Bob Roberts
Documentary-style look at the fictional Senatorial campaign of Bob Roberts, an arch-conservative folk singer turned politician. This political satire includes several original songs co-written and performed by writer/director/star Tim Robbins, and cameo appearances by other stars as reporters and news anchors.
Despite its tight budget of $3.9M, Bob Roberts became a box office success, earning $8.0M worldwide—a 105% return.
4 wins & 4 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Bob Roberts (1992) exemplifies strategically placed plot construction, characteristic of Tim Robbins's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 42 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.8, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Bob Roberts
Bugs Raplin
Brickley Paiste
Terry Manchester
Lukas Hart III
Chet MacGregor
Main Cast & Characters
Bob Roberts
Played by Tim Robbins
A conservative folk singer running for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, using media manipulation and populist messaging to build his campaign.
Bugs Raplin
Played by Giancarlo Esposito
An investigative journalist who attempts to expose corruption in Bob Roberts' campaign and his connections to a savings and loan scandal.
Brickley Paiste
Played by Gore Vidal
The incumbent Democratic senator running against Bob Roberts, an old-school liberal who struggles against Roberts' media savvy campaign.
Terry Manchester
Played by Brian Murray
A British documentary filmmaker following Bob Roberts' campaign, serving as the film's narrator and primary observer.
Lukas Hart III
Played by Alan Rickman
Bob Roberts' wealthy campaign manager and financial advisor, connected to the savings and loan scandal that Raplin investigates.
Chet MacGregor
Played by Ray Wise
A conservative talk show host who provides sympathetic coverage to Bob Roberts and attacks his opponents.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Documentary crew introduces Bob Roberts, a wealthy folk-singing conservative Senate candidate beginning his campaign tour in Pennsylvania. He's confident, charismatic, performing protest songs twisted into right-wing anthems.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Investigative journalist Bugs Raplin confronts Bob with allegations about his shady business dealings and past. The confrontation is hostile and public, threatening to expose Bob's carefully crafted image.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 25 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Bob actively chooses to escalate the media war, positioning himself as a victim of the liberal establishment. He turns Raplin's investigation into a campaign asset, using it to energize his base and attack the "corrupt system."., moving from reaction to action.
At 50 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Bob's poll numbers surge dramatically. A major televised debate goes his way. What appears to be victory - he's winning - but the mockumentary format reveals the hollowness behind the triumph. False victory: success built on manipulation., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 75 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Bob is shot by a would-be assassin at a campaign event. The "whiff of death" - literal violence. Raplin is accused of inciting the attack. The assassination attempt becomes the ultimate media spectacle, truth completely obscured by narrative., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 81 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Realization that the system cannot be beaten from within. The documentary crew understands they've documented not truth but the death of truth. Bob will win because the spectacle has consumed reality itself. Synthesis of cynical clarity., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Bob Roberts's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Bob Roberts against these established plot points, we can identify how Tim Robbins utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Bob Roberts within the comedy genre.
Tim Robbins's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Tim Robbins films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.9, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Bob Roberts takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Tim Robbins filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Tim Robbins analyses, see Dead Man Walking.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Documentary crew introduces Bob Roberts, a wealthy folk-singing conservative Senate candidate beginning his campaign tour in Pennsylvania. He's confident, charismatic, performing protest songs twisted into right-wing anthems.
Theme
A reporter comments on how Bob Roberts represents "the new conservative movement" - packaging radical politics in populist entertainment. The film's central question: Can authenticity exist in modern political theater?
Worldbuilding
Establishment of the campaign world: Bob's handlers, his opponent Senator Paiste, the documentary format itself. We see Bob's performances, meet his staff, understand the media circus. His songs mock the 60s while his campaign mimics those tactics.
Disruption
Investigative journalist Bugs Raplin confronts Bob with allegations about his shady business dealings and past. The confrontation is hostile and public, threatening to expose Bob's carefully crafted image.
Resistance
Bob's campaign responds to scrutiny by doubling down on performance and media manipulation. His handlers strategize. Bob deflects criticism through songs and charm. The campaign debates whether to engage with Raplin's allegations or dismiss them.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Bob actively chooses to escalate the media war, positioning himself as a victim of the liberal establishment. He turns Raplin's investigation into a campaign asset, using it to energize his base and attack the "corrupt system."
Mirror World
Bugs Raplin becomes the thematic counterpoint - a genuine truth-seeker in a world of manufactured narrative. His relationship with the documentary crew represents old-school journalism confronting postmodern political spectacle.
Premise
The "fun and games" of political theater: Bob's music videos, rallies, staged events, and media appearances. The campaign gains momentum. We see the machinery of image-making, the absurdity of modern politics packaged as entertainment.
Midpoint
Bob's poll numbers surge dramatically. A major televised debate goes his way. What appears to be victory - he's winning - but the mockumentary format reveals the hollowness behind the triumph. False victory: success built on manipulation.
Opposition
Raplin intensifies his investigation, uncovering deeper connections to corruption and potential criminality. The campaign pushes back harder. Media pressure mounts. Bob's handlers work to contain the damage while maintaining momentum.
Collapse
Bob is shot by a would-be assassin at a campaign event. The "whiff of death" - literal violence. Raplin is accused of inciting the attack. The assassination attempt becomes the ultimate media spectacle, truth completely obscured by narrative.
Crisis
The aftermath of the shooting. Bob hospitalized, Raplin discredited and silenced. The documentary crew processes the implications. The darker truth emerges: the shooting may have been staged or exploited for maximum political benefit.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Realization that the system cannot be beaten from within. The documentary crew understands they've documented not truth but the death of truth. Bob will win because the spectacle has consumed reality itself. Synthesis of cynical clarity.
Synthesis
Election day arrives. Bob wins in a landslide, sympathy from the shooting securing victory. Raplin is destroyed professionally. The finale shows the complete triumph of image over substance, performance over reality. Democracy as theater.
Transformation
Final image: Bob in a wheelchair (possibly faking), victorious, surrounded by cameras and celebration. Mirrors opening image but reveals complete corruption. The folk-singer revolutionary is now Senator, the con complete. Negative transformation of democracy itself.