TV And Films

The following letter was sent to Tim Robbins via his agent. I have no real idea if he will receive it, or whether he will answer. No matter the outcome, I’m preserving the letter here.

Mr. Smith,

I’m not entirely sure if this is the best (or maybe even appropriate) way to go about this, but if would be so kind to forward this letter along to Mr. Robbins, I’d greatly appreciate it.

Mr. Robbins,

Last weekend, in the midst of ranting with a friend about all things political, I found out that she hadn’t seen “Bob Roberts.” Having been a fan of the film since I saw it in the theaters during its initial run, I pulled it out and we sat down and watched it — her first time, and my first time in about a year or so.

We both enjoyed it a lot, but I was astounded at how much more topical it seemed today than it did at the time it came out. Substitute Roberts’ folk background with Bush’s oil family background, and in many ways, they seemed almost frighteningly similar in their ideological attitudes. We spent some time after the movie talking about it, and in the course of the discussion became somewhat curious as to what you might think of the film now, especially in the light of the current administration.

At a time when the separation of church and state is becoming increasingly less distinct, when our personal liberties are becoming more and more curtailed, and when any opinion that does not mesh with that of the ‘powers that be’ is deemed “un-American” and cause for censure (as demonstrated by the unfortunate cancellation of the Bull Durham celebration due to the political views of you and Susan Sarandon), it seems all to much like what was satire in 1991 has become the sad reality of everyday life today.

I found one article on the Internet about an interview you did for ‘The Tech’ at MIT where even at the time that ‘Bob Roberts’ was being released, you were seeing some similarities between Roberts and the then campaigning George W. Bush.

The campaign that Roberts launches shows more than a few similarities to the campaigns of today’s candidates, which is somewhat amazing considering that the script was written six years ago. “Well, there are some strange similarities,” Robbins admits. “Just the other day Bush, at a campaign stop, was asked what voters could do to help him in November, and he said, I think jokingly, ‘Vote often.’ And as you know, Bob Roberts says something similar. It’s strange to see. I guess it’s good for the movie but I don’t know if it’s good for the country.”

Since then, of course, Bush has stepped up his religious rhetoric, creating even more similarities between him and your fictional character.

Should you have the time and inclination to respond to this, I’d love to hear a little bit from you about how you view ‘Bob Roberts’ now, ten years later, in a political and cultural climate that would be very familiar — and probably comfortable — for the satirical character you created. If you were comfortable with my posting any response you might be able to give to my website, that would be wonderful, however, as this is primarily my own personal curiosity at play, I would not post anything publicly without your permission.

In any case, thank you much for your work over the years, for creating ‘Bob Roberts’, and for standing up for your beliefs in a time where doing so is becoming more and more unpopular, and at times fraught with consequences it never should have.

Sincerely,

Michael “Woody” Hanscom