Bulworth
Bulworth
R | 15 May 1998 (USA)
Bulworth Trailers

A suicidally disillusioned liberal politician puts a contract out on himself and takes the opportunity to be bluntly honest with his voters by affecting the rhythms and speech of hip-hop music and culture.

Reviews
ManiakJiggy This is How Movies Should Be Made
Stoutor It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.
Merolliv I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.
Payno I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.
Seth Aicklen 20 years after it was released, IMHO it's better than the average rating of around 7 given so far, and has withstood the test of time as a comedic political statement. You can get everything else in 230 prior reviews.
djfrost-46786 The soundtrack made this movie. This movie is horrible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anthony Iessi A cookie-cutter politician finally has had enough, and rises from the establishment expectation and speaks his mind by using an irreverent, slightly vulgar, down-with-the people style of rhetoric. Whoa, is this the Donald Trump story? Or maybe it's the Bernie Sanders story? Bulworth was a shock-wave of a movie back in 1998, when American politics weren't straying far from it's disingenuous roots. Between the Clintons and the Bushes, it was as phony as ever. But today, Bulworth is more timely than it has ever been. Every politician right now is doing 'the Bulworth", even the creepily calculated Hillary Clinton. Art is imitating life once again. What was once a spit of fire in a quiet room has become a political revolution. On all accounts, this movie has every right to seem as excellent as I'm making it sound. But despite it's Nostradamus effect in terms of politics, everything else about it is dated. Warren Beatty does a decent job, but I can't really buy him as the rapping politician. He sounds like the granny from The Wedding Singer. He can't hang. The stereotypes of South Central LA are also in full force here, despite it's attempts at humanizing the community. Oh yes, the divide between classes and races is as big as they've ever been at this very moment, but the sophistication of the conversation has changed dramatically. It's a lot more complex now than 1998 had it, and so, to that extent, it's dated. The writing as a whole also loses it's edge slightly after an hour in, and becomes a series of romantic, political-drama conventions. I have to say, though, the very beginning and very end of the movie are fantastic.
evening1 Sen. Jay Billington Bulworth has sold out, lost any say in how he spends his time, and lives a "family values" lie. Suicidally depressed, he comes up with a scheme to throw in the towel and have his nemesis -- the insurance industry -- pick up the tab.For the first time in memory, Bulworth speaks honestly and actually has some fun. To his surprise, he makes two amazing discoveries along the way -- he can actually do some good, AND find true love.I had seen this roller coaster of a movie a while back and rediscovered it recently on Sundance. I was amazed at how well it has held up, with all its talk of Obamacare-style socialized medicine and even references to the cool vegetable du jour, kale. There is amazing work here by Warren Beatty, who not only stars but also wrote the trenchant and hilarious script. Beatty is a poignant and believable protagonist on a high-speed road trip of outrageous public performances and flights from a suspected hit man in shades.Among the many interesting things that Beatty highlights in this film is an appreciation for plain-spokenness in the African-American community -- as contrasted with endless beating-around-the-bush by white folk.He says a lot about race relations that rings true today. And though he's a longtime supporter of Democratic politics, Beatty skewers both parties for being self-serving and money-grubbing.The plot twists and casting in this film are of the highest order. Halle Berry shines as a straight-talking street tough who wins Bulworth's heart. Their frenetic dance at an underground club -- is there any better chemistry in a movie, ever? Oliver Platt and another actor whose name I don't know are sublime as Bulworth's sweating-bullets handlers, and I savored the performances of character actors Jack Warden, as Davers, and Richard Sarafian as the sloppy, crude, and gluttonous Vinny.There are so many lessons in this film for all of us. Let's get real, people! Say what you mean, and mean what you say. If speaking in rhyme makes you happy, just do it! Don't sell out. And try to help your fellow man. C'mon, Bulworth...get thee to the ER! And long live Bulworth!