We get the first glace of Travolta becoming more like Clinton by his fake claims that he's for the people (all presidents feel that way don't they? highly suspicious), consuming on doughnuts, and looks concerningly into the eyes of the public spectrum like he wants us to believe he's on our side so he can get our vote. The early going in this film are played for comedy. However, the later stages get quite more dramatic.
Although we get a firm glimpse into the 1992 primary and the events that took place there, the events that happened in real life take a more favourable turn in the fictional character of Stanton. Prior to the New Hampshire primary, a former flame reports to a tabloid reveals all the juicy details about their relationship. Fortunately, the tapes were revealed to be superficial and fabricated.
Aside from Clinton being satirized by Travolta, many other representatives are also being portrayed by real characters. Billy Bob Thornton is excellent as Richard Jemmons who is a take on Clinton's campaign manager James Carville. But sadly Thornton's performance offers very little to the narrative and falls under the a negative stereotype. Larry Hagman was wonderful as he pays Governor Freddy Picker, an homage to the charismatic Governor Jerry Brown, the man who almost stopped Clinton on his tracks. Picker's methods of getting is voice across is by speaking to the people from the heart and speaking sincerely. The movie sadly downplays that characteristic very badly by making us believe that Stanton is a the people's president.
Emma Thompson plays the role as Susan Stanton, the wife of Jack, being that she's a homage to Hillary Clinton, who unlike Hillary who's seen as a bubbly, but effective soon to be First Lady, she's more like a hard-driven partner in charge to this presidential race almost like she seems interested in running the country herself. Sure it seems unorthodox that Stanton would cry over her husband's faithful way but they do succeed in making the Stanton's a real family.
The missed opportunity comes from Travolta's role becoming borderline self-parody with the more raw performances coming from Thompson and Kathy Bates as an unhinged public relations specialist. Lester does all he can as a determined man to make it far in politics, but is never self-conflicts himself knowing he's supporting a dishonest candidate. Good story with interesting characters but takes too much liberty outside the book.
Although we get a firm glimpse into the 1992 primary and the events that took place there, the events that happened in real life take a more favourable turn in the fictional character of Stanton. Prior to the New Hampshire primary, a former flame reports to a tabloid reveals all the juicy details about their relationship. Fortunately, the tapes were revealed to be superficial and fabricated.
Aside from Clinton being satirized by Travolta, many other representatives are also being portrayed by real characters. Billy Bob Thornton is excellent as Richard Jemmons who is a take on Clinton's campaign manager James Carville. But sadly Thornton's performance offers very little to the narrative and falls under the a negative stereotype. Larry Hagman was wonderful as he pays Governor Freddy Picker, an homage to the charismatic Governor Jerry Brown, the man who almost stopped Clinton on his tracks. Picker's methods of getting is voice across is by speaking to the people from the heart and speaking sincerely. The movie sadly downplays that characteristic very badly by making us believe that Stanton is a the people's president.
Emma Thompson plays the role as Susan Stanton, the wife of Jack, being that she's a homage to Hillary Clinton, who unlike Hillary who's seen as a bubbly, but effective soon to be First Lady, she's more like a hard-driven partner in charge to this presidential race almost like she seems interested in running the country herself. Sure it seems unorthodox that Stanton would cry over her husband's faithful way but they do succeed in making the Stanton's a real family.
The missed opportunity comes from Travolta's role becoming borderline self-parody with the more raw performances coming from Thompson and Kathy Bates as an unhinged public relations specialist. Lester does all he can as a determined man to make it far in politics, but is never self-conflicts himself knowing he's supporting a dishonest candidate. Good story with interesting characters but takes too much liberty outside the book.