Primary Colors 1998

Critics score:
80 / 100

Reviews provided by RottenTomatoes

Susan Stark, Detroit News: The movie itself makes no judgment. It's smart enough to ask you to do that by yourself and for yourself. Read more

Janet Maslin, New York Times: The film seldom displays much in the way of directorial hallmarks. Read more

David Edelstein, Slate: It's hard for me fully to express how deeply rotten I think Primary Colors is. Adjectives like 'glib,' 'coarse,' and 'sour' don't fully do it. Read more

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: A smart and savvy piece of work. Read more

Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: Adapting Joe Klein's roman a clef of the same name, ferociously witty screenwriter Elaine May and her smooth old compatriot in comedy, director Mike Nichols, have made a zingy drama and have staffed it well. Read more

David Denby, New York Magazine/Vulture: This entertaining but rather peculiar movie asks extraordinary questions, and I wish it were better equipped to give the answers. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: Dramatically weak. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: The movie is endlessly inventive and involving. Read more

Charles Taylor, Salon.com: A slack, tepid picture stuck in a no man's land between satire and drama. Read more

Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: The movie loses something by downplaying the book's arresting contrast between Stanton's smooth dishonesty and Picker's raw sincerity. Read more

Derek Adams, Time Out: As satire, it's toothless and indulgent; as drama of conscience, it's not a patch on real life... Read more

Todd McCarthy, Variety: Travolta's warmth and expansiveness effectively amplify and embellish the likable and personable side of Stanton. Read more