Wolff rating: NOT BAD
Plot summary: The grandson of a civil rights leaders finds himself in charge of a very Clinton-esque Southern governor running for president in 1992.
Biased, pithy comments: This is actually a pretty good movie and I'm being harsh, but this film just isn't as wonderful as the book. If you're going to blow an hour on errands to pick up the film, two hours to watch it, half an hour to pop the popcorn, and another hour to drop it off again, just sit down with Anonymous's (or rather, Joe Klein's) novel and zoom through it. It'll still take a you a hair longer, but it explores the issues raised in this film to an order of magnitude more. Travolta drifts in and out of seeming exactly like Bill Clinton, Emma Thompson keeps slipping on her Hillary Clinton accent, but Thornton, Tierney, Bates, and Lester nail their roles. No, it's an OK movie, but a fantastic book. Read the book.
Other Notes: Of political satires this season, perhaps ``Wag the Dog'' is a little better.
How many times I have seen it: x1
Starring: John Travolta, Emma Thompson, Billy Bob Thornton, Adrian Lester, Maura Tierney, Kathy Bates.
Directed by: Mike Nichols