The Contender (2000)

Director:

Rod Lurie

Writer (WGA):

Rod Lurie (written by)

Release Date:

13 October 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Sometimes you can assassinate a leader without firing a shot.

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

President | Governor | Bridge | Death | Fishing

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 19 nominations

Cast

Gary Oldman	...	Shelly Runyon
Joan Allen	...	Laine Hanson
Jeff Bridges	...	President Jackson Evans
Christian Slater	...	Reginald Webster
Sam Elliott	...	Kermit Newman
William Petersen	...	Jack Hathaway
Saul Rubinek	...	Jerry Tolliver
Philip Baker Hall	...	Oscar Billings
Mike Binder	...	Lewis Hollis
Robin Thomas	...	William Hanson
Mariel Hemingway	...	Cynthia Charlton Lee
Kathryn Morris	...	Paige Willomina
Kristen Shaw	...	Fiona Hathaway
Douglas Urbanski	...	Makerowitz
Noah Fryrear	...	Timmy
Angelica Page	...	Dierdra (as Angelica Torn)
Joseph Lyle Taylor	...	Paul Smith (as Joe Taylor)
Kevin Geer	...	Congressman Skakle
Doug Roberts	...	Congressman Harding
Bev Appleton	...	Congressman Marshall
Sandra Register	...	Glenda
Anthony Booth	...	Peter Crenshaw (as Tony Booth)
Andrew C. Boothby	...	Steven Poullet (as Andrew Boothby)
Irene Ziegler	...	Maggie Runyon
Del Driver	...	Director Friend
Sean Pratt	...	Wilke
Bill Bevins	...	Anchorman
Ed Sala	...	Show Producer
Kirk Penberthy	...	Stevenson
Justin Dray	...	Stagehand
David Laubacher	...	Reporter #4
David Bridgewater	...	Aide
Kevin Grantz	...	Secret Service Chief
Michael Kennedy	...	Congressman Fletcher
David Londoner	...	Congressman Jones
Billy Dye	...	Waiter
Larry King	...	Himself
Amit Mehta	...	ABU Hunter
Greg Cooper	...	Ted Edwards
J. Scott Shonka	...	Cappy
Scoot Powell	...	Attorney
Catherine Shaffner	...	Patricia Lavameer
Stan Kelly	...	Alan
William L. Chandler	...	Personal Waiter
Liz Marks	...	Sheila
Robert Harvey	...	Lobbyist
Steve Hurwitz	...	Lobbyist
Ricardo Miguel Young	...	Reporter (as Ric Young)
Sherri Richmond	...	Reporter
Teresa Jones	...	Reporter (as Teresa Wells Jones)
Lynn West	...	Reporter
Dave Guertler	...	Reporter
Michael Goodwin	...	Reporter
Heather Rosbeck	...	Elaine Bidwell
Roderick Jimenez	...	Trevor
Donald 'Spec' Campen Jr.	...	Sergeant at Arms (as Donald Campen)
Justin Lewis	...	Producer
Fred Iacovo	...	Joe Smith
Dawn Westbrook	...	Secretary
Jolene Carroll	...	Maid
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Louis Ferreira	...	America Live Producer (as Justin Lewis)
Lucas N. Hall	...	Congressional Aid
Genia Morgan	...	Rep. Reginald Webster's Fling (scenes deleted)
Ryan Cafeo	...	Senate Page (uncredited)
Ashly Covington	...	Aide (uncredited)
David Cureton	...	Congressman (uncredited)
David Foster	...	Photographer (uncredited)
Rodney J. Hobbs	...	Congressman (uncredited)
Mark Hyde	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Raymond H. Johnson	...	News Photographer (uncredited)
Rick Kain	...	Congressional Aid (uncredited)
Michael Stanton Kennedy	...	Congressman X (uncredited)
Gerard Malbrough	...	Congressional Staffer (uncredited)
Denis Maloney	...	White House Photographer (uncredited)
Caryn Mower	...	Drowning Victim (uncredited)
Cynthia Webb	...	Nurse (uncredited)
Joseph M. West Jr.	...	Secret Service Agent (uncredited)

Directed by
Rod Lurie

Writing credits (WGA)
Rod Lurie		(written by)

