History Film / BobRoberts

* VillainProtagonist: Even the most charitable interpretation of Bob Roberts still paints him as a willing front man for corrupt interests. But his hypocrisy, cynical pandering and narcissism all came through loud and clear, and the accusations that he was involved in outright criminality are never fully dismissed.

As the movie goes on, however, people start whispering about Bob's funding coming from sources that are significantly less wholesome than the image he's cultivating. About [[HalfwayPlotSwitch halfway through]], he stages an assassination attempt on his own life, masquerading as a paraplegic from then on. [[DeconstructedTrope The results of the election -- both political and personal -- come out less rosy than expected going in.]]

* CaptainErsatz: Coincidence or not, certain aspects of Bob Roberts's character are strikingly similar to real-life Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum.

** His music videos even have {{Shout Out}}s to Dylan's work, and one of his most prominent songs is called "Times Are Changin' Back" (citing "The Times They Are a-Changin'".)

* RayOfHopeEnding: This is supposed to be a documentary InUniverse. The camera spots him stamping his feet while singing behind a podium in the Senate Chambers. That would have a chance of blowing the whole plot open.

%%* VillainProtagonist

* CharacterTitle

* GreyAndGreyMorality: The title character, although an excellent speaker/musician and a shrewd businessman, is ultimately a hypocritical sleazebag with extremist political views. Meanwhile his opponent, while well-intentioned, is blustery and uncharismatic. Neither side look especially good in the end.

''Bob Roberts'' is a satirical {{Mockumentary}} about a fictional American political figure, and the first movie directed by Tim Robbins, who also wrote the screenplay and played the title character. It was released in 1992.

* StrawmanPolitical: [[CaptainObvious Ya think?]] Bob is a scathing caricature of right-wing, evangelical, capitalist conservatives, simultaneously a wide-eyed fanatic and a scheming cynic.

* DownerEnding: [[spoiler:Bugs Raplin gets assassinated offscreen, and despite all of his corruption, Roberts wins the presidency.]]

** His music videos even have {{Shout Out}}s to Dylan's work, and one of his most prominent songs is called "Times Are Changin' Back" (referencing "The Times They Are a-Changin'".)

''Bob Roberts'' is a satirical {{Mockumentary}} about a fictional American political figure, and the first movie directed by Creator/TimRobbins, who also played the title character. It was released in 1992.

Bob Roberts is a rising star of the Republican Party. On the occasion of the campaign for the forthcoming Senatorial elections (which take place in the context of the Kuwait invasion by Iraq and US response from 1990), a British film crew follow him as he raises support in his home state of Pennsylvania. Roberts is young and charismatic, with a populist touch which he cultivates by playing folk songs at political rallies taking off Music/BobDylan songs with the exact opposite messages (even with music videos like Dylan's). His message is one of social and moral conservatism, based on family values, faith in God, an overt rejection of the heritage of the 1960s (he was raised on a commune by hippie parents), and very pro-business policies. Running against an incumbent liberal Democrat (played by Creator/GoreVidal), he projects an image of plain-spoken honesty and dynamism.

As the movie goes on, however, people start whispering about Bob's funding coming from sources that are significantly less wholesome than the image he's cultivating. About [[HalfwayPlotSwitch halfway through]], he stages an assassination attempt on his own life, masquerading as a paraplegic from then on. [[DeconstructedTrope The results of the election -- both political and personal -- come out less rosy than expected going in]].

* DownerEnding: [[spoiler: Bugs Raplin gets assassinated offscreen, and despite all of his corruption, Roberts wins the presidency.]]

* EvilCounterpart: Bob Roberts is basically [[spoiler: a corrupt]] Bizarro-Bob Dylan
** His music videos even have [[ShoutOut Shout Outs]] to Dylan's work, and one of his most prominent songs is called "The Times Are Changing Back" (referencing The Times Are A Changin'.)
* HypocriticalHumor: Define irony; a guy singing a song complaining about people who complain.

* RepetitiveName: Bob's name is basically Robert Roberts.
* RuleAbidingRebel: This guy has a lot of balls to be calling himself a ''rebel''.

* StrawFan: Any Roberts supporters that are given even a bit role are all portrayed as gullible, homophobic, and violent (to the point that a group of them led by Creator/JackBlack attack protesters at one of his concerts.)

-----

As the movie goes on, however, people start whispering about Bob's funding coming from sources that are significantly less wholesome than the image he's cultivating. [[spoiler:About [[HalfwayPlotSwitch halfway through]], he stages an assassination attempt on his own life, masquerading as a paraplegic from then on.]] [[DeconstructedTrope The results of the election -- both political and personal -- come out less rosy than expected going in]].

* [[spoiler: TheBadGuyWins]]

* [[spoiler: DownerEnding]]: [[spoiler: Bugs Raplin gets assassinated offscreen, and despite all of his corruption, Roberts wins the presidency.]]

* [[spoiler: PresidentEvil]]: Bob at the end of the film.

* [[spoiler: VillainProtagonist]]

* PlayingAgainstType: Tim Robbins is an extremely versatile actor, so while he's not necessarily playing against type as far as the role goes, in the real world, Tim is very much on the liberal side of the political aisle, possibly as far left as Bob is right.

Bob Roberts is a rising star of the Republican Party. On the occasion of the campaign for the forthcoming Senatorial elections (which take place in the context of the Kuwait invasion by Iraq and US response from 1990), a British film crew follow him as he raises support in his home state of Pennsylvania. Roberts is young and charismatic, with a populist touch which he cultivates by playing folk songs at political rallies taking off Bob Dylan songs with the exact opposite messages (even with music videos like Dylan's). His message is one of social and moral conservatism, based on family values, faith in God, an overt rejection of the heritage of the 1960s (he was raised on a commune by hippie parents), and very pro-business policies. Running against an incumbent liberal Democrat (played by Gore Vidal), he projects an image of plain-spoken honesty and dynamism.

''Bob Roberts'' is a satirical {{Mockumentary}} about a fictional American political figure, and the first movie directed by Tim Robbins, who also played the title character. It was released in 1992.

* StrawFan: Any Roberts supporters that are given even a bit role are all portrayed as gullible, homophobic, and violent (to the point that a group of them led by JackBlack attack protesters at one of his concerts.)

[[ItGotWorse As the movie goes on]], however, people start whispering about Bob's funding coming from sources that are significantly less wholesome than the image he's cultivating. [[spoiler:About [[HalfwayPlotSwitch halfway through]], he stages an assassination attempt on his own life, masquerading as a paraplegic from then on.]] [[DeconstructedTrope The results of the election -- both political and personal -- come out less rosy than expected going in]].

* NoPartyGiven: Roberts isn't ''explicitly'' Republican, nor is his opponent ''explicitly'' Democrat, but it's pretty transparent anyway.
** I'm pretty sure that, early in the film, some footage states "D-PA" for Sen. Paiste.

* StrawFan: Any Roberts supporters that are given even a bit role are all portrayed as gullible, homophobic and violent (to the point that a group of them led by JackBlack attack protesters at one of his concerts.)
* StrawmanPolitical: [[CaptainObvious Ya think?]]

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Bob_roberts_poster.jpg