Billy Bob's Filmography
PRIMARY COLORS (1998)
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Director
Mike Nichols
Character
Richard Jemmons
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Movie Quote
RICHARD: You want to walk the snake? See, look, you
don't believe me? Listen, baby, I'm tellin' you I've got a
python in here.
Plot
Based
on Joe Klein's notorious and bestselling roman à clef
about the 1992 Clinton presidential campaign, PRIMARY COLORS
tracks the campaign effort of Southern governor (the state is
unnamed) Jack Stanton. To young campaign manager Henry Burton
(Adrian Lester), Stanton who looks like he might the real thing
--a politician who genuinely champions the people. But
Henry's tour with the campaign proves to be an eye-opening,
often painful experience in the realities and chicaneries of
American politics.
What Billy Bob Gets To Do
When he's not mapping out campaign strategy or weeping over the
sacrifices his mama made for him and his six siblings, he's
birddogging muffins (the young, female campaign workers) for
backroom quickies. One particular muffin shuts him down
with a dismissal of his latest poll.
Backstory
Yes, Billy Bob did actually ask for
then-President Bill Clinton's blessing before taking the
role. Fellow Arkansan Clinton has known Billy Bob and his
mother Virginia for years and even got Billy Bob a job with the
state highway department many moons ago. He also spent a day with Clinton's
campaign advisor and political gadfly James Carville, one whom
the character of Jemmons very is loosely based. Both
Clinton and James Carville appreciated his performance.
The cast gives its all, with Emma Thompson, Larry Hagman (never
better!), Kathy Bates (who was Oscar®-nominated
for Supporting Actress), Rob Reiner's really, really, REALLY funny cameo as a radio talk show
host, Maura Tierney, Diane Ladd, Adrian
Lester, Paul Guilfoyle, Allison Janney, and MONK's Tony Shaloub as a character who should
have been more careful about germs. Elaine May adapted the
script from Klein's novel. And if anyone thinks the fictional political
shenanigans depicted in PRIMARY COLORS are even a tad exaggerated, just take a look at the 2003 California gubernatorial ballot!
Awards
(for Billy Bob Thornton)
Broadcast Film Critics Association Award (Best
Supporting Actor) - 1999 - Nomination
Awards
(for PRIMARY COLORS)
The list is practically a
landslide; here's the IMDb
awards page.
Relevant Links
IMDb Link
Extra Nat Gertler's tale of the shoot
Bomis
links to several PRIMARY COLORS sites
MovieWeb review
MRQE
links to PRIMARY COLORS reviews
TV Guide review
Love him or hate him, he's James
Carville!
And here's Richard Jemmons' next gig! Karl
for President!
Related Merchandise
Joe Klein's provocative novel is an absorbing and entertaining
read. The soundtrack is blessed by the participation of Ry
Cooder.
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