Produced by
Stephanie Antosca	....	producer: Washington DC
Rainer Bienger	....	executive producer: Cinerenta (as Dr. Rainer Bienger)
Willi Bär	....	producer (as Willi Baer)
Marc Frydman	....	producer
Maurice Leblond	....	executive producer
Steve Loglisci	....	co-producer
Gary Oldman	....	executive producer
Scott Shiffman	....	co-producer
James Spies	....	producer
Douglas Urbanski	....	producer

Original Music by
Larry Groupé

Cinematography by
Denis Maloney

Film Editing by
Michael Jablow

Casting by
Mary Jo Slater

Production Design by
Alec Hammond		(as Alexander Hammond)

Art Direction by
Halina Gebarowicz

Set Decoration by
Eloise Crane Stammerjohn		(as Eloise Stammerjohn)

Costume Design by
Matthew Jacobsen

Makeup Department
Wyatt Belton	....	additional hair stylist
JoJo Guthrie	....	key hair stylist (as Jo-Jo Guthrie)
Marsha Lewis	....	hair department head
Alessandra Sampaolo	....	makeup department head
Fabrizio Sforza	....	makeup department head
Jo Jo Stephens	....	hair assistant: colorist, Joan Allens
Brandon Waggoner	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Erica Frauman	....	post-production supervisor
Oriana Robertson	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Marco Londoner	....	first assistant director
Aida Rodgers	....	second assistant director
Jamie Sheridan	....	second second assistant director (as James Sheridan)
Scooter Yancey	....	second unit director (uncredited)

Art Department
Jamie Bishop	....	additional on-set dresser (as James Bishop)
Cherie Bowers	....	on-set painter
Susan A. Burig	....	graphic designer (as Susan Burig)
Adam Caperton	....	additional on-set dresser
Harris Chandler	....	construction foreman
Michael R. Clark	....	scenic charge
Tim Crane	....	swing gang
Kelly Elam	....	art department coordinator
Thomas B. Grimes	....	additional on-set dresser (as Thomas Grimes)
Michael D. Harrell	....	property master (as Michael Harrell)
R. Mark Hughes	....	on-set dresser (as Mark Hughes)
Michael Ivey	....	art department production assistant (as Mike Ivey)
Andrea Levine	....	assistant property master
Gordon McVay	....	swing gang
Chad Mentzer	....	construction coordinator
Thomas C. Mentzer	....	construction coordinator
Curtis Moore	....	on-set painter
Dane Moore	....	swing gang
Angela Ratliff	....	greensperson
Jennie Hill Robinson	....	key greens
Stephen G. Shifflette	....	lead man
Richard F. Ward III	....	construction foreman (as Richard Ward III)

Sound Department
James Bailey	....	foley artist
Bruce Bell	....	adr mixer (as Bruce R. Bell)
Bruce Bell	....	foley mixer (as Bruce R. Bell)
Dean Beville	....	supervising dialogue editor
Matthew C. Beville	....	sound effects editor
David V. Butler	....	assistant sound editor
Guy Carbonneau	....	audio recording facilites: Le Mobile (as Guy Charbonneau)
Stephanie Flack	....	dialogue editor
Judee Flick	....	supervising adr editor
Stephen Hunter Flick	....	sound designer
Stephen Hunter Flick	....	sound supervisor
Alexandra Gonzales	....	dialogue editor
Dana Gustafson	....	foley editor
William Jacobs	....	sound effects editor (as Bill Jacobs)
Christopher S.P. Jones	....	cable person
Ryan Juggler	....	assistant sound editor (as Ryan B. Juggler)
Samuel Lehmer	....	sound re-recording mixer
Patricio A. Libenson	....	sound effects editor (as Patricio Libenson)
Jay Meagher	....	sound mixer
Jon Michaels	....	assistant sound editor
Ryan Murphy	....	sound recordist
Timothy Pearson	....	foley artist
Randy Pease	....	boom operator
Jeffrey Perkins	....	supervising sound re-recording mixer
James Wright	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Peter Brown	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Jamie Hardt	....	sound intern (uncredited)
Flavio Leocata	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Michael H. Clark	....	special effects technician
Gary Pilkinton	....	special effects foreman
Robert Vazquez	....	special effects supervisor
Barbara Vazquez	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Peter Koczera	....	senior digital artist

Stunts
Daniel W. Barringer	....	stunts (as Dan Barringer)
Loyd Catlett	....	stunt coordinator
Doug Coleman	....	stunts
Hubie Kerns Jr.	....	stunts (as Hubie Kerns)
Caryn Mower	....	stunts: drowning girl in car
Ronnie Rondell Jr.	....	stunts (as Ronnie Rondell)

