History Film / BobRoberts

* RuleAbidingRebel: While Bob may call himself a "rebel" for using folk songs in the style of Music/BobDylan to support conservatism, by 1990, Republican ideology had dominated American politics for almost a decade, and Democrats like Bill Clinton were starting to adopt more conservative stances in the hopes of electability. Even setting aside what a reactionary Roberts is, he's only championing a more hardline version of what was then the status quo; his sole "rebellion" is a cultural one against 60's folk music itself for its typically left-wing values.

** His opponent, Senator Paiste, gets off lighter but is still a portrait of the establishment Democrat: a wishy-washy, uncharismatic career politician who breathes moral platitudes with no real conviction behind them, who acknowledges that something is wrong without lifting a finger to change things. His actor, Gore Vidal, was a far-left radical who harshly criticized the Democratic Party.

* RuleAbidingRebel: While Bob may call himself a "rebel" for using folk songs in the style of Music/BobDylan to support conservatism, by 1990, Republican ideology had dominated American politics for almost a decade, and Democrats like Bill Clinton were starting to adopt more conservative stances in the hopes of electability. Reactionary values aside, Roberts is only championing a more hardline version of what was then the status quo; his sole "rebellion" is a cultural one against 60's folk music itself for its typically left-wing values.

* RuleAbidingRebel: The title character has guts to spare to call himself a ''rebel'', when he's really using faux "rebellious" songs in the style of Music/BobDylan to support conservatism.

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 survives an AssassinationAttempt. [[DeconstructedTrope The results of the election -- both political and personal -- come out less rosy than expected going in.]]

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 survives an [[spoiler:arranged]] AssassinationAttempt. [[DeconstructedTrope The results of the election — both political and personal — come out less rosy than expected going in.]]

** Coincidence or not, certain aspects of Bob Roberts' character are strikingly similar to Rick Santorum, a real-life Pennsylvania politician who served in both houses of Congress.

* DownerEnding: [[spoiler:Bugs Raplin gets [[KilledOffscren assassinated offscreen]], and despite his corruption, Roberts wins the Senate race.]]

* HypocriticalHumor: Define {{irony}}: a guy singing a song complaining about people who complain. The irony is lost on everyone InUniverse.

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

* StrawmanNewsMedia: Aside from [[IntrepidReporter Bugs]], all of the news media are easily manipulated or biased for Roberts, uncritically passing on his faked claims about his opponent and himself.

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 survives a [[spoiler:faked]] AssassinationAttempt. [[DeconstructedTrope The results of the election — both political and personal — come out less rosy than expected going in.]]

** An odd, unintentional one by a ''prop''. The ''Cutting Edge Live'' scene was actually filmed in UsefulNotes/{{Pittsburgh}} at WQED, the Creator/{{PBS}} station where ''Series/MisterRogersNeighborhood'' was taped, and at one point a character walks past King Friday XIII's castle backstage. Series regular Don Brockett also has a blink-and-you-miss-it role as a senator in the Iran-Contra hearings scene.

* DownerEnding: [[spoiler:Bugs Raplin gets assassinated offscreen, and despite his corruption, Roberts wins the Senate race.]]
* DrugsAreBad: One of Bob's songs is called "Drugs Stink," which goes so far as to threaten violence against not only drug dealers, but drug users. His extreme anti-drug stance only makes his opponents more eager to uncover his connections to a South American drug cartel.

* ProtagonistTitle: Named for the main character.

* 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 a kid played by Creator/JackBlack attack protesters at one of his concerts).

* StepfordSmiler: Bob's wife Polly is the standard serene, docile political wife. She seems to exist only as a campaign prop; we never actually see her interact with Bob outside of staged events.

* AuthorTract: The entire film is one in favor of a left-wing view opposing right-wingers like Roberts, more specifically how many contemporary liberals were weak and ineffectual against the rising conservatives. InUniverse as well all of Roberts' songs have right-wing messages, which is literally the only point they have.

* CorruptPolitician: Bob at the end of the film. A corrupt extremist willing to use lies, frame an innocent critic and fake a disability has been elected as senator. This does not bode well...

