | comment Comment
05/20/03
Susan Tavernetti
Palo Alto Weekly
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Full Review Source: Film Quips Online | comment Comment
02/08/03
John R. McEwen
Film Quips Online
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Full Review Source: Nick's Flick Picks | comment Comment
01/10/03
Nick Davis
Nick's Flick Picks
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Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/08/02
Film Threat
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Full Review Source: Netflix | comment Comment
11/07/02
James Rocchi
Netflix
N/R

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Full Review Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune | comment Comment
11/06/02
Jeff Strickler
Minneapolis Star Tribune
N/R

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Full Review Source: Cincinnati Enquirer | comment Comment
10/15/02
Margaret A. McGurk
Cincinnati Enquirer
N/R

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Full Review Source: Montreal Film Journal | comment Comment
09/10/02
Kevin N. Laforest
Montreal Film Journal
Ratings Image

...hardly important but well-made and ultimately life-affirming

Full Review Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette | comment Comment
07/31/02
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
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