- Search:
- Time Out worldwide
- Web

Film

What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases

Bob Roberts (1992)

Director: Tim Robbins

Average user rating

1 review

Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

Bob Roberts (Robbins, in his first film as writer/director) is a senatorial candidate in Pennsylvania in 1990. As a successful folk-singer, he knows how to use easy sentiment and emotive words to win support for his reactionary manifesto; as a self-made millionaire who took against a '60s childhood spent in a hippy commune, he is the living embodiment of the materialistic message he preaches; and he knows how to conduct a ruthless smear campaign against his rival, incumbent Democrat Senator Paiste (Vidal). Presenting itself as a documentary, Bob Roberts is not merely a satirical fictional biopic, but a wry exploration of the relationship between political reality and manufactured image, showing how far contemporary politics has been reduced by the media to the level of easy-to-handle entertainment. It does have flaws, but its confidence and courage in going against the grain of an increasingly conservative America are impressive.

Author: GA

Time Out Film Guide

Email Tweet Share

User reviews of this film

Jeff said...

Posted on Jan 06 2012 20:41 This movie would be good if the main character was portrayed as a slimy liberal democrat, because the tactics used are used by liberals much more than by conservatives. Of course, with Tim Robbins at the helm, what can you expect?

Report as inappropriate