The Contender poster & wallpaper

Christian Slater, Gary Oldman, Jeff Bridges

A political thriller that takes us behind the scenes of Washington's political power plays. When the current Vice President dies, the President appoints Senator Laine Hanson as the first woman to hol...( read more  read more... )d the office. The selection process is met with opposition, particularly from a powerful adversary who will stop at nothing to discredit her. As shocking secrets are revealed, a political firestorm is set off that threatens her personal life as well as her political career. Laine Hanson has what it takes to be Vice President, but does she have the stomach to get the job done?

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72% liked it

2,009 ratings

Critics

76% liked it

127 critics

R, 2 hrs. 5 min.

Directed by: Rod Lurie

Release Date: October 13, 2000

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DVD Release Date: February 27, 2001

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Flixster Reviews (397)

  • 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 more)ze 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.
  • puffchunk
    December 18, 2008
    puffchunk
    An interesting film. It had congress hearings, Jeff Bridges bowling, and Gary Oldman with horrible baldness.
  • bradwest
    September 20, 2008
    bradwest
    Jeff Bridges steals the show.
  • 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 more)hrow 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.
  • mjgildea
    November 20, 2006
    mjgildea
    Not great, not bad.
  • TheAfterHours
    September 30, 2009
    TheAfterHours
    I was so close to giving this 3 stars but that horribly cheesy Hollywood ending ruined it for me. Besides that some very good direction and excellent acting from an all star cast.
  • dihsani
    August 30, 2009
    dihsani
    Great political drama!! You think you know but you don't.
  • 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!
  • drbetker
    August 2, 2009
    drbetker
    I am a political junkie and this film quenched my thirst for all things political. The premise is wonderful, and it was fun to see how the political swill machine operates differently based on gender. Joan Allen makes a wonderful candidate in this film, and Gary Oldman plays the ...( read more)evil Rep. Sheldon Runyon with almost comical abandon. Jeff Bridges makes a wisecracking president seem almost believable, although I felt Sam Elliot's presidential adviser role was wasted here... give him SOME dialogue! The man has an OSCAR! Anyway, from start to finish, you want to know what happens in the end, and it keeps you involved, like all great films should.
  • steven544
    May 2, 2009
    steven544
    Mulitple worthy performances, esp. Jeff Bridges in one of his best among trademark eccentric roles; writing is flawless and no cheesy plot twists geared towards non-intelligent viewers, typical for American viewers. And the final tie-in with the first seen, tough to see coming an...( read more)d proves the writing's prowess. A ++ in every sense, one of the most underrated classics of all time. A plethora of actors here making great performances - Sam Elliot, William Petersen, Christian Slater - who hasn't done much since, nor much in the few years prior, and of course Oldman who I could not recognize for a good portion of the flick - kudos to the producers for leaving the cast till the end, I had the benefit of not reading publicity on the film which kept me guessing and enriched the experience.

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Critic Reviews

January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

This is one of those rare movies where you leave the theater having been surprised and entertained, and then start arguing. full review

January 1, 2000
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

Smart, enjoyable.

View more The Contender reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments

  • Ivy412
    October 25, 2007
    Ivy412
    This is Joan Allen's best work yet! I absolutely love this movie. I don't care for her religious ideals. I've never cared about politics, I don't know if we've ever had a president that's atheist. If a man's sex life isn't relevant a woman's shouldn't be either.
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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 »
  • Memorable movie moment. Rod Steiger and Marlon Brando(Terri) inside a car). "You don't understand. I could have had class. I could have been a contender. I could have been somebody, instead of the bum I am." Name the movie.  Answer »
  • Which of the following actors did not have a supporting role in Rod Lurie's The Contender?  Answer »
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