Bob Roberts

Movies that are made about our political process are usually one way or another, their either way to serious to be taken as genuine fact or they take the comedy route and then no one takes it seriously because it's to funny. Here Tim Robbins gives us a portrait of a fictional candidate for the U.S. Senate, but the character and the situations that's he's a part of smack of the real world. Even though this is a self proclaimed "mockumentary" there is so much realism in the story that you wonder if there isn't some truth to it.
Bob Roberts' rise to the U.S. Senate is documented showing the grass roots campaigning that drives the conservative hearts of a nation into the patriotism of the future. The mix of parody and prophecy is at times hard to watch, since this was shot in the early 90s many of the things that they talk about in the story have come to pass. Using historical events and archival footage we're given a view point of the campaign trail that many of us never see. Robbins as Roberts is superb, from the folk songs that he sings to the political rhetoric the character is so believable that you wonder if we're watch this election now.
This film needs to be seen by any one who takes part in the election process in this nation, not only does it give you an inside view of the campaign process but also the workings into how to sabotage an opponent. This is a movie that should be watched not only for its comedic value but for the air of truthfulness that rings throughout the story. After watching the story unfold you'll ask yourself who are you really voting for and why, is it for the common ground that the candidate stands on with you or is it for the way you've been manipulated into thinking that their the best possible solution.