Camera and Electrical Department
Peter Albert	....	digital video assist operator
Alan Aldridge	....	first assistant camera
Eric Bartsch	....	key grip
Michael Bonsignore	....	dolly grip
Frank Boone	....	grip
Jack Cooperman	....	underwater director of photography
Matt Doll	....	key rigging grip (as Matthew Doll)
Kent Eanes	....	still photographer
Max Fischer	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Michael Flynn	....	electrician
Matthew Haskins	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Matthew Hawkins	....	second assistant camera
Jennifer Hill	....	camera loader
David Jackson	....	electrician
Jay Kemp	....	gaffer
John Kimmer	....	grip
Charles Laughon	....	24 frame video operator (as Chaz Laughon)
Greg Martin	....	best boy grip
Gino Mifsud	....	still photographer
Robert Spencer	....	best boy electric
Michael C. Stailey	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera (as Michael Stailey)
Henry Tirl	....	Steadicam operator
Henry Tirl	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Russell A. Wicks	....	electrician (as Russell Wicks)
Tim Wicks	....	grip
Scooter Yancey	....	camera operator
Christopher A. Thompson	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Kate Hereford	....	extras casting
Sandy Holt	....	adr voice casting
Liz Marks	....	casting: East Coast
Christy Pracht	....	extras casting assistant
Carmen Tetzlaff	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Linda M. Boyland	....	set costumer (as Linda Boyland)
Sister A. Daniels	....	costume supervisor (as Sister Daniels)
Laura Downing	....	set costumer
Catharine Fletcher Incaprera	....	key costumer (as Catharine Incaprera)
Jennifer Rizzo	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Sven E. Fahlgren	....	post-production coordinator (as Sven E.M. Fahlgren)
Kindra Marra	....	assistant editor
Heather Mullen	....	first assistant editor
Laura Rindner	....	assistant editor
David C. Whitten	....	color timer (as Dave Whitten)

Music Department
Ted Barela	....	score recording crew
Charles Bouis	....	assistant score recording engineer
Charlie Bouis	....	score recordist
Bruce Donnelly	....	orchestrator
James Fahlgren	....	score recording crew
Arlene Fishbach	....	music consultant
Larry Groupé	....	orchestrator
Richard A. Harrison	....	music editor
Simon James	....	music contractor
Frank Macchia	....	orchestrator
David Sabee	....	orchestra contractor
Armin Steiner	....	score mixer
Armin Steiner	....	score recordist
Jason Taylor	....	assistant score recording engineer

Transportation Department
Arno Andrischok	....	driver
Ken Arrington	....	driver
Mike Barbour	....	driver
Robie Dowdy	....	driver
Brian Ellis	....	driver
Bob Foster	....	transportation coordinator (as Robert Foster)
Rob Foster	....	driver
James L. Garrett	....	driver (as James Garrett)
Hoot Gipson	....	driver
Ted Glenn	....	driver
Kris Golashesky	....	driver
April H. Grantham	....	driver (as April Grantham)
BJ Hallett	....	driver
Bobby Jones	....	driver
Bobby Jones	....	transportation captain
Albert Mitchell	....	driver
Robert Lee Mitchell	....	driver (as Lee Mitchell)
Shelly Newton	....	driver
Gerald Nuckols	....	driver (as Jerry Nuckols)
Riley Ordoyne	....	driver
Tinker Pickens	....	driver
Robert Proffitt	....	driver
Ellis Pryor	....	driver
Bobby Raikes	....	driver
Steve Robison	....	driver
Ted Robison	....	transportation captain
Ronald Taylor	....	driver
Darwin Witte	....	driver

