The internet is a wonderful thing. Very Aware is highlighting some movies that Netflix is offering with its Watch Instantly feature. Movies you may have missed or movies you may have forgotten. Netflix is a treasure trove, let’s dig in!
MOVIE:
BOB ROBERTS
YEAR:
1992
CAST:
Tim Robbins, Ray Wise, Giancarlo Esposito
PLOT:
Taking aim at political skullduggery, false populism and press manipulation, this caustic mockumentary stars Tim Robbins as the titular Bob Roberts, a folk-singing right-winger trying to unseat a liberal U.S. senator. As cameras track Roberts on the campaign trail, a scrappy newshound (Giancarlo Esposito) digs up dirt that may derail his bid for office. Scores of A-list stars appear in cameos in this impressive writing-directing bow from Robbins.
We don’t get enough social satire these days. We’ve got Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, SOUTH PARK and SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE and they all do admirable jobs (some more than others). However, satire isn’t thriving on the big screen. Maybe it’s because true satire has to make a point, it has to declare something and make a case for change. Many studios are afraid of scaring off business so they shy away from anything that might be deemed offensive. Damn shame.
Luckily we still have some stellar examples of satire. BOB ROBERTS is one of them. Written and directed by the very talented and very tall Tim Robbins, ROBERTS is a mockumentary chronicling the rise of an ultra-conservative politician/folk singer. While the movie can be painfully funny at times it’s really quite unsettling, showing the cultish behavior of many in politics. To say BOB ROBERTS left me shaken is an understatement; it scared the crap out of me.
It’s not just an effective film, it’s a masterfully made one. The writing and direction are pitch-perfect and the original music is also brilliant and biting. Also, Robbins has an all-star cast here and uses them expertly. From Peter Gallagher to James Spader to a young Jack Black, BOB ROBERTS is chock-full of interesting characters. Together they create a truly believable and nearly maniacal world. It makes the story even more frightening.
I won’t get into the politics of BOB ROBERTS but I hope you can enjoy the movie despite your party views. For fans of exceptional film making, BOB ROBERTS is very special. For fans of satire, it’s a gem.
BOB ROBERTS can be found on Netflix right here! Queue it!
Watch the trailer below.
