BULWORTH
US, 1998, 108 minutes, Colour
Warren Beatty, Halle Berry, Jack Warden, Oliver Platt, Paul Sorvino, Don Cheadle, Sean Astin, Michael Clarke Duncan, Nora Dunn, George Furth, Robin Gammel, Jim Hainey, Debra Monk, Laurie Metcalf, Isaiah Washington, Hart Bochner.
Directed by Warren Beatty.
American politics during the Clinton era (and public and media response to them) are characterised by hyperbole. If it all were a movie, would we believe it? Well, the movie-makers have been mirroring events with satire on spin-doctors inventing wars to distract from White House sex scandals (Wag the Dog) to a parallel with the Clinton campaign and potential sex scandals (Primary Colours). Now, Warren Beatty, a noted Democrat for decades, has now weighed in with a seemingly over-the-top (although the top seems to get higher and higher these days) satire on a senate campaign gone on the rocks in 1996 California.
Beatty co-wrote, produced, directed and stars as Senator Bulworth, emerging from nervous breakdown and setting up a contract killing on himself, to feel free to say what he likes (or, usually, rap-sing it) and expose all the cover-ups of truth and justice in political double-speak or political correctness.
There is a classy cast with Oliver Platt standing out as the increasingly anxious (and opportunist) as Bulworth gets more and more honest. Halle Berry is a hired assassin. Don Cheadle is an LA drug lord.
For a non-American audience this is a hyped presentation of hyped characters and situations that hypes our responses. Could they possibly be like this? But here is a major star cleverly undermining respect for the pseudo-respectable. But, just as we were thinking that here is a 60 year old man giving himself a leading lady in her 20s (which he does), the final moments give us an ending that jolts. A memory of the 70s comes back with Robert Altman's wonderfully broadscoped political and social satire, Nashville.
1. American politics? The 1990s? The election of 1996 and President Clinton? The Democrats?
2. Warren Beatty, story, writer, director, star? His personal contribution? His critique of American politics? His personal life and political stances and activities?
3. An LA story, eccentric, the politics, the campaigns, the Senator and his policies? His speeches to the affluent, to the Jewish community and the entertainment community? The media? The African- American community? Involvement in the drug world? Melange of the themes?
4. The title, Jay Bulworth, Warren Beatty and his style? His character, work in the Senate, his disillusionment, leading to depression, not sleeping, not eating, his being confused? His assistants? Tryiing to get him going? His contact, the arrangement about the assassination, the contract? His diary and his calendar, Murphy trying to get him to the various appointments? His feeling he had no future?
5. Bulworth his speeches, the sloppy appearance, mocking the policies, the work with the Insurance companies, with the boss, and his sinister presence at the events, his anger and disillusionment, the invitation for discussion, the deals? The speech about the arts, the Jewish leaders? His playing to the gallery with the African- American audience, the reactions, applause, the girls and their becoming groupies?
6. Nina, her being a hired for the assassination, the presence at the rallies, her friendship with the girls and groupies, the attraction to Bulworth, watching him, his watching her, following him to the various functions, her not wanting to do the assassination but to set him up? The others following Bulworth, the difference between a gunshot and a camera shot?
7. The African- American world, going to the house, the family, having the meal, getting the clothes, Bulworth and his chat? The girls, the clubs? The music, the dancing? The drugs, the politics? Nina and her brother and the drug lord having a hold over him?
8. Bulworth reviving, the phone call to cancel the assassination contract, the manager having the collapse, to the hospital, not calling off the attack, Davers having to stay with him?
9. The Bulworth team, the various plans, Murphy, his character, his gift of spin, explaining things away, the less effective assistant, the cocaine and the indulgence? Davers, his tasks, keeping an eye on Bulworth, keeping vigil over the assassination contractor? The television programmes, Bulworth and his behaviour, the insulting of the panel? The serious panellists? Larry King and his presence?
10. His clothes, with the black children, getting them ice cream instead of drugs, the police stopping, pulling the gun, his pulling his authority, their recognising him? Television and the clips? His becoming more popular?
11. His going into rap, the many rap songs, the rhymes, communicating, the media? The truth about his campaign, his criticism of false values, the themes in the rap?
12. Nina, the attempts, changing heart, changing allegiance? Bulworth watching her, inviting her to go with him, her responding?
13. His having the long sleep, coming back to normal, the invitation, in ordinary clothes – and Murphy’s reaction?
14. The news of his election, looking dapper, with Nina, the contrast with his wife, the strained relationship, her presence at the various functions – and her having a lover?
15. The drug lord, his role in the district, Nina’s brother, talking with Bulworth, seeing the political angle and following it?
16. The assassins, and the finale with Bulworth being shot? The grim ending with the touch of the cynical?
