John Travolta oozes insincerity and Emma Thompson is as hard as nails as his equally ambitious wife: they're the Stantons, with eyes firmly fixed on the White House, in a story of political chicanery that has, of course, nothing to do with the original Clinton campaign. In public the Stantons are caring, sharing people, an image which attracts black lobbyist Adrian Lester to their side. Although Lester later becomes disillusioned with Stanton's womanising and willingness to play dirty, he also comes to realise that he is no worse - and may be better - than any of the other candidates in the field. Elaine May's screenplay here is perhaps not 100 per cent gripping and too peppered with profanities, but at least a whiff of the real thing comes across - and Travolta's impersonation - sorry, impression - of the man of many parts is, as is Larry Hagman's elderly rival, worth an Oscar nomination.

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