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'''Bob Roberts''' is a 1992 film directed and written by Tim Robbins. It is a satirical mockumentary on the rise of a right-wing candidate for the United States Senate. The main character, Bob Roberts, played by Robbins, leaves his hippie parents to enroll in a military academy. Bob is well financed, due mostly to his dubious business dealings in the past and is well known from his music, which proposes a conservative vision in a rebel's persona, which was described early on in the film by a local TV presenter as “deviant brilliance; a work of machiavellian art”. The film centers around his bid for the position of Senator from Pennsylvania. The film portrays the U.S. political process in a less-than-favorable light, suggesting that shady deals, hypocrisy and deceit are mainstays of U.S. politics.
Bob Roberts is based on a short segment of the same name and character that Robbins did for the television sketch comedy program Saturday Night Live on December 13, 1986, and is the first film in which Robbins takes on the role of director.

Contents

Plot overview

Style

Response

Cast

Music career

Albums

Songs

Trivia

Bibliography

External links

Plot overview

'''Bob Roberts''' takes place in Pennsylvania during the Gulf War, chronicling the senatorial race between conservative folk singer, Bob Roberts (Tim Robbins) and the incumbent, Brickley Paiste (Gore Vidal). The film is shot through the perspective of a British documentary filmmaker who is following the campaign of Roberts, and through his lens we see the main character travel across the state performing songs about evil drug users, lazy poor people and the triumph of traditional family values over the rebelliousness of the 1960s. As the campaign continues, Paiste remains in the lead until a scandal breaks involving him and a young woman who he was seen emerging from a car with. It turns out that she was a friend of his granddaughter who was being driven home by Paiste, but he cannot shake off the accusations.
Throughout the campaign the reporter Bugs Raplin (Giancarlo Esposito) attempts to use the documentary being made about Roberts as a way to expose him to the people as a fraud, due to connections between his anti-drug charity and CIA drug trafficking. As the election approaches Roberts is asked to appear on a network’s sketch comedy show (that is clearly representative of Saturday Night Live and shows a less than favorable representation of SNL producer Lorne Michaels), which causes a dispute among the cast and producers of the show, since Roberts announces that he will not be playing the song that he had originally intended, but instead performing a new piece. When this new song turns out to be nothing more than a blatant campaign endorsement, an angry staff member of the network pulls the plug mid-performance. As Roberts is leaving the studio, someone attempts to assassinate him, thus overshadowing the evening’s recent, image-crushing events. The reporter Bugs Raplin is initially linked to the shooting, but is later cleared when it is found that due to his cerebral palsy in his right hand he couldn’t possibly have fired the gun. Bugs contests that Roberts was never actually shot and that the gun was fired into the ground, not at Bob. Boosted by the outpour of support following the assassination attempt, Bob ends up winning the election with 52% of the vote. Later, at a victory party, although the wounds supposedly crippled the lower half of Bob's body, he is seen tapping his feet to the rhythm of one of his songs. However, the press covering his performance do not observe this, and it is left unexposed. Bugs is killed, presumably by one of Roberts' supporters, thus creating joyous mayhem among fans gathered outside Roberts' apartment. When the film ends the viewer is left with many questions about just how deep the conspiracies of Roberts go.
Artisan's special-edition DVD has many features, with a transfer in the original full-frame (1.33:1) and Dolby 2.0 Surround. Three commentary tracks are included: one with Robbins, another with Robbins and Vidal together, and a third track with Counterpunch editors Alexander Cockburn and Jeffrey St. Clair, which has nothing to do with the movie but rather is a detailed discussion of CIA-related drug conspiracies.

Style

The style of ''Bob Roberts'' is drawn from a number of real and mock documentaries, and its shots are carefully crafted to create this effect, in many cases through the use of hand-held cameras. Not only does Roberts’ character draw from 60’s era iconography of Bob Dylan, it also takes from the 1967 documentary, ''Dont Look Back'' (sic), made about the singer, employing a similar (although consciously constructed) cinema verité style (Ansen 1992; Canby 1992). The film also draws from the mock-documentary ''This Is Spinal Tap'' (Rob Reiner, 1984) which Robbins states to be a favorite film of his (Roberge 1992), and directly references this during the scene in which Roberts gets lost in an auditorium attempting to find the stage before his performance. Another technique which Robbins takes from Reiner is the use of improvisation, which he encouraged the cast to use. In the case of Gore Vidal’s character, the majority of the lines were not scripted, and instead Vidal based his role upon his own political beliefs, and his real life positions on many of the fictional election topics (Johnson 1992; Kauffman 1992). Robbins artfully borrows from a wide range of films and historical campaign events. The movie has elements of ''Nashville'' by Robert Altman as well as ''The Candidate'', starring Robert Redford.

