Primary Colors 4K 1998 Ultra HD 2160p

Story Movie

A fictionalized political drama about the presidential race of Jack Stanton, a womanizing, Southern governor battling Democratic candidates in 1992. The narrative is told on behalf of the campaign manager, an African-American. Backstabbing, intrigue, blackmail with videotapes, an illegitimate child, cocaine use, police priors and illegal real estate deals are shown. The main idea of the movie is that even worthy candidates are forced to do immoral things in order to succeed in this exhausting political show that has become pure entertainment for scandal-addicted Americans.

Review 4K Movie

In reviewing this film, I am less than certain whether I should recommend it to anyone. Despite its numerous merits, which will be listed below, the theme of this film is too distant for our audience. The fictional 1992 presidential election, the accompanying intrigue, and the clash between political rivals did not elicit the desired response even from American viewers, for whom the film was intended (with a budget of $65 million Primary Colors grossed just over $39 million in its home country, thus failing at the box office). But there is something else in this film besides its superficial layer. Mike Nichols' film cannot be called heroic or patriotic. It was precisely the absence of political pathos in a film with such an intriguing theme that made me watch Primary Colors.

No, of course, the Democratic presidential candidate, Jack Stanton, governor of an unnamed southern state, played by John Travolta, sweetly discusses the fate of humanity and sincerely wants to make the world a better place, but as the plot develops, we are given the opportunity to look behind the mask of the “universal benefactor” and see the true face of a man aspiring to become the American president. And Jack Stanton is presented here as an ordinary person, not without weaknesses (he was a hippie in his youth and regularly cheats on his wife with a young maid). At times, Stanton evokes rejection, and at others, admiration. This, of course, is largely thanks to John Travolta, whose performance is impressive. He was given a complex, multifaceted character, and Travolta played his governor wonderfully.

This contrast between how the governor's entourage sees him and how the general public perceives him is, in my opinion, the film's greatest strength. Unfortunately, ordinary people only get to see the true face of those at the helm after some kind of global upheaval. And so, we only find out what kind of person Stanton is at the very end. The film confirms once again that there is no place in politics for idealists and romantics like Henry Barton (Adrian Lester) or Libby Holden (Kathy Bates). To climb to a high position, many will have to sacrifice, including their conscience. And if a person knows this well, they will achieve a lot.

The remarkable acting in the film deserves nothing but praise. It is quite surprising that the all-star cast works so well together, thanks to which the supporting characters played by Emma Thompson, Billy Bob Thornton, Kathy Bates, Adrian Lester, and Maura Tierney are very memorable. Moreover, the excellent acting is confirmed by a whole “bouquet” of awards and nominations received by the film at the Oscars, Golden Globes, and British Academy Awards.

The last thing that amazes me about Mike Nichols' film is the excellent, innovative work of composer Ry Cooder. Not only is the music for the film bright and expressive, but it also suits it perfectly. It is impossible to imagine any other composer who could have done a better job. The soundtrack is dominated by southern rock and folk motifs, but they are spiced up with rich, epic orchestral arrangements.

“Political struggle is the same as wrestling,” says one of the characters in the film. Everything is rigged, everything that seems obvious and unquestionable turns out to be a lie. Have you ever wondered if Abraham Lincoln was also a political prostitute before he became president and got the chance to do what he was striving for and for which he had to sacrifice everything else? Contrary to my modest expectations, the film Primary Colors really impressed me. I can't say that the idea is so original or that I hadn't noticed political hypocrisy before watching this film, but Mike Nichols expressed well in his film what I had been thinking about for so long and couldn't find the right words to describe. “Primary Colors” is a competent, serious political drama that is not at all boring to watch.