Hannah Reiman,
Matt Polazzo,
Michael Zaytsev,
George Zisiadis,
Alex Leonard
... see more 
As the teenage politicians at one of the most prestigious publics schools in the United States begin campaigning for the position of student body president, filmmaker Caroline Suh draws parallels betw... read more
DVD Release Date: January 20, 2009
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Stats: 46 reviews
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Flixster Reviews (46)
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April 5, 2009This is not a particularly groundbreaking story, and the ending is pretty predictable, but I just like documentaries about high school. George is just unique enough to be interesting, and just cliche enough to be believable. I kind of had a crush on Michael, and I think Hannah's ... read more
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April 20, 2010FRONTRUNNERS is a smart and funny political documentary that follows the student council presidential campaign at one of the country's most prestigious public high schools: Stuyvesant High School in New York City.
An entertaining and symbolic campaign film, put forth in classic ... read more -
October 25, 2009This is a decent doc. Although I couldn?t get over how annoying these kids were (they are definitely not the kids I wanted to hang out with in school, and I don?t mean just the candidates, the whole school), there is definitely an interesting story behind them. And the process of... read more
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October 16, 2009Great documentary.Shows that elections are just a popularity contest.Wish I had a lounge like that 1 kid when I was in HS
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January 29, 2009Not a bad documentary production wise. However it's a bit hard to get into the story...when it comes down to the final moments...you're likely to realize that you really don't care....Hmmm...
I suppose it is better watched by students aspiring for the same thing.
Critic Reviews
October 24, 2008
Reyhan Harmanci, San Francisco Chronicle
October 24, 2008
Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times
Perhaps it's the bright, decent, appealing kids seen here, or just the idyllic portrait Suh paints of student life at Manhattan's prestigious Stuyvesant High School that gives the picture its charm. Full Review
October 24, 2008
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe
The kids now know how to play the game of college admissions, but they seem more jaded by their knowledge than entitled to success. And their exasperation with the process, their peers, and themselves... Full Review
October 23, 2008
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
Sure, it's a skewed view through adolescent eyes, but it's one that still speaks to the aspirations, agendas, image-making and spin control behind a real, grown-up political election. Full Review
October 17, 2008
V.A. Musetto, New York Post
The student election plays out as a microcosm of the race for the Oval Office. Full Review
October 17, 2008
Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News
These candidates work hard and play fair, and when they screw up or slack off, they accept the consequences without complaint. Simply because, they believe, that's the way things should be done. Full Review
October 16, 2008
Ronnie Scheib, Variety
Ultimately, pic's fascination lies with the personalities and strategies of the candidates themselves. Full Review
October 15, 2008
Stephen Holden, New York Times
Without forcing comparisons, Frontrunners finds parallels between the election at Stuyvesant High and the current national election. Full Review
October 15, 2008
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly
These politicians may be teens, but they grapple with constituencies, campaign strategies, and demands on their time with a spirit and seriousness of purpose suitable for the highest office in the land. Full Review
October 15, 2008
Nick Pinkerton, Village Voice
Tactfully [keeps] away from actual policy details and emotionally sticky stuff, cutting for punchlines, and overlaying campaigning montages with a playlist shuffle of kazoo-whimsical indie feyness. Full Review
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