Response

While critics and audiences have responded to this film by connecting Roberts’ character to various political figures, such as George H. W. Bush and Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum (due to the similarity in conservative values), Robbins’ intentions for the film seem to be less partisan, and more about the political system in general (Roberge 1992). In the film Robbins does not clearly identify either candidate's partisan alliance (although we do see Senator Paiste identified on TV as a Democrat, so we are left to assume that Roberts is almost definitely a Republican, due to that party's more right-wing values), and presents neither Roberts nor Paiste as particularly appealing, both having significant shortcomings in terms of being popular candidates for office. While the satire of the film is assumed by some to be based on Robbins’ own political beliefs, he is not overly supportive of the left, portraying the democratic candidate as rather earnest, but not very in tune with the political system or the best ways to get in touch with the public. It seems that much of Robbins' commentary is addressed at the role of the media in election campaigns, and around the fact that politicians’ success is due in large part to their ability to market themselves in a manner that is appealing to the public (Roberge 1992). In the film this comes across as being based much more around the candidates’ value as entertainers than the value of their words, for Roberts’ image as a 60’s era motorcycle riding, guitar playing rebel sells much better than Paiste’s as a hapless career politician. While some have critiqued Robbins for failing to make an effective political satire, stating that his references to Reagan-era politics and the rebelliousness of the 1960’s are simply too anachronistic in the context of the 1990s (Troy 1993; Wattenberg 2001), others have praised it as a triumph for its ability to articulate political commentary as an entertaining Hollywood piece (Ansen 1992). In the end, it seems that this is meant to be the primary intention of the film.

Cast

★ 'Robert "Bob" Roberts, Jr.' (Tim Robbins) is the protagonist of the film and a 1990 Senatorial candidate for the state of Pennsylvania. Roberts creates an image of himself as some kind of a rebel and uses it to push his un-rebellious Christian values.

★ 'John Alijah "Bugs" Raplin' (Giancarlo Esposito) is a journalist for ''Troubled Times'' magazine who is determined to expose Bob Roberts as a fraud. Raplin is accused of being responsible for Bob's assassination attempt.

★ 'Lukas Hart III' (Alan Rickman) is on the Campaign Chairman for Bob Roberts. Hart set up an organization called ''Broken Dove'' which supplied transport planes involved in transporting drugs to U.S. government operatives. Roberts and Hart claim that Broken Dove is a program that helps to keep children off of drugs.

★ 'Chet MacGregor' (Ray Wise)

★ 'Terry Manchester' (Brian Murray) is a British film documentarian who follows Roberts with a camera for the duration of his campaign. This movie is seen as being his finished documentary of the campaign

★ 'Senator Brickley Paiste' (Gore Vidal) is the incumbent Senator whom Bob Roberts campaigns against. Paiste ends up losing the election after a rumor emerges about him sleeping with an under-aged member of his campaign staff, and after Bob Roberts's assassination attempt.

★ 'Delores Perrigrew' (Rebecca Jenkins) is a member of Bob's campaign who leaves shortly after the assassination attempt.

★ 'Franklin Dockett' (Harry J. Lennix)

★ 'Clark Anderson' (John Ottavino)

★ 'Bart Macklerooney' (Robert Stanton)

★ 'Clarissa Flan' (Kelly Willis) is another folk musician whom Bob Roberts sometimes performs with in concerts, she is voted ''Miss Broken Dove'' in the ''Miss Independence'' beauty contest for the state of Pennsylvania. The Roberts campaign supports the beauty contest and Bob sings at the ceremony.

★ 'Polly Roberts' (Merrilee Dale) is Bob Roberts soft-spoken, picture-perfect wife.

