The Contender (2000)

Depending on your perspective, The Contender can be praised and damned for the same reasons. A political thriller with an insider's view, it's deadly earnest in its defense of truth, justice, and the American way, but writer-director (and former film critic) Rod Lurie resorts to the same manipulation that his film purports to condemn. But with political savvy, a timely idea (a female vice president), and a cast of first-rate actors, this high-office chess game is unabashedly entertaining. You can argue with Lurie's tactics, but you can't fault his patriotic passion.

In a role written especially for her, Joan Allen is outstanding (if a bit too saintly) as the Republican-turned-Democrat senator who is chosen by the president (Jeff Bridges) to fill a vice presidential vacancy. Bridges is a cagey chief executive, seemingly aloof as he gleefully challenges the White House's 24-hour kitchen staff but more than a match for the embittered and unscrupulous congressman (Gary Oldman) who plots to destroy Allen's character with seemingly dark secrets from her past.

As a gender-switching response to the Lewinsky scandal, The Contender asks potent questions with its impassioned plea for integrity in public service. That makes this a film well worth defending, and the stellar cast (which includes Christian Slater and William Petersen) triumphs over most of the plot's hokey machinations. The ideas are more compelling than their execution, however, and although Lurie's climactic revelation is a vast improvement over the reckless cheat of his previous film Deterrence, it still threatens to tarnish the gloss of an otherwise fascinating film. --Jeff Shannon Amazon.com essential video

Pretentious Liberal Preaching

I expected to see a well made suspense thriller based on the description and the endorsements that are on the DVD cover. Well there's no doubt that those critics who gave the thumbs up for this movie lean far to the left. A hollow script portrays all Republicans as evil, scheming, women haters and Democrats are portrayed as righteous upholders of freedom. The story is so polarizing and pretentious that it lacks any credibility. The plot gets so ridiculous that the movie almost becomes a parody of the ideology that it tries to exalt.

On the positive side, the acting and filming are good but it's not enough to make up for the corny and manipulative nature of the script. December 12, 2008

The Contender

This is the most amazing movie. Barack Obama was recently asked which movie he felt had the best presidential performance. He responded, "Jeff Bridges in The Contender". A must see movie. Love the price and I received it timely. September 5, 2008

Man, those Democrats are a noble lot

As a political independent I really don't have much of a problem believing that the Republicans in Congress are the uncaring, sneaky bunch of politicians they are portrayed as in this film. What I don't buy at all, though, is the Democrats in Congress being the truthful, caring, altruistic bunch they're portrayed as here. For me, this film simply confirms the fact that the Hollywood elites are no more than a wing of the Democrat Party when it comes to political movies. The premise of this movie is, in a word, ridiculous. Pity really, as the acting and production are both pretty good. Even liberals should be offended by the simplistic pandering offered up in this pathetic outing. Two thumbs down. August 4, 2008

A remarkably unpleasant and dishonest film

If you like American Theocracy, you will probably like this film. It plays to every stereotype, every simple-minded idea, every revisionist fantasy, every insulting smear and dishonest thing that the left has uttered for the past 50 years. Now, don't get me wrong, it skillfully packages them in a lovely box with lots of pretty wrapping paper (recyclable, of course!), ornate bows, and a lovely card, but inside, it is unequivocally a steaming pile of horse puckey.

Others here have dissected the deceit and dishonesty rampant throughout this manure pile. But let me add one more. When our poor, unfairly maligned female is blindsided in an interview, she walks off. And we are to admire her fortitude. When the lying and creepy bad guy is publicly chastised by his President, who calls him a traitor for disagreeing, he walks out, and we are to see his walk of shame as the perfect summation of his pitiful little life. Wow--talk about hypocrisy!

Personally, I'd love to see Hollywood tackle a real confirmation hearing. Show us how Robert Bork or Clarence Thomas had their character murdered and then disemboweled, a tactic previously unknown in Washington. (What Democrat has ever received such an attack?) Come on, Hollywood, show how a real person standing up for what he believes will get the machete wielding liars with crazed eyes after him!

No, that would be too tough. Rather, let's show a nice feminist atheist, whose poor little son is being indoctrinated by religious crazies to spout that baby Jesus created top spin, who believes we need military might only to intervene in the internal affairs of other countries, who, quite wrongly, believes that the never-mentioned-in-the-Constitution separation of church and state is to protect the state from fanaticism, who, I suppose, believes that babies aborted but living should be allowed to die, all the while with stirring patriotic music soaring behind her. The aroma is overwhelming! I'm choking!

Update September 2008:
And folks, in case you haven't noticed, while one side says the other is using "coded messages" to attack their candidate, that same side shows no such restraint and heaps the uncoded messages against a woman. Wow--if only the film makers had examined their prejudices, they might have made a real movie! July 22, 2008

Campaign 2008

I guess this came out in 01, but watching it in 2008 is interesting, now that Hillary Clinton's campaign is over. This film is over the top in portraying partisanship, and way too preachy about the main character's rights as a woman to be treated like a man. Jeff Bridges is entertaining as the president. Hell, he should probably run. Given recent history like the Clarence Thomas/Anita Hill hearings, and such fiascos as the Bush nomination of Harriet Myers to the Supreme Court, the goings on in this movie are not entirely implausible. June 22, 2008

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