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Joan Allen, Gary Oldman, Jeff Bridges, Sam Elliott, Christian Slater ... see more see more... , William L. Petersen , Philip Baker Hall , Saul Rubinek , Kathryn Morris , Mike Binder , Mariel Hemingway , Kevin Geer , Kristen Shaw , Larry King , Michael Stanton Kennedy , Ric Young , Robin Thomas , Lucas N. Hall

The hard-ball gamesmanship and casual character assassination of American politics sets the stage for this thriller from writer and director Rod Lurie. When the Vice President of the United States une... read more read more...xpectedly dies, all eyes in Washington D.C. are on President Jackson Evans (Jeff Bridges) as he chooses a new VP. Sen. Jack Hathaway (William Petersen), a respected career politician enjoying a new swell of popularity after a well-publicized attempt to save a drowning woman, is expected to be Evans' choice, but instead he picks Sen. Laine Hanson (Joan Allen), a decision that raises eyebrows on both sides of the political fence. Veteran power broker Shelly Runyon (Gary Oldman) is vehemently opposed to Hanson's appointment, in part because the Democratic senator was once a Republican, and vows to do everything in his power to prevent her from being confirmed. Runyon and his staff start digging for dirt on Hanson, and soon make a surprising discovery -- her personal morality is called into question when it's alleged that she took part in a group sexual liaison while she was a college student. The Contender also stars Mike Binder as one of Hanson's advisors, Mariel Hemingway as an old friend with a surprising secret, Christian Slater as an ambitious congressmen assisting Runyon, and Philip Baker Hall as Hanson's father; it was the second feature from former film critic Rod Lurie. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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71% liked it

7,502 ratings

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76% liked it

129 critics

R, 2 hr. 6 min.

Directed by: Rod Lurie

Release Date: October 13, 2000

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DVD Release Date: February 27, 2001

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Stats: 499 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (499)

  • fb619846742
    September 2, 2010
    fb619846742
    A decent, if very flawed and Hollywood-ized political thriller concerning the President (Jeff Bridges) having to fill the void of Vice President, and deciding between a very well-respected governor (William L. Peterson), and a woman senator (Joan Allen) with an apparent dark past... read more. This movie has all the ingredients to be a smash - Joan Allen at her finest, Jeff Bridges having fun as the President, Gary Oldman playing sleazy, heck even Sam Elliott is a key part of the whole thing, sadly the movie falls flat on its face at its ridiculously over-the-top finale that left me feeling betrayed. While it pulls some twists that are original and somewhat conceivable, the last 5 minutes of the movie turn this film from being a respectable political thriller into an okay but unsatisfying movie that decided to get too dramatic instead of sticking with the subtle but effective card it played so well for most of the story. Not horrible, but certainly skip-able.
  • LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    March 18, 2010
    LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    "Sometimes you can assassinate a leader without firing a shot."

    Sexy secrets from a womans past come to light as she runs for Vice President.

    REVIEW

    Political imbroglio drama with a what if pre... read moremise: What if the first nominee for Vice President of the United States had an indecent sexual past leading to her character in question vilification by the select committee in appointing her? Loaded with potboiler red herrings and questionable attacks on loyalty are just a few of the gaping holes in this heavy handed but extremely well acted morality play thanks largely to the always solid Allen as the stolid, uncompromising candidate in question who will not kowtow to the powers that be including the equally on target Oldman (in a Farrelly Brothers' inspired hairstyle) as her chief nemesis and Bridges as the folksy, yet smarter than he appears Commander in Chief.
  • ceWEBrity
    September 7, 2009
    ceWEBrity
    There are so many elements that could have made this a complete disaster, such as the hilariously bad ending, the movie's inability to hold its position on female sexuality, Christian Slater's lousy performance, and the need to put Gary Oldman in a shitty half-bald wig to emphasi... read moreze that he's an evil slimeball, but Joan Allen's noble performance spares the affair. I believe that The Contender has good intentions, but like many other films of its kind, it does not trust the minority character it has empowered in the end. After the cards have fallen, Jeff Bridges gets the final word in the whole affair, which is really a shame since the movie is certainly not about him. It is reminiscent of Spencer Tracy's excruciating final monologue in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. It's a shame that the film passes him its final contention, because the rest of his performance is acerbic and thoughtful as one might come to expect from Bridges. Allen of course makes the film, playing a strikingly believable politician; mature, assertive without aggression, not flighty but not totally humorless. She takes the part and plays it with a total lack of histrionics, which creates an elegant contrast to the rabid media frenzy her past may have left in its wake. Unless you ain't down with the gangbangs, you leave the movie feeling like Allen is someone you'd really want as a politician, someone with her eye on what is really important. The problem lies primarily in the ending's treatment of her, but obviously I cannot discuss this without spoiling it. Simply, beatifying a character isn't necessarily the best way to exonerate them. I can't help but wonder if this was a studio concession, or a way to gloss over the audience's own squeamishness with Mrs. Hanson's dubious acts, but I do know that it feels cheap.

