VIDEO : DECEPTION IN HIGH, LOW PLACES.

Byline: Rob Lowman Daily News Entertainment Editor

Sex, lies and videotapes could be the topic of this column every week, but with the release this week of ``Primary Colors'' and ``Wild Things,'' it is even more apropos.

``Colors'' is Mike Nichols' film of Joe Klein's novel that is a fictional account of President Clinton's campaign for the White House in 1992. The film is flawed in a number of ways, veering into melodrama at times to elicit emotional response and too often opting for glibness rather than striving for real insights. Nevertheless, ``Colors'' raises questions about character and idealism vs. Realpolitik that go to the heart of the current scandal in Washington. Now with Kenneth Starr's report on the Monica Lewinsky matter about to hit and continued talk of impeachment on Capitol Hill, ``Colors,'' like the timely ``Wag the Dog,'' should be a popular rental at the video store.

It is important to note that ``Colors'' is fiction, though the parallels between southern Gov. Jack Stanton (John Travolta) and his wife, Susan (Emma Thompson), and Bill and Hillary Clinton are undeniable. There is even a scene where the penitent candidate and his wife go on a talk show to discuss his infidelity. There are other similarities. Richard Jemmons, the redneck spin doctor (Billy Bob Thornton), is obviously James Carville. Libby Holden (Kathy Bates), the manic ``dust buster'' who tries to cover up Stanton's scandals before they hit the front pages, is similar to Betsey Wright, Clinton's chief of staff when he was governor. Lawrence Harris (Kevin Cooney), the New England senator who is Stanton's primary opposition until suffering a heart attack, is like the physically frail Paul Tsongas, the late senator from Massachusetts who was an early rival of Clinton's. Cashmere McLeod (Gia Carides), who accuses Stanton of having an affair with her, is a stand-in for Gennifer Flowers.

There are, of course, differences, but some plot points take on a life of their own in light of the recent scandal. The filmmakers must have thought having Stanton's being accused of impregnating the family's 17-year-old baby sitter and then covering up the potential scandal in a slimy way would strike audiences as outrageous. But by the time the film came out - two months after the affair with the 21-year-old Lewinsky broke - it must have seemed at least plausible. Remember then, Clinton was still denying the affair and had many vocal supporters. Now, with Clinton's mea culpa and backers disillusioned, it's almost prescient.

Part of what ``Colors'' is about is the cult of personality, and having a charismatic movie star like Travolta play Stanton works especially well. Stanton is a figure who people want to be around, whose personality thrills them. Clinton is said to have the same effect. An acquaintance of mine was once introduced to Clinton. Although he has worked with and been around some of the biggest names in Hollywood, he said that he was incredibly moved during the meeting, swept up by the president's personality.

In the film, we never get a handle on Stanton's character. Travolta's take may seem like a mere impersonation of the ``I feel your pain'' Clinton, but it goes to what the film is about. The fuzzy Stanton is sort of a Rorschach test. Idealists see his ideals, others his slickness, others humanity, others his deviousness. The same might be said for the way voters look at Clinton.

Whatever your feelings toward the president, though, ``Colors'' is entertaining enough - with some smart performances, especially from Oscar winner Bates - to make it worth renting. And it may even trigger some interesting discussions.

A `Wild' ride: Politics plays no part in ``Wild Things,'' but lies and sex do. ``Scream'' queen Neve Campbell stars as Suzie, a stoned-out high-school student in this campy, twisted comic film noir. The intricately plotted thriller revolves around a high-school guidance counselor (Matt Dillon) in a steamy Florida town who is accused by one of his students (Denise Richards) of raping her. The police at first refuse to arrest him because there is no physical evidence, but then Suzie steps forward to spin the same tale. Lombardo is then arrested. After losing his job, the only lawyer he can afford is a lowlife played by Bill Murray who works out of a storefront and wears wrinkled polyester suits and an insurance-scam neck brace.

This is just the beginning of the film's wild twists and turns, which don't end until the final scene. And in case you're confused, the denouement, which explains the whole elaborate plot, is interspersed with the credits.

``Wild Things'' is sort of like a B movie you used to see at the drive-in, with utterly gratuitous sex and violence. But don't dismiss it or take it too seriously. Director John McNaughton is clever playing with the genre, and ``Wild Things'' is so much fun you may wish there was still a drive-in around to go to.

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Photo: John Travolta has the charisma to be convincing as Gov. Jack Stanton in ``Primary Colors,'' based on Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign.