Bulworth Movie Review

Bulworth (1998)

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Written by: Warren Beatty (story), Warren Beatty & Jeremy Pikser (screenplay)
Directed by: Warren Beatty
Starring: Warren Beatty, Halle Berry, Don Cheadle, Oliver Platt, Paul Sorvino, Jack Warden, Isaiah Washington, Christine Baranski Joshua Malina, Sean Astin, Laurie Metcalf, Wendell Pierce, Michael Clarke Duncan
Rated: R
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Plot
A disillusioned liberal politician puts a contract out on himself and with his last days takes the opportunity to be bluntly honest with his voters by affecting the rhythms and speech of hip-hop music and culture.

Verdict
For a brief moment this movie appeared to have a message. That's just a ruse. It's a movie that pretends to say something while draping itself in hip-hop culture and proving it's out of touch. Half way in I had grown rather bored as the movie chases its tail. It's stereotypical, and this doesn't even fulfill what appeared to be the goal. I thought this was going to skewer how out of touch politicians are, instead it confirms that Hollywood is also disconnected. The conclusion is muddled. At best, maybe the movie's overall message is the same as the politicians' statement. We know, we just don't care.
Skip it.

Review
Beatty stepped away from the film industry after this movie, returning once for the maligned Rules Don't Apply (2016).

Politician Jay Bulworth (Warren Beatty) seems to be in crisis as he watches his political ads over and over. He's disillusioned with hie life and political career. He's traded his ideals for pandering to corporations and the largest paycheck. He negotiates a sizable life insurance policy and then arranges his death via hit man so it won't void the policy.

Christine Baranski , Warren Beatty play Constance, Jay Bulworth

With no consequences, he's completely honest at a speaking engagement as he reveals the issues with the political machine. Politicians want to look good and love photo ops. They don't actually care about helping people as promised because it's not profitable. Companies pay so much better to oppose the very promises he makes to constituents. No one knows what to do with Bulworth's newfound candor. Journalists are shocked and his team panics.

While this is a little bit of politics, it relies heavily on racial stereotypes. There's no reason for it. This could make the same observations, but ultimately the movie's point seems to be an old, out of touch white guy mimicking hip hop culture as a joke. This doesn't have a message. It's one thing to have a politician that's completely honest, but it's another to stereotype as a springboard for a new persona.

Warren Beatty plays Jay Bulworth

Bulworth's rapping is ridiculous. It seems like this wanted to court contemporary culture. It's grandpa trying to be cool and utterly failing. I thought this movie had something to say, but after enduring Bulworth's prolonged rap about the problems of the world I'm beginning to doubt.

What is Nina's  (Halle Berry) interest in Bulworth? While he hung out with her at the club, I don't believe that she'd have any romantic interest in him. I understand his side of it, and it's no surprise in the least that Bulworth no longer wants to die after meeting her.

Halle Berry, Warren Beatty play Nina, Jay Bulworth

This devolves into a rerun of Bulworth being incredibly candid, often punctuating that with a poor attempt at rapping. This seems like another misguided white man thinking he understands a culture he's only briefly encountered. That appears to be the case for Bulworth and Beatty. Bulworth ends up at Nina's house where he sees how her family lives. The movie relies fully on stereotypes. Bulworth's communication via rap undermines any messages this could have had, even if it did have something to say.

Bulworth's candor increases his popularity, bolstering a presidential run. I don't believe that would be true. People would think it's a stunt or that he's lost it. If people did vote for him, it would be a vote against the institution he's supposed to represent. The movie wears thin much quicker than the actual conclusion. My favorite part might be the credits featuring "Ghetto Supastar," that and it represents the end of this movie. The song doesn't appear anywhere during the movie's run time.