The Contender Poster 8" x 10"

Directed By

Rod Lurie

Cast

Joan Allen, Gary Oldman, Jeff Bridges, Sam Elliott, Christian Slater, William L. Petersen, Philip Baker Hall, Saul Rubinek

About the Film

An excellent cast propels this political potboiler, although the plot contains some hot air. After the sitting Veep dies, downhome Prez Evans (Bridges) nominates Sen. Laine Hanson (Allen) for the post. Although principled and experienced, she also happens to be a woman with a past. Evans's oily conservative rival Runyon (Oldman) takes advantage by digging up photos of the senator being the life of a college fraternity party. Hanson refuses to answer questions about her youthful indiscretions, arguing that her sexual history is nobody's business. As in real politics, much speechifying ensues and not much is accomplished. Allen shines in a role that was written expressly for her. Reports filtered out after the film's release that exec producer Oldman, a conservative himself, was unhappy about the editing and portrayal of his character, who he thought was the hero of the movie.