    Anyway, good concept, and nice attempt at an important gender parity story. It really does a lot to illuminate how venomous politics can be. It doesn't succeed in its primary goal, though it is a relatively entertaining political yarn with fine work from a majority of the cast. I don't really know if Rod Lurie got beneath the surface of the message he was sending, though. The movie retains exemplary control in every aspect but its ideology.
  • FiLmCrAzY
    August 10, 2009
    FiLmCrAzY
    Not a bad movie really i love the storyline and cast and was really a good movie to watch and shows how sexism plays a part in politics and becoming an MP or president!
    really worth a watch!
  • puffchunk
    December 18, 2008
    puffchunk
    An interesting film. It had congress hearings, Jeff Bridges bowling, and Gary Oldman with horrible baldness.
  • ironclad1609
    February 10, 2008
    ironclad1609
    Brilliantly acted political thriller about a vice president nomination causing power games within the US government. Full of great dialogues delivered by an outstanding cast. Especially Joan Allen and Gary Oldman (in great make up effects) give excellent performances while they t... read morehrow their lines at each other. While the two hours consist mostly of talking they pass by like nothing and the last 15 minutes come up with one or another pretty unexpected twist. An excellent statement about politics in today's USA. Intelligent, rewarding and important, especially in an election year.
  • superclerk25
    January 8, 2008
    superclerk25
    I'm not one for political flicks but I liked this one and thought that it was well cast.
  • mjgildea
    November 20, 2006
    mjgildea
    Not great, not bad.
  • flickfever
    July 11, 2006
    flickfever
    An exhilerating thriller/drama with a knock-out performance by Joan Allen. This movie touches on many important societal issues, including the corruption that comes with power and the double-standards in society regarding gender. This is one of my favorite political thrillers eve... read morer because it has a message and is executed very well-- and delivers all the goods. Definitely a must-see!
  • fb20312798
    December 29, 2008
    fb20312798
    Its a rather ballsy film about the double standards for women in politics and sexuality, and given the treatment of Hilary Clinton by the media in this past election it is probably more relevant than ever. Gary Oldman, Jeff Bridges, Sam Elliot, and Joan Allen are phenomenal in th... read moreis film. The committee scenes look and feel like the real thing and all of the back door politics are not over the top and are probably what really happens in Washington.

View All The Contender Reviews

Critic Reviews

David Ansen
January 1, 2000
David Ansen, Newsweek

Silly as it is, The Contender has a lurid zest that keeps you hooked, and a rambunctiously good cast.

Kenneth Turan
January 1, 2000
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

The film's lively twists are not too difficult to see coming down the road, but the proceedings still hold our attention and keep us wanting to know how it's going to turn out. Full Review

Michael Wilmington
January 1, 2000
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune

An intelligent and informed look at the preposterous ways our leaders are often picked and sabotaged.

Charles Taylor
January 1, 2000
Charles Taylor, Salon.com

Bury itself under a steaming heap of plot contrivance, equivocation and preachiness. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
January 1, 2000
Emanuel Levy, Variety

The large, talented cast elevates the film above the trappings of its loquacious debates. Full Review

Lisa Schwarzbaum
January 1, 2000
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly

The Contender booms and pontificates, full of bravado and that ineffable quality of the current political season, chutzpah. Full Review

Jay Carr
January 1, 2000
Jay Carr, Boston Globe

Wonderfully cast and slickly directed, but so crudely written as to make its espousing of progressive principles seem crassly exploitative to the point of self-parody.

Stephen Holden
January 1, 2000
Stephen Holden, New York Times

What makes this twisty, cautionary yarn ... delicious is a cast that chews the scenery with such obvious enjoyment. Full Review

Michael Atkinson
January 1, 2000
Michael Atkinson, Mr. Showbiz

However neatly packaged, The Contender is double-dealing baloney.

Tom Keogh
January 1, 2000
Tom Keogh, Film.com

The film's very premise, while initially promising, doesn't hold up to lengthy scrutiny.

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    • President Jackson Evans: Right from the start I should've come down her, pointed a finger your way... pointed a finger your way... and asked you, 'have you no decency sir?'
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The Contender Trivia

  • AWESOME SPEECH... what movie? "I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am."  Answer »
  • Jeff Bridges was nominated for an Oscar for his role in The Contender ?  Answer »
  • "I could have been a contender." This quote is from which movie?  Answer »
  • Which 1954 film featured the following quote? "You don't understand! I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I could've been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am."  Answer »
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