5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Primary Motives- A fine line between politic and acting, June 17, 2000
This review is from: Primary Motive [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Richard Jordan plays the title character who is not above using anything and anyone to enhance his chances to win an election. He has his eyes on political position and no matter what, makes it clear that this is what he wants. He uses family, friends, and campaign workers and believers to his advantage and even when things come out about him, used the press as much as they use him, to help him get elected. Portrayed by Richard Jordan, he is whiley, patient and manipulative. Well played by Richard Jordan. Judd Nelson is also believable as a campaign worker.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
A Tutorial in Politics, July 1, 2005
This review is from: Primary Motive [VHS] (VHS Tape)
This film is about the race for Governor in Massachusetts in the Republican primary. One is Chris Poulas, the conservative candidate and front runner. (He resembles Tom Kean, the Republican NJ governor who raised sales, income, and property taxes yet was re-elected with a rigged election.) The other candidate is liberal John Eastham (whose height and haircut recall John Kerry). The story is told from the viewpoint of Andy Blumenthal, a campaign worker for Eastham. Andy's father is a retired politician who advises him to "be honest". "Every politician is honest until he is caught." Andy discovers that Poulas has "embellished his record", and gives this information to a reporter for a liberal Boston newspaper that is opposed to Poulas. This story is a study of characters, and political strategy.
Poulas, the businessman, wins the primary, but the Boston newspaper prints the charges. There is an emotional meeting with his advisors, who decide to answer the story by claiming its all lies from a newspaper that is backing the opposite party! How true. (Does Poulas' emotions recall the rumors about Nixon?) Poulas has a daughter that was committed to a mental hospital as a young girl; her release and self-destruction creates another scandal. Poulas' advisers create a scenario to gain sympathy. A letter is given to Andy Blumenthal by his girl friend, who was sent to work for Poulas to gain intelligence. This letter is passed to the reporter for that Boston newspaper about Poulas' daughter's commitment. This letter is revealed as a planted forgery at the news conference! Sympathy is won from the voters! Passing false information to gain an advantage occurs not only in wartime.
The film shows that Blumenthal's girlfriend had been turned by Poulas; she is now his concubine (polite term). His girlfriend has sold out to the higher bidder, always a risk with a double-agent and in politics. [There is nothing about the other side doing this.] Poulas' wife turns over a video showing their rehearsal for the press conference! But its too late to matter. The meeting between Andy and his father has a final dramatic scene between what is and what the image is. Poulas wins because of how he looks on TV, and not what he is. [Does this remind you of Reagan?] Politics is about "loyalty" and not anything else. The feudal system lives! I pity the idealists who believe otherwise. This is an excellent film in spite of its low-budget.
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