Primary Colors
In this adaptation of the best-selling roman à clef about Bill Clinton's 1992 run for the White House, the young and gifted Henry Burton is tapped to oversee the presidential campaign of Governor Jack Stanton. Burton is pulled into the politician's colorful world and looks on as Stanton -- who has a wandering eye that could be his downfall -- contends with his ambitious wife, Susan, and an outspoken adviser, Richard Jemmons.
Critics Sentiment
Jack and staff trade stories about their mothers at Southern barbecue
Libby Holden commits suicide after losing faith in Jack
The film plummets from the humorous barbecue scene camaraderie to the devastating moral crisis surrounding Libby's suicide, dropping nearly 5 points as idealism crashes against political reality.
Primary Colors starts strongly with engaging political theater and Travolta's charismatic performance, maintaining solid momentum through the first half with effective comedy and authentic campaign moments. The film takes a dark turn as moral compromises pile up, reaching its devastating low point with Libby's suicide before attempting a somewhat ambiguous recovery in the final act.
Full cast
Showing 20 of 85
John Travolta
Jack Stanton
Emma Thompson
Susan Stanton
Billy Bob Thornton
Richard Jemmons
Adrian Lester
Henry Burton
Maura Tierney
Daisy Green
Paul Guilfoyle
Howard Ferguson
Larry Hagman
Gov. Fred Picker
Kathy Bates
Libby Holden
Diane Ladd
Mamma Stanton
Rebecca Walker
March
Caroline Aaron
Lucille Kaufman
Tommy Hollis
Fat Willie
Rob Reiner
Izzy Rosenblatt
Ben Jones
Arlen Sporken
J.C. Quinn
Uncle Charlie
Allison Janney
Miss Walsh
Robert Klein
Norman Asher
Mykelti Williamson
Dewayne Smith
James Denton
Mitch
Leontine Guilliard
Ruby
Crew
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