# Bulworth (1998)

### reviewed by
David Sunga

    BULWORTH (1998)

    Rating: 3.5 stars (out of 4.0)
    ********************************
    Key to rating system:
    2.0 stars - Debatable
    2.5 stars - Some people may like it
    3.0 stars - I liked it
    3.5 stars - I am biased in favor of the movie
    4.0 stars - I felt the movie's impact personally or it stood out
    *********************************
    A Movie Review by David Sunga

    Directed by: Warren Beatty

Written by: Warren Beatty and Jeremy Pikser

Starring: Warren Beatty, Halle Berry, Oliver Platt

Ingredients: Completely honest Senator who says: "If you don't put down that malt liquor and chicken wings and get behind somebody other than a running back who stabs his wife, you're never going to get rid of somebody like me."

Synopsis: In this sharp and hilarious comedy which combines madcap farce with stinging political commentary, old Senator Jay Billington Bulworth (Warren Beatty) is a pitiful, corrupted former 60s idealist who 'sold out' to rich special interests, and as a result is engulfed in moral guilt, shame, sadness and depression. On TV the smiling senator is ostensibly running a successful re-election campaign, but actually he is on the verge of a suicidal mental breakdown. After taking his last 10 million dollar insurance bribe, Bulworth arranges to hire an anonymous contract killer and contracts a hit on himself, to take place sometime within the next three days.

To his surprise, Bulworth suddenly finds out that - - now that nothing matters - - he's at last free to be perfectly honest and candid. He can say what he actually feels about his job, the American political process, and real life in America. Elated, Bulworth decides to cancel his assassination, but to his dismay, he finds out he's unable to get in contact with the hit man in order to cancel the hit.

Thus begins the outrageous, loony and slightly paranoid behavior of a completely honest, politically incorrect senator. For example, Bulworth tells poor churchgoers that they are little more than photo opportunities for politicians. When voters accuse him of past misdeeds, he asks, "Isn't that obvious?"He tells rich movie producers that they are bilking the American public with greedy, worthless, schlock movies. Bulworth goes to south central LA and learns to rap, then takes up wearing a knit cap and baggy shorts and begins to deliver his speeches in rhymes.

As Bulworth's unorthodox ravings progress, he tackles life with increasingly fearless, unrepentant abandon. Refusing to sleep, Bulworth becomes the incandescent symbol of the discontented average American; as a result, the American public jumps to his support. He also romances a mysterious beautiful woman named Nina (Halle Berry).

What will happen to the romance, the campaign, and the hit contract?

    Opinion:
    Put simply, I like BULWORTH immensely because it is hilarious and it has
    guts.

The reason why I say it's a gutsy film is because there will no doubt be sensitive people who will want to take this movie too seriously. As the Bulworth character is completely nuts, outrageously irreverent, and makes a target of the entire political spectrum, there are bound to be folks who take offense to the farcical senator's delirious speeches.

The reason why I say it's hilarious is because BULWORTH is meant to provide farcical entertainment. Why else would the unshaven senator be dressed in hip-hop clothing and spouting raps to a grooving soundtrack?

I highly recommend this film to anybody. You may like it, or you may hate it, but I guarantee it will not leave you indifferent.

    Reviewed May 23, 1998

Copyright © 1998 by David Sunga This review and others like it can be found at THE CRITIC ZOO: http://www.criticzoo.com email: zookeeper@criticzoo.com

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