Okay, make no mistake: Bob Roberts is definitely not the most subtle film ever made. It's not so much a veiled attack on the American right-wing as it is an all singing, all dancing celluloid spit in the Republican party's face. It's also as paranoid as a junkie, and almost proudly one sided, which might be why it has slipped into relative obscurity - it's a film that could be very easily dismissed as a piece of left-wing propaganda, directed by and starring Tim Robbins, an outspokenly leftist actor.But, Bob Roberts is a film that deserves a lot more attention than it receives, largely because unlike a lot of political comedies, it's actually funny. Bob Roberts is a mockumentary about a right wing politician/folk singer named (unsurprisingly) Bob Roberts. Roberts is a kind of anti Bob Dylan, whose modus operandi is to emulate the spirit of the folk singing radicals and then deliberately turn their message on its head - he sings songs about enforcing the death penalty on drug dealers, and the positives of investing in the stock market. Dylan provides such an obvious touchstone for the character that it's arguable the whole film is as much a spoof of the Dylan documentary Don't Look Back as it is a political satire.  The songs are a good example of what makes this film work. Sure, they're unashamedly political and barbed - they're the kind of spoofs that you'll now find dime a dozen on youtube - but they are so painfully earnest and straightfaced that they're kind of hypnotic. In Bob Roberts, Robbins has created a character who absolutely believes the terrible and terrifying things he sings about, and he plays the part with a wide eyed enthusiasm that makes you laugh, but in that oh so unsettling "I'm genuinely disturbed by this" kind of way.  The jokes are totally underplayed, save for an out of place 'before they were famous' Jack Black cameo appearance. He's the only actor who inhabits his role as if it's meant to be funny, all but giving the audience a big fourth wall breaking wink. Everyone else, however, lets the humour come naturally from the insanity of what they're saying: they don't gurn to the camera. From Alan Rickman's performance as the shadowy Big Business agent to Gore Vidal as Bob Roberts' running mate, the rest of the cast play the thing totally straight-faced.Sure, the movie's pretty preachy, but it never becomes boring: at a lean 102 minutes, it's a freight train of a film, spitting out characters, situations, and genuinely thrilling plot twists.Best of all is the film's ending, which is as cutting as the punchline to a sick joke. There's no messing around to this one. The conclusion socks you in the guts then carries on its way, whistling Bob Roberts' "Drugs Stink" as it goes.

"Self determination. The choice to be... what you want to be. And I wanted to be... rich!"This is the story of a superstar singer turned politician. The movie has good directing, a good script, excellent acting, countless cameos and funny, witty and entertaining music.Tim Robbins is the mastermind behind this movie. He is directing, acting, writing, singing, song writing - in one word, he does everything. And he does everything well. His directing is brilliant and the subject allows him to try his hand at directing movies, video clips, concerts and political rallies, all in one. And the result is incredible. There is a lot of mobility to the movie, and he uses the shaky cam a lot, but without the shaky part, which is remarkable. Also there is a clear distinction between mobile and static scenes, and the two don't mix, they don't bleed into each other, and there is no attempt to film one mobile scene with a fixed camera or the other way around.The script starts lighthearted, funny and highly entertaining and it turns darker and darker as time goes by. The narration and the narrator are brilliant, the mix of singing and politics is very well done, managing a fine balance. There are heavier touches later in the movie, as the writer drives his point home, but they are to be expected. There is also subtlety and innuendo.The actors are very good. Tim Robbins is a natural, both as an actor and as a singer, and his portrayal of a tireless, relentless, flawless political machine is brilliant. Gore Vidal is excellent, and Alan Rickman and Ray Wise are perfect for their roles.There are a lot of cameos by A-list and B-list Hollywood actors, and the movie turns at times into a veritable "Spot the celebrity" kind of game, which ads to the entertaining value. "James Spader, hello Sir, right this way. Here are your lines, this way please. Susan Sarandon, Hellen Hunt, Pamela Reed, Fred Ward, Jon Cusack, welcome, welcome. Here are your parts, please go right this way. Jack Black, Jack Black... I'm sorry Sir, I don't know anybody by that name, but please, please do come in. We'll see what we can do."The music is the glue that brings this movie together. It is militant, the lyrics are catchy and brutally honest, even if they are meant as a satire, not to be played out of context. The music video clips are hilarious and the concerts are very engaging and even moving, at times. The end credits feature a Bob Dylan like moment, the inspiration for the music and for the movie as a whole, bringing the powerful performance to a full circle.Bob Roberts. Brilliant movie, witty, entertaining and downright scary, at times. 10/10.

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

It was funny that this film contained so many ingredients, from Bob Dylan's work to the total political idiots (Quayle, Santorum, W. Bush), to the crazed Taliban- types in the Christian right-wing. While the messages contained many layers, not the least of which was the Iran-Contra scandal which was complex enough, somehow the film commanded attention and maintained humor. The degree of manipulation of the followers as well as the public at large provided a strong and funny picture of the impact of propaganda and the corporate media. This picture is now more relevant than ever. The extreme direction and antics of Bob Roberts has almost normalized in this age of a criminal regime. Forcasting the future and providing hysterical humor are the best of many assets of this film. It is very highly recommended. Rev. Bookburn, Radio Volta, Philadelphia