Mike Nichols, who has been a favorite director of mine for a while, directed this film about a congressional aide named Henry Burton who joins the Presidential campaign of unknown southern Governor Jack Stanton, a man who he believes and admires, discovers that even the most idealistic candidates fall to the treacherous usage of dirty tricks to win.
This film starred John Travolta in his best attempted Bill Clinton impersonation, Emma Thompson as Stanton's opportunistic wife, Susan, and many fantastic performances, with Kathy Bates as Libby Holden, friend of the Stanton's and their own private eye, being the best. The scene with Stanton, Burton, and Governor Fred Picker (played by Larry Hagman of his scheming J.R. Ewing from Dallas fame) where Stanton confronts Picker at his home near the end of the film, is probably one of my favorites in the whole film. Larry Hagman delivered a great and emotional performance in this scene, It makes me admire how good an actor Hagman was.
I also can't forget to mention the excellent screenplay from Elaine May, Mike Nichols' comedy partner from the 1950's and 60's and also a fantastic director in her own right, adapting the novel published from the then anonymous author.
Mike Nichols, who has been a favorite director of mine for a while, directed this film about a congressional aide named Henry Burton who joins the Presidential campaign of unknown southern Governor Jack Stanton, a man who he believes and admires, discovers that even the most idealistic candidates fall to the treacherous usage of dirty tricks to win.
This film starred John Travolta in his best attempted Bill Clinton impersonation, Emma Thompson as Stanton's opportunistic wife, Susan, and many fantastic performances, with Kathy Bates as Libby Holden, friend of the Stanton's and their own private eye, being the best. The scene with Stanton, Burton, and Governor Fred Picker (played by Larry Hagman of his scheming J.R. Ewing from Dallas fame) where Stanton confronts Picker at his home near the end of the film, is probably one of my favorites in the whole film. Larry Hagman delivered a great and emotional performance in this scene, It makes me admire how good an actor Hagman was.
I also can't forget to mention the excellent screenplay from Elaine May, Mike Nichols' comedy partner from the 1950's and 60's and also a fantastic director in her own right, adapting the novel published from the then anonymous author.
