In Bulworth, Warren Beatty plays a politician who acquires rapping skillz to pay the billz, proving once and for all that white men can jive. Sort of. But a second look reveals that Beatty may have been influenced more by William Shakespeare than by Public Enemy -- particularly the Bard's King Lear. Notice the similarities.
King Lear
Though a powerful king of Britain, he is a pathetic shell of his
former self
Bulworth
Though a powerful California senator, he is a pathetic shell of
his former self
King Lear
Shoots himself in the foot when he bequeaths his kingdom to two
of his daughters
Bulworth
Arranges to have himself shot so he can bequeath insurance money
to his daughter
King Lear
Goes insane after relinquishing power
Bulworth
Gets nutty after nearly relinquishing power
King Lear
Starts talking in free verse
Bulworth
Starts talking in gangsta rhymes
King Lear
Abandons royal wardrobe to go naked with a crown of weeds and
flowers
Bulworth
Abandons senatorial wardrobe and starts wearing hip-hop ensembles
King Lear
Gets confusing but uplifting counsel from nonsense-sputtering fool
Bulworth
Gets confusing but uplifting counsel from nonsense-sputtering
homeless poet
King Lear
The Bard also produced a tragedy about North African Othello
Bulworth
Coscreenwriter Beatty also produced North African tragedy Ishtar
Add your comment
The rules: Keep it clean, and stay on the subject or we might delete your comment. If you see inappropriate language, e-mail us. An asterisk * indicates a required field.