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Good concept, poorly executed.

It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

A cookie-cutter politician finally has had enough, and rises from the establishment expectation and speaks his mind by using an irreverent, slightly vulgar, down-with-the people style of rhetoric. Whoa, is this the Donald Trump story? Or maybe it's the Bernie Sanders story? Bulworth was a shock-wave of a movie back in 1998, when American politics weren't straying far from it's disingenuous roots. Between the Clintons and the Bushes, it was as phony as ever. But today, Bulworth is more timely than it has ever been. Every politician right now is doing 'the Bulworth", even the creepily calculated Hillary Clinton. Art is imitating life once again. What was once a spit of fire in a quiet room has become a political revolution. On all accounts, this movie has every right to seem as excellent as I'm making it sound. But despite it's Nostradamus effect in terms of politics, everything else about it is dated. Warren Beatty does a decent job, but I can't really buy him as the rapping politician. He sounds like the granny from The Wedding Singer. He can't hang. The stereotypes of South Central LA are also in full force here, despite it's attempts at humanizing the community. Oh yes, the divide between classes and races is as big as they've ever been at this very moment, but the sophistication of the conversation has changed dramatically. It's a lot more complex now than 1998 had it, and so, to that extent, it's dated. The writing as a whole also loses it's edge slightly after an hour in, and becomes a series of romantic, political-drama conventions. I have to say, though, the very beginning and very end of the movie are fantastic.

For those who ever had the inclination to see Warren Beatty rap, boy do I have a movie for you. To be honest, much like today's circus- like political climate, I have no idea what to make of this film. Is it a mess? Is it a masterpiece? Misunderstood? Offensive? Passionate? Tone-deaf? Can it be all of those things? I'm going to venture to say yes.Jay Bulworth is a longtime Democratic Senator from the State of California. The first time you see him there are frames in his office of Martin Luther King Jr., Jesse Jackson and other prominent civil rights leaders. Yet the campaign ads playing in his office ring of a former liberal turned centrist. Sacrificing his values and trapped in a marriage that's been dead for a while, the insomniac Senator plans to end his life; suicide via hit-man. Then he campaigns like a madman telling the truth as he sees it.I can see where the film is coming from and I give it props for its bluntness. Former rebel-rouser turned Hollywood celebrant Warren Beatty cashed in all his chips to play the manic Senator who sputters his "rhymes" with the truth of the streets. By all outward appearances Beatty may have lost his cache after Dick Tracy (1990) under- performed back in the early 90's but truth be told, Bulworth feels more like his Swan Song leaving everything out on the field.Bulworth was released among a mass of savvy political comedies that defined the Clinton years. Dave (1993), Primary Colors (1998) and Bob Roberts (1992) all left an indelible mark and honed in on very specific cultural pressure points and policies. Bulworth is the only one to my recollection that concentrated largely on race, urban blight and crime; a subject not captured outside of movies like Do the Right Thing (1989) and Boyz n the Hood (1991). In other words, movies made by black filmmakers for black audiences, appreciated by the critical community though largely ignored by white America.Yet as much as I'd like to give Bulworth a thumbs up for focusing on a misrepresented population and catered by white liberal guilt I just can't. Much of it has to do with Beatty's borderline black-face one- man mistral show. For all his good intentions, the level of appropriation and white paternalism should have been enough to make audiences of the nineties look twice. The only person who manages to break through Beatty's campy monologue on race relations is Don Cheadle's L.D., a drug kingpin who scolds the Senator for the company he keeps. Even then his words are simply parroted later as a lazy attempt to empower. It's like Bulworth became Cheadle's white- friendly translator.I will say this, despite my reservations, this film will remain in my memory for quite sometime due in large part by the visuals. The story certainly puts the audience in the point of view of the sleep- deprived Senator. The dialogue overlaps in a dizzying cacophony of sounds, the lights gleam with jarring intensity and the camera likes to doddle in a series of one-takes yet never seems to stop moving. I suppose that's something; that despite its insensitive portrayals and warped politics it still manages to be visually mature.Yet despite it's flair, there's the problem of believably. Within a 48-hour period the Senator's campaign implodes in a flurry of insanity. He manages to run from his handlers several times, drive a limo into oncoming highway traffic, slink away from public view to rendezvous with a young Halle Berry, assault a police officer, attend a drug dealer's party and steal a car. This is not even including what he says to his donors! It's realistic for the media to eat it all up in an almost orgasmic fashion but its patently unrealistic for the man to become a political icon because he does all this madness while rapping like a elderly Beastie Boy.In an almost perverse way, Bulworth has become a harbinger of the modern political landscape in two major and tragic ways. With the repeated incidences of police officers killing unarmed black men and women, it's easy to project the same frustrations we see on the nightly news with the story of Bulworth and his near suicidal odyssey. Much has changed in the last seventeen years yet we still face the exact same problems concerning racial relations now; lack of opportunity, social injustice, abhorrent drug abuse, lack of diversity in those in power, and a huge swath of the population either ignoring the problem or denying there's a problem at all.Then there's Bulworth as a cult of personality. As his behavior and public persona becomes more erratic, his handlers morph the Senator's new-found honesty into a cynical political strategy. New acolytes to Bulworth's kamikaze campaign consume his words, feed off his brevity and are entertained by his one-man circus act. Dare I say it? In a time before Twitter and Instagram, Bulworth predicted the singularity that is Donald Trump. Bulworth may have a more inclusive message than the Donald but his presentation is much the same, i.e. that of a preaching, vitriolic, rebel-rousing populist. Also much like Trump, instead of apologizing for his insane proclamations, Bulworth doubles down, trampling over anyone with a semblance of sanity.Much like the American political process, Bulworth is likely messy and off-putting by design. I applaud its efforts but a bi-product of this movies messiness are offensive caricatures and absurdly painful moments that are as unhelpful as they are untactful. Its interesting to note that this movie, unlike Warren Beatty, is still relevant though unfortunately its relevant for all the wrong reasons.

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

Bulworth (1998) *** 1/2 (out of 4) Warren Beatty wrote, produced, directed and stars in this political satire about Sentaor Bulworth who days before the election puts a hit out on his own life due to his depression. He eventually has a mental breakdown and goes on a round of interviews where he decides to tell the truth about America and politics. BULWORTH was pretty controversial when it was first released and it seemed like the studio didn't want anyone to know it was out but I remember feeling it was an incredibly fresh and rather honest movie. Seeing it all these years later it's rather amazing to see how relevant it remains in both its message and look at politics. I think you have to give Beatty all the credit in the world for doing a film like this because you know so many people would be offended by it. It is rather strange to see so many people getting upset over a movie so can you imagine the outrage if a Senator really did do this stuff? The film certainly works because Beatty's performance is just so great and believable. Seeing someone like Beatty rap, dress gangster and being put in all of these situations is just downright hilarious. The scenes inside the black church where he talks honestly about everything from liquor to O.J. Simpson is just priceless but so are various other rants that he goes on. People get up in arms about what's being said but if you actually listen to it the film has a very good message. The supporting players are just as good as Oliver Platt, Halle Berry, Sean Astin, Don Cheadle, Paul Sorvino and Jack Warden all deliver fine performances. The screenplay certainly hits on all the topics it wants to speak on, although the one flaw is that the film does drag on a bit and some things begin to be repeated. Still, BULWORTH is a very sharp and very funny look at politics and Beatty really does give it his all.