SEINFELD BLOG

The Contender

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Binding: DVD
Brand: Paramount
EAN: 9780783256337
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC
ISBN: 0783256337
Label: Dreamworks Video
Manufacturer: Dreamworks Video
Number Of Items: 1
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen
Publisher: Dreamworks Video
Region Code: 1
Release Date: March 06, 2001
Running Time: 126 minutes
Sales Rank: 5761
Studio: Dreamworks Video
Theatrical Release Date: 2000

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Editorial Review:

Description:
When the truth becomes a weapon, power comes at a stunning price. Gary Oldman, Joan Allen, Jeff Bridges and Christian Slater deliver electrifying performances in this controversial, suspenseful and critically-acclaimed thriller that Ebert & Roeper and the Movies call 'exciting and unusually intelligent, two very enthusiastic thumbs up!' Sometimes you can assassinate a leader without firing a shot.

Amazon.com essential video:
Depending on your perspective, The Contender can be praised and damned for the same reasons. A political thriller with an insider's view, it's deadly earnest in its defense of truth, justice, and the American way, but writer-director (and former film critic) Rod Lurie resorts to the same manipulation that his film purports to condemn. But with political savvy, a timely idea (a female vice president), and a cast of first-rate actors, this high-office chess game is unabashedly entertaining. You can argue with Lurie's tactics, but you can't fault his patriotic passion.

In a role written especially for her, Joan Allen is outstanding (if a bit too saintly) as the Republican-turned-Democrat senator who is chosen by the president (Jeff Bridges) to fill a vice presidential vacancy. Bridges is a cagey chief executive, seemingly aloof as he gleefully challenges the White House's 24-hour kitchen staff but more than a match for the embittered and unscrupulous congressman (Gary Oldman) who plots to destroy Allen's character with seemingly dark secrets from her past.

As a gender-switching response to the Lewinsky scandal, The Contender asks potent questions with its impassioned plea for integrity in public service. That makes this a film well worth defending, and the stellar cast (which includes Christian Slater and William Petersen) triumphs over most of the plot's hokey machinations. The ideas are more compelling than their execution, however, and although Lurie's climactic revelation is a vast improvement over the reckless cheat of his previous film Deterrence, it still threatens to tarnish the gloss of an otherwise fascinating film. --Jeff Shannon




Rating: - Pretentious Liberal Preaching
I expected to see a well made suspense thriller based on the description and the endorsements that ... Read More

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Rating: - The Contender
This is the most amazing movie. Barack Obama was recently asked which movie he felt had the best presidential ... Read More

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Rating: - Man, those Democrats are a noble lot
As a political independent I really don't have much of a problem believing that the Republicans in Congress are ... Read More

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Rating: - A remarkably unpleasant and dishonest film
If you like American Theocracy, you will probably like this film. It plays to every stereotype, every simple-minded ... Read More

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Rating: - Campaign 2008
I guess this came out in 01, but watching it in 2008 is interesting, now that Hillary Clinton's campaign is over. This ... Read More

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Copyright ©2003, Mark Carey.