Sorry, this movie sucks

Powerful

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

This is a "One Man Show" with Writer/Director/Actor/Singer Tim Robbins Wearing His Liberalism Proudly On His Sleeve. But to Call it a "One Man Show" is Inaccurate in a Minor Chord. The Film is Filled with Cameos of Well Known Faces and Co-Stars Alan Rickman as Robbins Muscle.Most Reviewers and Professional Critics now say that this is Perhaps the most Prophetic Political Satire Ever with the Possible Exception of "Citizen Kane" (1940).Turning the Right Wing and Left Wing on Their Heads, Robbins Plays "Bob Roberts", an Anti-Bob Dylan Folk Singer and Dylan is a LOL Thread Running through this Poke in the Eye at Hypocritical Conservative/Republican "Values".He Sings and Talks of Patriotism, Religion, the Flag, with a Hubris "Fox News" Utilizes with Irony on a Daily Basis. The Movie was made in 1992 and Foreshadowed Tea Party, Donald Trump, and the Current State of the 2016 Presidential Election. It's Uncanny Unveiling of Things to Come is its Strongest Appeal.Sharply Written, Acted, and Paced with the Ominous Destructive Warning of a Hurricane on the Radar, its Only Flaw is the Rather Heavy Handed/Over the Top Inclusion of the Clichéd and Predictable Assassination Attempt that is the Only Thing in this Winner that doesn't quite Work and seems Forced into the Narrative when it wasn't needed.Robbins is Simply Sublime as an Against-Type Portrayal and Gore Vidal as His Political Opponent was some sort of Genius Casting.

It was by chance that I saw this; it was on television, and when I looked it up, I immediately wanted to watch it. This is a mockumentary(staged documentary) about a fictitious campaign, and its satire is biting with a lasting sting. What makes this work so well is that it transcends the politics; this isn't really about Right or Left wing. Roberts uses pure demagogy, peddling easy solutions, and never making it entirely clear what he intends to *do*. Thus, his potential voters themselves fill in the vacuum with how they, personally, think the country should be run. This film excellently points out this danger of democracy, promoting eternal vigilance. It doesn't matter what actual stance Robbins(for the record, I'm not a fan of his) has outside of this movie, it is not relevant. If I had to say anything negative about this, it would probably be that it is arguably quite black and white, but maybe this was intentional, and what it is speaking ill of is not something that should be defended. The writing is sharp, and the script and dialog are marvelous. I enjoyed the numerous references to Bob Dylan immensely. The acting is great(and there are many big names in small roles in this). This was Jack Black's debut, and I'm surprised to say that he's really good in it. The editing and cinematography are well-done. There is a bit of strong language in this. I recommend this to anyone informed enough to appreciate it. Terrifying and memorable. 8/10

I hope I'll make it to show it in a cinema as a double feature with Pennebaker's Dylan-Documentary "Don't look back" because "Bob Roberts" is not only a funny satire about politics and music-business, it's a homage of course to Bob Dylan ans his early career but it is indeed a cover-version of "Don't Look back". For example the whole scene with the politician's wife and her gorgeous sons who even have their own band you can find almost similar in both movies. In fact you couldn't have understand this movie completely, if you've never seen the other. Andt thats of course it's only weakness - it's a kind of insider joke. Anyway, I'm looking forward to your new films Bob!

If you think this movie is not commentary you've missed the point entirely. Satire is commentary. It is always commentary. This movie is a comment on all those politicians who do what Bob Roberts does in this movie--and if he doesn't resemble a Republican or two we have come too well to know in this country, well, then, I suppose you may as well believe you can have satire without commentary. And there's a bridge that might interest you.Other than, that it's a very effective satire and hits its mark 9 times out of ten. Gore Vidal is...well, he's Gore Vidal in this movie, and that's quite enough, of course.And Tim Robbins? Well, that's my point. Let's just say this: he's not Republican!