Summary:
Despite a somewhat gushy ending, The Contender is still a very good political thriller enhanced by Oldman's show stealing performance.
More DetailsAbout The Contender (2000)
White House drama about the behind-the-scenes conflicts involved in the appointment of a new vice-president. When the old vice-president dies, President Jackson Evans (Jeff Bridges) choses Senator Laine Hanson (Joan Allen) as his successor, thereby making her the first woman ever to occupy the post. But congressman Shelly Runyon (Gary Oldman) opposes the appointment and, when he discovers photographs which seem to show Hanson taking part in an orgy, it seems that he will have no trouble undermining her position. Hanson’s response is to stand firm and insist upon her right to privacy, but with the political storm gathering force around her, it is not clear how effective her principled stance will be.
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Gary Oldman, Joan Allen, Christian Slater
Directed by: Rob Lurie
Runtime: 121 minutes
Studio: Icon Home Entertainment
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Review: The Contender
Rob Lurie’s thriller enters the dark side of American politics where the aspiring see their dreams destroyed by bitter rivals through any means necessary. The story focuses on President Jackson (Jeff Bridges) who is coming to the end of his second term and with his Vice President dying suddenly he now has a new VP to appoint. Public opinion seems to swing towards Governor Jack Hathaway (William Petersen) of Virginia who has recently risked his life trying to save a woman in a car that went over a bridge. The President is not keen on Hathaway though despite his recent bravery. Instead he looks to Laine Hanson (Joan Allen), a promising Senator from Ohio. Jackson’s hopes of a smooth transition for his VP nomination come unstuck when he is blocked by Congressman Shelley Runyon (Gary Oldman) who favours Hathaway as a nominee instead. The President backs Laine though so Runyon digs deep and proceeds to try and destroy Laine and turn the nation against her.
Laine is married with one child and seemingly has nothing that Runyon can use against her. He gains the support of Reginald Webster (Christian Slater) who goes against the President in helping Runyon ruin Laine. They uncover photographs of Laine in her college years, taking part in group sex as part of an initiation to an exclusive group. The woman who is supposedly Laine is pictured in the midst of a sexual act with two men. When Laine attends confirmation hearings for her position as VP she finds Runyon leading the proceedings and he brings up her secret from college. Rather than react, Laine takes a stand-offish approach, neither denying or confirming the truth and insisting her personal life has no bearing on her role as VP. After leaking these images to the media, Runyon keeps digging and with witnesses coming forward to depict Laine as both a wild child at college and later as a marriage destroyer, things are not looking good. The question is can she survive and win back the trust of the nation?
Although the ending to this film is predictably cheesy, it avoids being too melodramatic thanks to the events that take place before. A solid cast tie this one together nicely with Bridges proving a stubborn but charming President, while Oldman steals the show as the cruel and calculating Runyon. Allen is also good as Laine who suffers so much abuse but simply refuses to be broken. Her actions infuriate both her rivals and supporters but she is willing to stand alone to be treated in a fair manner and judged on the qualities that truly matter as a VP.
Despite a somewhat gushy ending, The Contender is still a very good political thriller enhanced by Oldman’s show stealing performance. This isn’t the best I’ve ever seen from Oldman, of course, but it’s testament to him as an actor that he is the best performer here. The corrupt nature of politics is exposed as rivals resort to some dirty underhand tactics in pursuit of destroying one another. I knew politics wasn’t always fair before. This is just another reminder of how unfair it can be.
Verdict: 4/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