★ 'Dr. Caleb Menck' (Tom Atkins) is Bob Roberts's personal doctor, who speaks to a press conference after the assassination attempt.

★ 'Mack Laflin' (David Strathairn)

★ 'Chuck Marlin' (James Spader) is a local news anchor for the station WLNO.

★ 'Carol Cruise' (Pamela Reed) is Chuck Martin's co-anchor at WLNO.

★ 'Rose Pondell' (Helen Hunt) is a field reporter at WLNO.

★ 'Dan Riley' (Peter Gallagher) is the host of ''Good Morning, Philadelphia''.

★ 'Kelly Noble' (Lynne Thigpen) is an interviewer on ''Good Morning, Philadelphia'' who is extremely critical of Roberts, and even goes as far as to say that "[she] wouldn't vote for him if [her] life depended on it", gives him the title of "Rebel Conservative", and compares him to Nixon (but "a little more witty").

★ 'Robert Roberts, Sr.' (Bingo O'Malley) is Bob Roberts's hippie father. Bob Roberts rebels against his parents' hippie lifestyle with his conservative agenda.

★ 'Constance Roberts' (Kathleen Chalfant) is Bob Roberts's hippie mother.

★ 'Roger Davis' (Jack Black) is a young man who is a big fan of Bob Roberts's music and politics. He is introduced to Roberts by his mother, the wife of a mayor of an unnamed town. He states that he and his two friends are all guitar players in a band that covers Roberts' songs.

★ 'Calvin' (Matthew Faber) is a young man who is a friend of Roger Davis and a fan of Bob's.

★ 'Burt' (Matt McGrath) is another young man who is also Roger's friend and Bob's fan.

★ 'Mrs. Davis' (Anita Gillette) is the wife of the mayor of an unspecified Pennsylvania town, and the mother of Roger Davis. She is responsible for introducing Roger and his friends Burt and Calvin to Bob Roberts.

★ 'Tawna Titan' (Susan Sarandon) is a local news anchor for WFAC-TV News.

★ 'Chip Daley' (Fred Ward) is the co-anchor of Tawna Titan at WFAC-TV News.

★ 'Rock Bork' (Fisher Stevens) is a field reporter at WFAC-TV News.

★ 'Reverend Best' (Gil Robbins) is a right wing minister who supports Bob Roberts's campaign.

★ 'Carol' (June Stein) is an assistant on the program ''Cutting Edge Live'', who is extremely critical of Roberts. She pulls the plug on Bob Roberts's performance on the show.

★ 'Michael Janes' (Bob Balaban) is the producer of the television program, ''Cutting Edge Live''. He is a parody of Lorne Michaels.

★ '''Cutting Edge Live'' host' (John Cusack)

★ 'Ernesto Galleano' (Robert Hegyes) is a reporter who covers Roberts's "assassination attempt".

Music career

Albums

★ 'The Freewheelin' Bob Roberts' - Bob Roberts's first album, which was not met with much critical acclaim but became successful anyway. The album is clearly a parody of the 1963 Bob Dylan album ''The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan''.

★ 'The Times Are Changin' Back' - Bob Robert's second album, which was a bigger hit. The album was clearly a parody of the 1964 Bob Dylan album ''The Times They Are a-Changin'''. The album features the title song "The Times Are Changin' Back".

★ 'Bob on Bob' - Bob's album, which was released on the day as his Senatorial election. The album title is parody of the 1966 Bob Dylan album ''Blonde on Blonde''. The album featured the song and music video, "I Want to Live", which was released after Bob's assassination attempt but supposedly filmed beforehand. The album debuted at #2.

Songs

All of the following songs were Produced and Arranged by David Robbins, with Music and Lyrics by David Robbins and Tim Robbins unless specifically mentioned. Many of them contain lyrical references or title similarities to well-known protest/topical songs, mostly from the 1960s:

★ "What Did The Teacher Tell You" - a song that Bob Roberts performs for some school children. Reminiscent of "What Did you Learn in School Today" by Tom Paxton.

★ "Complain" - a song in which Bob mocks the liberal agenda and supporting the poor and needy.

