:
Tim Robbins,
Tim Robbins,
Giancarlo Esposito,
more...
:
Tim Robbins,
Tim Robbins
see all cast/crew...
: 
: Live/Artisan
: Comedies, Foreign, British Comedy, Political Satire, Mockumentary, Mockumentaries, UK
: 102 min.
: English
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This title is currently out of print.
Recently Rented By KDelehanty
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In the tradition of This Is Spinal Tap, producer/ director/ star Tim Robbins' Bob Roberts is a satire disguised as a documentary. Robbins plays the titular Roberts, a wealthy, well-connected young man running for a senatorial seat in Pennsylvania. On the surface, Roberts is an ingratiating glad-hander, a sincere believer in the restoration of such intangibles as national pride, family values, etc. But the longer Roberts is followed about by documentary filmmaker Brian Murray, the more we become aware that the candidate is a textbook case of cynicism and contempt. Only Giancarlo Esposito, a reporter for an underground newspaper, is willing to dig beneath Roberts' veneer--a habit that leads to the film's ironic conclusion. Several well-known actors make cameo appearances as TV commentators, notably Tim Robbins' longtime partner Susan Sarandon. Bob Roberts started out as a Tim Robbins-directed short subject for the TV series Saturday Night Live, then was expanded into a $4 million feature. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
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| Got the post-election blues?
by AHurley
November 7, 2004 - 2:56 AM PST
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7 out of 8 members found this review helpful
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| The deployment of fear and "moral values" to push an aggressively expanisionist model of profit generation got you down? Are you awake at night with thoughts of the attack on Fallujah or all the people who hate you because you love someone of the same sex? Are you convinced that the consolidation of media outlet ownership and widespread disenfranchisement and initimidation of African American, Latino, and immigrant voters only prove that we do not live in a representative democracy? Then, Bob Roberts is a movie you want to see. This mock documentary takes on the Iran-Contra scandal through the fictional senatorial campaign of a charismatic neo-fascist who can sing. The candidate, Bob Roberts, suggests the death penalty for pushers and users of drugs, demonizes public school teachers, and advocates a military assault on Iraq. The scenes dealing with Iraq are uncanny in their continued significance. The candidate appears on a fictionalized version of Saturday Night Live in a scene that challenges assumptions about the "slightly leftist" politics of comedy programs. Giancarlo Esposito gives a phenomenal performance as the journalist of "Troubled Times" who chases down details of the wannabe-senator's involvement in funding drug runs. And, as the previous reviewer commented, Gore Vidal is fabulous as the Democratic Senator whose position Bob Roberts is trying to take, and Alan Rickman is the menacing "spook" who manages Roberts' campaign. The DVD extras, especially commentary with the editors of Counterpunch, are fabulous. And this movie is even more relevant now, after the most recent election, than ever. A younger Jack Black also is hilarious as a wild-eyed and ardent Roberts' fan. And there is a special appearance by a star of Welcome Back Kotter who plays a reporter. You'll have to see it to find out which member of Mr. Kotter's class holds the mic. |
| A fine mockumentary and one of the best political satires i've seen
by Neutron
December 29, 2003 - 11:33 AM PST
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3 out of 3 members found this review helpful
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| If Bob Roberts were a real person I would be very scared for America, one of the scariest things is that there are many people like Bob Roberts in politics in real life. This excellent mockumentary passed me by when it came out, so I was glad to discover it now. Strong performances by the whole cast really make this movie shine, Gore Vidal is especially convincing as the incumbent senator, as is Robbins himself and the eerie puppet master Alan Rickman. The message of style over substance making the news in America holds even more true today. Anybody even remotely interested in the Mockumentary genre, or in politics should definitely check this gem out. A brilliant piece of black comedy. |
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GreenCine Member Rating
(Average 7.26)
248 Votes
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