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 survives an [[spoiler:faked]] AssassinationAttempt. [[DeconstructedTrope The results of the election — both political and personal — come out less rosy than expected going in.]]

* CorruptPolitician: Bob at the end of the film. A corrupt extremist willing to use lies, frame an innocent critic and fake a disability has been elected US President. This does not bode well...

%%* PresidentEvil: Bob at the end of the film. A corrupt extremist willing to use lies, frame an innocent critic and fake a disability has been elected US President. This does not bode well...

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 survives an [[spoiler:faked]] AssassinationAttempt. [[DeconstructedTrope The results of the election -- both political and personal -- come out less rosy than expected going in.]]

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 survives an AssassinationAttempt. [[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 his corruption, Roberts wins the Senate race.]]

* HypocriticalHumor: Define irony: a guy singing a song complaining about people who complain.

* {{Mockumentary}}: The film is presented as a documentary by a British filmmaker named Terry Manchester, who also narrates and appears on-camera. At one point the documentary itself becomes part of the story, when the footage of the assassination attempt is used by police and the Roberts campaign to try to figure out what happened.

* PresidentEvil: Bob at the end of the film. A corrupt extremist willing to use lies, frame an innocent critic and fake a disability has been elected US President. This does not bode well...

* WhamShot: At the concert he gives toward the end of the film, a close-up shows [[spoiler:supposedly paralyzed, wheelchair-bound Bob tapping his foot, confirming that he staged his assassination attempt]].

* CastingGag: In the real world, actor Creator/TimRobbins is very much on the liberal side of the political aisle, possibly as far left as Bob is right. This was completely intentional, to [[AuthorTract attack right-wingers]] like Roberts.

* AuthorTract: The entire film.

* BrokenAesop: The film is ostensibly a satirical mockumentary attacking right-wing politicians who adopt the rhetoric of rebelliousness in order to look cool, but it portrays those same right-wing politicians as [[EvilIsCool powerful, persuasive and deadly]],[[invoked]] and [[SelfDeprecation those who oppose them as ineffectual, unconvincing and unsympathetic]].

* DisabilityAlibi: At the end of movie, John Alijah "Bugs" Raplin is arrested for an attempt on Roberts' life, when he's shot and left unable to walk as Bugs confronts him. Bugs is released when it's revealed that due to constrictive palsy in his right hand he physically he couldn't have pulled the trigger, but [[spoiler:[[DownerEnding he's murdered by a right-wing vigilante group off camera]] and it's made clear that Roberts engineered the whole affair and used the sympathy to sweep himself into office]].

* 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, uncharismatic, and somewhat naïve. Neither side look especially good in the end.

%%* PresidentEvil: Bob at the end of the film.

* RuleAbidingRebel: The title character has guts to spare to call himself a ''rebel''.

* YourCheatingHeart: Never stated outright, but we never see Bob share any real moments with his wife Polly. However, there's one scene where he's alone with Clarissa, his on-stage duet partner (played by veteran AlternativeCountry singer-songwriter Kelly Willis), working on a song, and Bob gives a look to the camera that implies that he'd rather not have people know he's with her, and the two definitely seem to have a strong rapport, at the very least.

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 plainspoken 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 survives an assassination attempt. [[DeconstructedTrope The results of the election -- both political and personal -- come out less rosy than expected going in.]]

%%* TheBadGuyWins
* BrokenAesop: The film is ostensibly a satirical mockumentary attacking right-wing politicians who adopt the rhetoric of rebelliousness in order to look cool, but it portrays those same right-wing politicians as powerful, persuasive and deadly, and those who oppose them as ineffectual, unconvincing and unsympathetic.
* TheCameo:

