The Contender |  | Director: Rod Lurie
Actors: Joan Allen, Jeff Bridges, Sam Elliott, Philip Baker Hall, Kathryn Morris
Studio: Dreamworks Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $9.99
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Rating:  173 reviews
Sales Rank: 10010
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 126 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5 x 0.6
MPN: MCAD87809D
ISBN: 0783256337
UPC: 667068780925
EAN: 9780783256337
ASIN: B00003CXP7
Theatrical Release Date: 2000
Release Date: March 6, 2001
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Amazon.com essential video
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
Product Description
UNITED STATES SENATOR LAINE HANSON FACES STIFF OPPOSITION FROM A POWERFUL CONGRESSMAN IN HER BID TO BECOME THE COUNTRY'S FIRST FEMALE VICE PRESIDENT. INCLUDES FEATURETTE AND COMMENTARY BY STAR JOAN ALLEN AND WRITER/DIRECTOR ROD LURIE.
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 173
 Would that politics were that way. January 30, 2010
Timothy P. Scanlon (Hyattsville, MDUSA)
I'm amazed at people who found this film shallow and vulgar. That my in-laws might not like the language used, well, I'm sorry, but that's life.
And as to "shallow," I agree that's an adequate description for the short-lived television series by the same writer, Commander in Chief. But I liked this script, found it a classic.
The film starts with a governor, apparent vice president candidate, a position the country had apparently been without for a few weeks. A car flies off a bridge and the governor who was fishing under the bridge tries to help the car's driver. Unfortunately, the driver dies. Then, onto the president's (Jeff Bridges) office. He can't offer the governor the vice presidency.
The president eventually chooses a woman senator, portrayed by Joan Allen.
The presiden't rival in the prior election was Sheldon Runyon, masterfully portrayed by Gary Oldman, who was also the exec. producer of the film. Runyon is rurthless in his pursuit of dirt on Senator Hanson (Allen).
I won't re-cover what other reviewers have doubtless said many times. But what I found moving about the script was that Hanson, while she knew it would be to her advantage, refused to indulge in the same tactics used by Runyon and his lieutenants.
There are, of course, feminists who will say that "That's the way it would be if there were a woman candidate." Notwithstanding Senator Clinton's record as being pretty strong-willed herself, my objection to such an assertion is that beyond doubt the worst boss I ever had was a woman. So I know what women are capable of. The point is that CANDIDATE wouldn't settle for those completely unethical tactics.
Would that happen in real life? I doubt it. The present day public relations/image production apparatus probably wouldn't even allow a "cripple" (FDR) to be elected president. And we all recall the Kerry campaign in '04. I guess Kerry's handlers felt that Kerry would be beyond responding to the Swift Boat thugs. So he came across looking like a con artist who used his clout to get military honors, or a candidate who didn't have the guts to confront those who smeared him. So, no, I don't think Senator Hanson would get confirmed by the Senate today. But one can dream.
Back to the actors, I thought Jeff Bridges as the president was a president I could believe in. There was a down-to-earth nature about him, despite his obvious intelligence, that I appreciated. And Christian Slater played Reggie Webster, a freshman Delaware congressman who was trying to get on Runyon's right side, then saw that Runyon's tactics were not his cup of tea.
Overall the story, while idealistic, was a good one. And I don't want to give too much away so that others will be interested in seeing the film.
Go for it. And dream that such a candidite is possible.
 Good premise ruined by cheap dialogue and action January 24, 2010
Hank (Wisconsin)
Anytime I see a potentially good film ruined by cheap and vulgar dialogue and by gratuitous references to sexuality I shut it off. So it was with this one.
 Now it's my turn. January 17, 2010
Tony's reviews
If you can understand the storyline-where Joan Allen is coming from with her principles, for one, this is a film whose time is long overdo.
When Gary Oldman plays a villian, he's usually a little over the top-like in Air Force One, but here he's subtly villianous, sometimes you have to wonder what he's gonna do with Joan's charecter next, or even if he's really expressing an opinion, and knows what he's talking about.
I like this film for several reasons-the acting, the story-the idea of political scandal being thrown in your face like this is very well done. The whole cast does a nice job, kudos to Jeff Bridges for playing a president who despite having a foul mouth, very much gets his lines out without missing a beat-honestly, I've never seen a presidential figure played like this before.
I also agree with Joan in the fact that she won't adress the accusations, one way or the other, very different than Bill Clinton-who did a much better job as president despite his infidelities, why couldn't they leave him alone with that?
I've always believed any celebrities personal life is just that, no one else's business, but between the tabloids and the paparazzi-which in my opinion abuse their freedom) someone's personal life is always made public and it shouldn't be like that, same goes for politics, in my opinion. This film is very adult in its content and properly rated R, so I wouldn't recommend it for kids.
The Contender October 19, 2009
Hawaii cw
This DVD was purchased as a gift. The recipient was very happy to get it and enjoyed the dvd. The recipient wanted the movie having seen it on tv, so it was
much appreciated.
The contender October 8, 2009
Grant Logan (Victoria, British COLUMBIA, CANADA)
The movie showed up in great shape and the movie was well liked thank you Grant
Showing reviews 1-5 of 173
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