★ "My Land" - a song about Bob's perception of America. Contrast to "This Land is Your Land" by Woody Guthrie.

★ "Times Are Changing' Back" - a song about America's return to morality from 1960s hippie values. An obvious reference to "The times they are 'a changin'" by Bob Dylan.

★ "Wall Street Rap" - a song and music video reminiscent of Bob Dylan's Subterranean Homesick Blues.

★ "Retake America" - another song about America's return to right wing values.

★ "Prevailing Tides"

★ "I Want To Live" - a song and music video released with Bob's album ''Bob on Bob''. It was supposedly written and filmed before the assassination attempt, but released afterward.

★ "Drugs Stink" - an anti-drug song often performed by Roberts.

★ "This World Turns" - a song written about supporting God.

★ "Beautiful Girl" - a slow, sleazy song that Bob sings to Clarissa Flan at the Miss Independence beauty contest.

★ "We Are Marching"--Compare to "I Ain't Marchin' Anymore" by Phil Ochs.

★ "The Voting Song" - a song that Roberts wrote to encourage people to vote.

★ "I've Got To Know" - a song that plays during the film's closing credits that is the only song in the film not produced and arranged by David Robbins, and without Music and Lyrics by David and Tim Robbins. The song was originally performed and written by folk singer Woody Guthrie

Trivia

★ Robbins made the film on a budget of only $4 million by enlisting many of his friends as cast members including Gore Vidal portraying Roberts' incumbent Democratic opponent, as well as Giancarlo Esposito, Alan Rickman, Harry J. Lennix, David Strathairn, James Spader, Helen Hunt, Peter Gallagher, a very young Jack Black, Robbins' longtime companion Susan Sarandon, Fred Ward, Fisher Stevens, John Cusack, Bob Balaban and Jeremy Piven, with some in only brief cameo appearances.

★ The film was originally released at Cannes where it was well received.

★ The song "Retake America" written by Robbins was originally titled "Repave America" and first appeared in the 1988 movie ''Tapeheads''. It was credited as "Bob Roberts" in ''Tapeheads'', four years before ''Bob Roberts'' was released.

★ Bob Roberts was also Robbins' punk rock cover band during the Vote for Change tour in 2004. After the announcement of the tour, Robbins' band joined the bill with Pearl Jam and Death Cab for Cutie to trek across swing states. At each of these shows, a minor skit with the help of Eddie Vedder portrayed Robbins as a Republican senator. On every night of the tour, Robbins joined Pearl Jam to play a cover of "The New World" by X.

★ A soundtrack album was never released, because Robbins feared that the songs might be played out of context. However, the Californian punk rock band ''The Vandals'' covered the song ''Complain'' on their album ''Play Really Bad Original Country Tunes''.

★ The Saturday Night Live short segment film from December 13, 1986, that was the precursor of the 1992 movie, shows a Bob Roberts almost identical to the 1992 version (except that the 1986 Bob Roberts was an impolite anti-smoking advocate).

★ Though not overt, there are veiled references in the film to Bob Roberts, a Yale graduate, being a member of the secret society of Skull and Bones, best known for practicing occult rituals and being highly secretive. The members of skull and bones consist of many prominent public figures including presidents and other elected officials

★ When Bob attempted to play his song “Retake America” on Cutting Edge he claims it is a song he wrote just now, but the song was mentioned earlier in the film by one of the mayor’s sons when they first met him.

★ The Simpsons episode "Sideshow Bob Roberts" is a loose parody of the film.

Bibliography

★ Ansen, D. (1992) Rattling the Political Cage. Newsweek. 120(10)

★ Canby, V. (1992) Bob Roberts; A Singing Candidate, A Happy Trail of Hait. New York Times Friday September 2

★ Johnson, B. (1992) The Stars and Snipes. Maclean's. 105(37)

★ Kauffman, S. (1992) Ballotomanes. New Republic. 207(15) pp. 34-35

★ Roberge, C. (1992) Tim Robbins campaigns for Bob Roberts and political change (interview). The Tech. 112(44) Page 8

★ Troy, G. (1993) Bob Roberts. The American Historical Review. 98(4) pp.

★ Wattenberg, D. (2001) No Nukes. National Review. 53(5) p55-57

External links

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