** An odd, unintentional one by a ''prop''. The ''Cutting Edge Live'' scene was actually filmed in Pittsburgh at WQED, the Creator/{{PBS}} station where ''Series/MisterRogersNeighborhood'' was taped, and at one point a character walks past King Friday XIII's castle backstage. Series regular Don Brockett also has a blink-and-you-miss-it role as a senator in the Iran-Contra hearings scene.
* CaptainErsatz:
** Coincidence or not, certain aspects of Bob Roberts's character are strikingly similar to real-life Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum.
** Bob appears on a popular, New York-based Saturday night comedy-variety TV show called ''[[Series/SaturdayNightLive Cutting Edge Live]]''.
* DirtyOldMan: The Roberts campaign accuses the elderly Paiste of having an affair with a teenage girl. It's revealed she's a friend of his granddaughter-they used a cropped photo, and this made it look like he was with her alone.
* DisabilityAlibi: At the end of movie, John Alijah "Bugs" Raplin is arrested for an attempt on Roberts's life, when he's shot and left unable to walk as Bugs confronts him. Bugs is released when it's revealed that due to constrictive palsy in his right hand he physically he couldn't have pulled the trigger, but [[spoiler: [[DownerEnding he's murdered by a right wing vigilante group off camera]] and it's made clear that the entire attempt was faked by Roberts, who used the sympathy to sweep himself into office]].
* DownerEnding: [[spoiler:Bugs Raplin gets assassinated offscreen, and despite all of his corruption, Roberts wins the senate race.]]

* 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, uncharismatic and somewhat naïve. Neither side look especially good in the end.
* HarsherInHindSight: {{Invoked}} and {{exploited}} InUniverse: about one of Roberts's sadder songs, a sad fan comments that it's almost as if he knew beforehand that he would be attacked and paralyzed. [[spoiler:He and his aides faked the whole assassination attempt.]]

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

* 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 a kid played by Creator/JackBlack[[note]]That was actually Black's first ever role.[[/note]] attack protesters at one of his concerts).
* StrawmanPolitical:
** Ya think? Bob is a scathing caricature of right-wing, evangelical, capitalist conservatives, simultaneously a wide-eyed fanatic and a scheming cynic.

* TwentyMinutesIntoThePast: A 1992 film set in 1990, with the lead-up to the first Gulf War as an important backdrop to the story.

* RealityIsUnrealistic: A guy who sings explicitly right-wing FolkMusic scoring Top 10 hits in the latter part of TheEighties (alongside {{Rap}} and HairMetal and teen pop) is a definite stretch, but Folk artists like Music/SuzanneVega ("Luka") and Music/TracyChapman ("Fast Car") had big hits in that era. Given that Bob Roberts made eye-catching videos at a time when Creator/{{MTV}} set the pop music agenda, you can see where he might've lucked out and gotten big based on the sheer novelty value of his act.

* TheMalaproper: Roger (the LoonyFan played by Creator/JackBlack) says that Bob's song "I Want to Live", [[spoiler:released while he's in the hospital after supposedly getting shot,]] was "prophestic".

* DirtyOldMan: The Roberts campaign accuses the elderly Paiste of having an affair with a teenage girl.

* EvilCounterpart: Bob Roberts is basically [[spoiler:a corrupt]] Bizarro-Bob Dylan.
** 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'"). There are some other little allusions to Dylan's life, like Bob falling off a motorcycle and a controversy over allowing him to perform a song when he's scheduled to appear on a TV variety show (like Dylan had with [[Series/TheEdSullivanShow Ed Sullivan]]).

* ObfuscatingDisability: [[spoiler:Bob claims the assassination attempt has left him paralysed from the waist down, but he is seen tapping his feet at a celebration party, and later he is shown in silhouette walking upright.]]

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

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

* TheMalaproper: Roger (the LoonyFan played by Creator/JackBlack) says that Bob's song "I Want to Live", [[spoiler:released while he's in the hospital after getting shot,]] was "prophestic".

* TheMalaproper: Roger (the LoonyFan played by Creator/JackBlack) says that Bob's song "I Want to Live", released [[spoiler:while he's in the hospital after getting shot]], was "prophestic".

* TheMalaproper: Roger (the LoonyFan played by Creator/JackBlack) reflects on how oddly appropriate it was that Bob's song "I Want to Live" was released right after he was shot, and concludes that Bob was being "prophestic".

* TheCameo: Many well-known actors play TV news anchors and reporters.

* TheCameo: Many well-known actors play TV news anchors.