Obviously based on a certain US President this documentary style film follows southern Governer Jack Stanton's bid to become the Democratic candidate for the Presidency. Uneasily flitting between Stanton's honest love for his people and his desire to make a difference and his serial adultery it tries very hard to be a good film. Mostly it succeeds and it was quite entertaining, like many political satires. However, not enough emphasis was placed on characterization with some of the minor roles given little, indeed often contradictory, personalities. Also, despite being very long it only shows his run for the candidacy, not the Presidency, and as such drags considerably in the middle.
Travolta is good as the kindly, messed up Stanton and the rest of the cast acquit themselves well, especially Adrian Lester as the naive do-gooder Henry Burton, but they often find themselves lost amongst the film itself. Despite the clear-cut relevance to the Clinton's and their scandals it is only part-based on them with plenty of originality thrown in too. I only wish it could have explained Stanton's loyal team more, their desires and motivations, then I might have felt more about it all. Instead it just becomes a kind of sub-standard Boogie Nights. Which is a shame really. |
