The Contender

6.0

1,887

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Original title: The Contender
Year: 2000
Running time: 126 min.
Country: United States
Director: Rod Lurie
Screenwriter: Rod Lurie
Music: Larry Groupé
Cinematography: Denis Maloney
Cast: Joan Allen, Gary Oldman, Jeff Bridges, Christian Slater, William Petersen, Philip Baker Hall, Sam Elliott, Saul Rubinek, Robin Thomas, Mike Binder, Kathryn Morris, Kristen Shaw, Mariel Hemingway
Producer: DreamWorks SKG, Cinerenta Medienbeteiligungs KB, Battleground, Sesgroup, Cinecontender
Genre: Drama | Politics
Synopsis: After his Vice-president suddenly dies, the President (Jeff Bridges) who is near the end of his final term, decides to leave a legacy by selecting a woman to fill the position. Enter a Senator (Joan Allen), who has shifted from the Republican Party to the Democratic. Initially appearing to be the perfect candidate, an allegation suddenly appears that she had been involved in a sexual orgy as a 19 year old in college. The confirmation committee chairman (Gary Oldman), a Republican, leaks the information to the press, while using the press discussion as a forum to bring it into the hearings. The chairman desires to get a Governor (William Petersen) into the office. The Governor had become a national hero when he attempted to rescue a young woman from a car that crashed from a bridge into deep water near where the Governor had been fishing.

Awards: 2000: 2 Nominations for Oscar: Best Actress (Joan Allen), Supp. Actor (Jeff Bridges)

2000: 2 Nominations for Golden Globe: Best Actress (Allen), Supp. Actor (Bridges)

2000: Independent Spirit Awards: 2 Nominations inc. Best Supp. Actress (Allen)

2000: Screen Actors Guild (SAG): Nom. Best Actress (Allen) & Sup. Actor (Bridges y Oldman)

2000: Chicago Film Critics Awards: Nominated for Best Actress (Joan Allen)

Critics' reviews

"This is one of those rare movies where you leave the theater having been surprised and entertained, and then start arguing (...) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 4)"

Roger Ebert: Chicago Sun-Times
"The large, talented cast elevates the film above the trappings of its loquacious debates."

Emanuel Levy: Variety
"An intelligent and informed look at the preposterous ways our leaders are often picked and sabotaged."

Michael Wilmington: Los Angeles Times
"The film's budgetary limitations are so severe that it's up to the actors to carry (and largely they do) a claustrophobic and none too fluidly directed polemic (...) Rating: ★★½ (out of 4)"

Mike Clark: USA Today
"Excellent performances in an entertaining if less than totally plausible story."

Lou Lumenick: New York Post
"Until The Contender slips into partisan politics and platitudinous piety, it's a lively, entertaining ride."

Peter Travers: Rolling Stone

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