7.0
Viewer Rating
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources
Drama, Comedy • 1998 • 143 min • Adults (18+)
Primary Colors (1998)
Primary Colors (1998)
Overview
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.
Starring Cast
John Travolta • Emma Thompson • Kathy Bates
Where to watch
Rating & Dimensions
Bias Rating
Analyzing...
Center
Political: Center
Diversity: Moderate
LGBTQ: Neutral
Christianity: Negative
Viewer Rating
7.0
Overview
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.
Starring Cast
John Travolta • Emma Thompson • Kathy Bates
Where to watch
Detailed Bias Analysis
Analyzing...
Center
Primary
Political: Center
Confidence: High
The film offers a nuanced and cynical portrayal of a presidential campaign, focusing on the moral compromises and personal flaws of a charismatic candidate. It critiques the universal aspects of political ambition and the corrupting nature of power rather than explicitly endorsing or condemning a specific political ideology.
Diversity: Moderate
Confidence: High
The movie features visible diversity in its supporting cast, but its primary roles are cast traditionally. The narrative focuses on political satire and character flaws, without explicitly critiquing traditional identities or centering on DEI themes.
Secondary
LGBTQ: Neutral
Confidence: High
Primary Colors includes Cashmere McLeod, a drag queen whose alleged affair with the presidential candidate creates a political scandal. The film uses this character as a plot device to explore political machinations and damage control. While LGBTQ+ identity is present, the narrative neither explicitly affirms nor denigrates it, focusing instead on the scandal's impact on the campaign.
Christianity: Negative
Confidence: High
The film satirizes the cynical and performative use of Christian faith and rhetoric by politicians for electoral gain. It highlights the hypocrisy of public figures exploiting religion without offering a counterbalancing positive or nuanced portrayal of the faith itself.
Trans: N/A
Confidence: High
Primary Colors, a political satire, does not include any identifiable transsexual characters or themes. The film's narrative focuses on political campaigns and personal scandals, with no depiction of transgender identities or related issues present in the story.
Female Combat: N/R
The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.
Gender Swap: No
Confidence: High
The film 'Primary Colors' is an adaptation of a novel that fictionalizes real historical figures. All major characters in the film maintain the gender of their literary counterparts and the historical figures they represent.
Race Swap: No
Confidence: High
The film "Primary Colors" is an adaptation of a novel that parodies real historical figures. All major characters maintain their established race from the source material or historical record, with no instances of a character's race being changed.
Viewer Rating Breakdown
User Ratings
6.7
6.3
Critic Ratings
8.0
7.0
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