Good movie but grossly overrated

It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

I rate 'Bulworth' an A for degree of difficulty and ambition, C- for execution. Reading through the reviews here, this is clearly a polarizing film. I believe this is ultimately the legacy of the film, which is to say 'Bulworth' will never be remembered as a truly great film.Where this film falls short of its mark is in the limousine liberal rhetoric Senator Bulworth spouts, or raps embarrassingly. After the first few rhymes, which were sort of cute, it becomes cringeworthy. His rap is the worst I've ever heard, its so bad some might see it as mockery of legitimate hip-hop. We get the same political ideology of the liberal elites of the Democrat Party. Its like a broken record, its sounded good or decades, but when these Democrats get into positions of power in government, nothing changes. I would expect conservatives to dislike this, but I'd many progressives are do as well.I do give credit to Beatty for a courageous effort, but the film falls short of its high ambitions. The legacy of 'Bulworth' is really the legacy of the 1960s liberal/radical generation, a lot of talk and theater, no meaningful action or change. The socio-economic standing of poor, inner city African Americans has hardly changed in 50 years.

Bulworth (1998): Dir: Warren Beatty / Cast: Warren Beatty, Halle Berry, Oliver Platt, Don Cheadle, Paul Sorvino: Honest yet misguided political satire attacked regarding its racial content. It does deal with the issues it raises, such as racism, welfare and political honesty. Tired of pointless campaigns Senator Bulworth surprises everyone when he turns vulgar on camera. The truth hurts but he gains popularity in the urban communities. Despite interesting plotting the romance between Bulworth and Halle Berry isn't necessary with an ending that misfires largely from seemingly tacked on. Observant directing by Warren Beatty who previously made Dick Tracy. Here he is obviously quoting largely from Network, which also showcased a high profile personality going out of control. Fantastic work by Beatty as Bulworth who reveals the exaggeration of political phoniness while experiencing the world outside his office. Berry is terrific as the woman he falls for thus erupting media gossip. Oliver Platt plays Bulworth's struggling adviser but the role, like many other supporting roles in this film, seems tacky and too much of a stereotype. Don Cheadle plays Bulworth's view into reality. They do not hit it off at first until he sees Bulworth as a changed man. Although it isn't Network, the film is well made as Bulworth becomes aware of life and tries to live it. Score: 6 ½ / 10

Beatty bombast is in full evidence as the one time reigning monarch of Hollywood comes down from his kingdom on the hill to get real among the great unwashed and inform America just what is wrong with it. The time has come to kill the messenger. It is a long way both chronologically and aesthetically from the halcyon time when the confident kid stood the town on its ear. All he has now is a tin ear.Senator Jay Billington Bulworth has gone from idealist to cynic over time doing what pols do best, look out for themselves. In the midst of a campaign and a brewing scandal that will expose him the Senator decides to take out a contract on himself so his family can at least reap the benefits of a huge insurance policy. With that taken care of Bulworth feels a great weight removed from his shoulder and he begins to speak more openly and honestly including getting down with the homeys their style.Bulworth is one smug and arrogant tract of heavy handed patronization that ham fisted builds slowly into a mawkish surrealism with Beatty's transformation into hip verbiage another form of Jolson black face. As he does in all his films Beatty has plenty of close-ups of stuttering consternation as well as getting the chance to run sprints before bringing out his basic decency by pictures end. In Bulworth he takes it up a notch with a hip hop routine better suited in mood and time for a skit on SNL. His condescending abrasiveness may have had some validity in his younger days but with all that promise wasted over time even his I'm hip and down liberal credentials fail to make his case. Bulworth is an out of touch travesty of a film and may well be the final nail in a career long on promise, short on delivery.

Warren Beatty is the director, writer, and star of Bulworth, a political black comedy in the tradition of Bob Roberts and the Contender. He is an old fashioned 60s liberal who has moved to the center to appease the voters. His marriage has secretly been an open one for years, showing the public the perfect couple; sounds like the Clintons. He decides to take out a large life insurance policy and have someone kill him, in order to leave the money to his daughter. He goes off the deep end by appearing at campaign events drunk and making inappropriate comments, which make him a media star. He meets a staffer, Nina(the physically perfect Halle Berry), and the senator quickly hook up; surprise, surprise. Her brother is a drug dealer, and Bulworth hangs out with them and she reveals a big secret. He is revitalized as a candidate and the movie ends ambiguously. Beatty is funny and likable as the politician, and I am always mesmerized by Berry's beauty. Bulworth is a solid 8/10.