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Actors: Tim Robbins, Alan Rickman, Giancarlo Esposito, Ray Wise, Brian Murray, Gore Vidal
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about Bob Roberts |
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In Tim Robbins' bitingly sardonic mockumentary, his directorial debut, a British journalist (Brian Murray) follows the 1990 senatorial race in Pennsylvania, focusing on the campaign of Robert "Bob" Roberts (Robbins), a neoconservative folk-singer and self-made millionaire running on the Republican ticket.
Roberts uses classic 1960's rock tunes with revised lyrics to push a platform of hate and greed which takes fire with the electorate, and he easily takes the lead against the incumbent, liberal Senator Brickley Paiste (Gore Vidal). Not satisfied with a two-point margin of victory, Roberts begins a vicious smear-campaign against Paiste, using altered photographs to sling mud at his opponent.
Although he is met at every rally and campaign stop with adoring fans, led by a young skinhead in a three-piece suit (Jack Black), and victory seems to be within his grasp, Roberts begins runs into serious trouble when a reporter for a radically liberal magazine (Giancarlo Esposito) finds evidence linking his campaign manager, CIA-operative-turned-fundraiser Lukas Hart III (Alan Rickman) to both the Iran-Contra scandal and the savings-and-loan crisis. As Roberts' poll numbers begin to drop, the candidate and his cronies resolve to take desperate measures to stem the tide.
--James Craver, Resident Scholar
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In 1990 Bob Roberts (Robbins), an arch-conservative folk singer, decides to run for the Senate in Pennsylvania. Roberts rebelled against his hippy parents, went to military school, and got a business degree from Yale. In this movie, the Roberts campaign is seen through the eye of British documentary filmmaker Terry Manchester (Murray). Roberts's main message is "Greed is good," and he aims to promote his campaign with folk songs that turn the '60s on its ear. Campaign manager Lukas Hart III (Rickman) is a former CIA agent, and the campaign bus is a floating stock market day trading post. Roberts smears the incumbent, a tired liberal named Senator Brickley Paiste (Vidal) by spreading rumors that he's been cheating on his wife with a teenager. Throughout the campaign, journalist Bugs Raplin (Esposito) tries hard to get the dirt on Roberts, while the candidate's team retaliates. Besides starring in this bleak 1992 satire, Robbins wrote, directed, composed for, and sings in it. Among the cameos -- mostly playing news ancors and reporters -- are James Spader, Susan Sarandon, Helen Hunt, Peter Gallagher, Fred Ward, John Cusack, Bob Balaban, and David Strathairn.
--David Loftus, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of Bob Roberts |
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Comedy, primarily
Yes
Time/era of movie:
- 1980's-1999
Kind of comedy
- political satire
How much humor v. drama
- Nearly all humor
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- singer/musician
Age:
- 20's-30's
Eccentric:
Yes
- eccentric
- deluded
Hair color?
- brunette (Brown)
Hair type
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- (man) very skinny
- (man) average
Events of movie makes character more...
- aggressive
- happy
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
- mean, arrogant
Sense of humor?
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
- average physique
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Hair color
- blonde
- white/grey
Hair style
- (man) short/standard straight
- (man) short/standard wavey
Body type
- (man) average build
How much in movie?
- 60%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
- British
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 20's-30's
Profession/status:
- journalist
Eccentric:
Yes
- eccentric
- obsessed
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 60%
- 80%
Hair color
- brunette (Black)
Hair type
- (man) short/standard curly
Body type
- (man) skinny
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Black
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- healthy but a geeky weakling
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- Northeast
Misc setting
- fancy mansion
- resort/hotel
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- no torture/death
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
Movie makes you feel...
- all mixed up
Sex/nudity in movie?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- vague references only
- kissing
Any profanity?
- Occasional swearing
If lots of song/dance...
- lot of singing
If soundtrack VERY NOTICEABLE...
- Folk music
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Resident Scholar Profiles
TOP SCHOLAR:
 James Craver
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