A sometimes brilliant if overloaded pseudodocumentary satire.
Bob Roberts (1992)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted: 35
Fresh: 35
Rotten:0
Average Rating: 7.6/10
Runtime: 1 hr 43 mins
Genre: Comedies
Synopsis: Tim Robbins stars in his directorial debut as right-wing folksinger Bob Roberts in this satirical mock documentary. Roberts is joined on the Pennsylvania senatorial campaign trail by a British... Tim Robbins stars in his directorial debut as right-wing folksinger Bob Roberts in this satirical mock documentary. Roberts is joined on the Pennsylvania senatorial campaign trail by a British documentary filmmaker who offers insight into Roberts, his staff, and his supporters. Roberts is the anti-Bob Dylan, wowing his supporters with tunes such as "Times Are Changin' Back" and "Wall Street Rap" (which includes a video send-up of Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues"). With his clean-cut good looks and squeaky-clean image, Roberts appears as American as apple pie. Yet, like most politicians, he harbors some nasty secrets, including potential involvement in illegal drug trafficking and bank scandals. And like most politicians, he is a master at manipulating the media. Roberts's political trickery turns serious when an innocent man is accused of attempting to assassinate the candidate. Some of Hollywood's best appear as news anchors and reporters, including Susan Sarandon, James Spader, Peter Gallagher, and Helen Hunt. Gore Vidal is immensely believable as the liberal incumbent trying to keep his Senate seat, battling Robbins, who is the consummate politician of the 1990s: lots of fluff and not much substance. [More]
Starring: Tim Robbins, Alan Rickman, Giancarlo Esposito, Ray Wise
Starring: Tim Robbins, Alan Rickman, Giancarlo Esposito, Ray Wise, Gore Vidal, Brian Murray, Rebecca Jenkins, Harry J. Lennix, John Ottavino, Robert Stanton, Jack Black, Bob Balaban, John Cusack, Peter Gallagher, Robert Hegyes, Helen Hunt, Pamela Reed, James Spader, Susan Sarandon, Fred Ward, Fisher Stevens, David Strathairn, Kelly Willis, Lynne Thigpen
Director: Tim Robbins
Director: Tim Robbins
Screenwriter: Tim Robbins
Producer: Forrest Murray
Composer: David Robbins
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Reviews for Bob Roberts
A sort of political This Is Spinal Tap, Bob Roberts is both a stimulating social satire and, for thinking people, a depressing commentary on the devolution of the American political system.
Robbins's satire is savvy and complex enough to send mixed signals to the viewers about politics and pop culture; both Democrats and Republicans may find supporting evidence for their arguments in his picture.
Bob Roberts is not merely a satirical fictional biopic, but a wry exploration of the relationship between political reality and manufactured image.
Excelente análise sobre o sistema político americano e a forma com que a manipulação da mídia pode criar novos heróis. Atuação brilhante do diretor/roteirista Robbins, que também compôs as músicas de seu personagem.
A very funny, sometimes prescient satire of American politics, and of the comparatively small, voting portion of the electorate that makes a Bob Roberts phenomenon possible.
Admittedly, this is an uneven film, but it has a lot more pluses than minuses.
This Tim Robbins-helmed political satire about demogougery makes for an appropriate election-season re-release.
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