The Candidate poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Robert Redford, Peter Boyle, Don Porter, Allen Garfield, Karen Carlson ... see more see more... , Melvyn Douglas , Broderick Crawford , Tom Dahlgren , Cedrick Hardman , Pat Harrington Jr. , Fred Harris , Gerald Hiken , Ken Jones , Dudley Knight , Michael Lerner , Terry McGovern , Quinn K. Redeker , Howard K. Smith , Barry Sullivan , Jenny Sullivan , Kenneth Tobey , Morgan Upton , Dick Whittington , Natalie Wood , Joseph Miksak , Gene S. Cantamessa , George Meyer , Leslie Allen , Christopher Pray , David Moody , Bill Stout

"What do we do now?" Director Michael Ritchie and executive producer/star Robert Redford satirically explore the machinations and manipulations of media-age political campaigns in this cynical politic... read more read more...al drama. Rumpled left-wing California lawyer Bill McKay (Redford), the son of a former governor (Melvyn Douglas), is enlisted by campaign maestro Marvin Lucas (Peter Boyle) to challenge Republican incumbent Crocker Jarmon (Don Porter) for his Senate seat. McKay agrees, but only if he can say exactly what he thinks. That approach is all well and good when McKay does not seem to have a chance, but things change when his honesty unexpectedly captivates the electorate. As McKay inches up in the polls, Lucas and company start to do what it takes to win, leaving McKay to ponder the consequences of his political seduction. Working without studio interference from a script by Jeremy Larner, a speechwriter for 1968 Presidential candidate Eugene McCarthy, Ritchie enhanced the behind-the-scenes realism of Larner's insights with a realistic, cinéma vérité approach. He orchestrated a campaign parade for "candidate" Redford that drew such a considerable unstaged audience that local politicians wanted to draft Redford for a real election. Redford's resemblance to the telegenic Kennedys, and his character's resonance with the future career of California governor Jerry Brown, only emphasized how close to the bone The Candidate was (and is). Released the fateful year of Richard Nixon's reelection, the film garnered accolades, if not substantial box office; Larner won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay and thanked the "politicians of our time" for inspiration. Creating a documentary fiction about the semi-truths manufactured to market a candidate, The Candidate shrewdly exposed the effects of the media on the increasingly cynical political process, posing unanswerable questions that have become all the more pressing with every soundbite-ruled election. ~ Lucia Bozzola, Rovi

Flixster Users

71% liked it

4,471 ratings

Critics

100% liked it

18 critics

PG, 1 hr. 50 min.

Directed by: Michael Ritchie

Release Date: August 23, 1972

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: October 30, 1997

Get It:

Stats: 234 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

The Candidate
Upload a Photo | View All The Candidate Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (234)

  • kenstachnik
    March 3, 2011
    kenstachnik
    A lot of fun. Reminds me of Bulworth, but not quite as good.
  • ajv2688
    December 29, 2010
    ajv2688
    I recently re-watched this movie, and I didn't like it so much, but if you are interested in politics, unlike me, you'll like it better than I do. Redford gives a good performance, and he's even kind of funny at times. The main problem is that in most scenes there are lots of p... read moreeople talking all at once. Overall, it's a good story and all, though.
  • fb704730572
    January 6, 2012
    fb704730572
    Subtle and highly effective direction, combined with a darkly cynical and sometimes comical tone and script, make it a memorable, if not entirely perfect political drama. The performances are all strong, with Robert Redford having the ideal charisma and depth for the role (I coul... read moredn't help but think of Clooney in Ides of March). It explores political themes and pitfalls better than some other films, but it still has a political bias that holds it back, though not to an extent that the movie is ruined (such as the horrendous The Contender).
  • jscottcorley
    August 15, 2009
    jscottcorley
    Good look at the insanity of politics. Redford does a good job and the film's pacing is such that you are never overtly hit over the head with how the man becomes less important than the "candidate".
  • titanicwhiz18
    June 22, 2009
    titanicwhiz18
    A funny and serious look into the ways of our democracy. Very interesting. For a better way, vote McKay!

View All The Candidate Reviews

Critic Reviews

John A. Nesbit
February 12, 2007
John A. Nesbit, Old School Reviews

Good early intro to the political machinery behind the candidates, where the emphasis is clearly only focused on winning

Emanuel Levy
January 17, 2007
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

The first and arguably the sharpest expose of the new media-determined American political process, The Candidate offers producer-star Redford one of his strongest dramatic roles; Michael Ritchei's 197... Full Review

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
February 13, 2002
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

Reveals the hollow center of a campaign manipulated by media mercenaries and political Machiavellis who value victory over integrity and substantive moral issues. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
January 1, 2000
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

This Hollywood film has passed the test of time and is still a good watch, especially, during an election year. Full Review

June 3, 2008
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Vincent Canby
May 9, 2005
Vincent Canby, New York Times

No review available.

David Kaplan
March 1, 2008
David Kaplan, Kaplan vs. Kaplan

No review available.

Cole Smithey
October 12, 2007
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com

No review available.

Susan Granger
June 17, 2006
Susan Granger, www.susangranger.com

No review available.

Michael Szymanski
October 6, 2005
Michael Szymanski, International Press Academy

No review available.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Sideways
    Sideways (40%)
  • The Osterman Weekend
    The Osterman Weekend (0%)
  • Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
    Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (75%)
  • Swing Vote
    Swing Vote (100%)

More Movies like The Candidate

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

The Candidate : Watch Free on TV

The Candidate Trivia

  • At the beginning of the movie Domino, what '62 Sinatra flick is Domino watching?  Answer »
  • What movie does this quote come from: "There are two kinds of people in this world: Those that enter a room and turn the television set on, and those that enter a room and turn the television set off."   Answer »
  • The tagline: "Everything is under control."  Answer »
  • "Raymond, why don't you pass the time by playing a little solitaire?" is a quote from...  Answer »
More The Candidate Trivia

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for The Candidate. Want to create one?

Video Clips

Upload a Video |

All The Candidate Videos

Meet Other Fans

Add The Candidate to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?