Other crew
Jacqueline Astbury	....	stand-in
Veronique Bouedo	....	production assistant
Andrew Carnwath	....	production assistant
Amanda Curry	....	assistant accountant
John De Simio	....	publicist
Judy Dickerson	....	dialect coach: Gary Oldman
Jessica Driscoll	....	production secretary
Meghan Driscoll	....	assistant: Mr. Oldman
Michael E. Fajohn	....	medic: Virginia
Karen Golden	....	script supervisor
Dave Guertler	....	stand-in: Christian Slater
Jim Hanna	....	head chef
Nicola Hulme	....	assistant: Mr. Bridges
William J. Immerman	....	legal services: Kenoff & Machtinger
Susan Jones	....	assistant location manager
Jeff Juberget	....	production assistant
Harriet Katz-Stevens	....	post-production accountant
Victoria Lang	....	set production assistant
Matt Lawford	....	shortfall insurance
Sloane Lewis	....	production assistant
Amit Mehta	....	assistant: Mr. Lurie
Diana M. Mendenhall	....	production assistant
Brian Murphy	....	production assistant
Nathan Hutch Murray	....	production assistant
Robin O'Dell	....	stand-in: Joan Allen
Jeremy Roberts	....	paymaster
Christopher Rock	....	assistant location manager
Ken Roy	....	representative: Central VA Film Office
Gloria D. Ruiz	....	legal services: Kenoff & Machtinger
Nina Saxon	....	title designer: New Wave Entertainment
J. Bradley Smith	....	location manager (as Bradley Smith)
George Sweney	....	production accountant
Rex M. Teese	....	production assistant (as Rex Teese)
Carol Ann Thomas	....	production coordinator
Yori Tondrowski	....	production assistant
Dirk Vahle	....	helicopter pilot
Wade Whitman	....	location assistant
Ty Williams	....	production assistant
Rob Coughlin	....	gennyman (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Cinerenta Medienbeteiligungs KG (presents)
• Cinecontender (co-production)
• Battleground Productions (co-production)
• SE8 Group (in association with)
• Battlefield

Distributors

• DreamWorks Distribution (2000) (USA) (all media)
• DreamWorks Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• Alfa Films (2001) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Independent Films (2001) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Manga Films (2001) (Spain) (all media)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS) (rental)
• Argentina Video Home (2001) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2001) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Cinévia Films (France)
• DreamWorks Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS) (retail)
• Golden Scene (Hong Kong)
• Helkon Filmverleih GmbH (Germany)
• Icon Film Distribution (UK)
• Prooptiki Video (Greece) (DVD)
• Prooptiki Video (Greece) (VHS)
• Prooptiki (Greece)
• Sherlock Media S.L. (Spain)
• TF1 International (non-USA)
• Teleview International (2000) (Lebanon) (TV) (Middle East)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (Norway)
• Universal Studios Home Video (2001) (Canada) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Eagle Eye Digital Film  editing facilities
• Energy Film  stock footage
• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• Le Mobile  audio recording facilities
• Lightnin' Production Rentals  transportation equipment
• LoopEase  loop group
• Magic Film and Video Works  negative cutting
• New Wave Entertainment  main title design
• On-Set Digital  video assist equipment
• Studio City Productions  marketing and promotion (syndication)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexual content and language

Runtime:

126 min

Country:

USA | Germany | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Argentina:13 (theatrical rating) | Chile:14 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Netherlands:AL | Norway:11 | South Korea:18 | Spain:7 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | Finland:K-11 | Australia:M | USA:R (certificate #37565) | Iceland:L (theatrical rating) | Iceland:LH (video rating) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:14+ (Ontario) | Philippines:PG-13 | Portugal:M/12 | Peru:14 | Argentina:Atp (video rating)

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Company:

Cinerenta Medienbeteiligungs KG

Trivia:

Director Rod Lurie aid he first offered the lead role of President Jackson Evans to Paul Newman and then to Gregory Peck. Newman--then in semi-retirement--declined, as did Peck, claiming he was 'too damn old' for the role. In response, Lurie rewrote President Evans's character to be younger, and then cast 'Jeff Bridges'.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: When the Senator is going with her husband to meet the President for the first time, the Lincoln Memorial is clearly seen is the back window of the limo, indicating that they are leaving DC on the Memorial bridge, heading in the wrong direction.

Quotes:

President Jackson Evans:You're the future of the Democratic party. And you always will be.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Dinner for Five: Episode #1.3" (2002)

Where Lewinsky meets Lebowski

This may not be the greatest White House movie thriller ever - as its makers claim - but it is probably the most politically explicit. Gone are the days of Advise and Consent, when the opposing parties were simply referred to as the "majority" and "minority", and the movie aimed at non-partisan neutrality . Here, the administration is Democrat, and the film proudly wears its liberal heart on its sleeve. And the movie is all the better for this clarity and honesty.

Jeff Bridges is well cast as Jackson Evans, a President every bit as charismatic and opportunistic as Bill Clinton. Indeed, the whole movie can be seen as a take on the Monica Lewinsky saga, highlighting the manipulation and hypocrisy displayed on all sides at that time. (One mistake in the script is a direct reference to the Clinton impeachment vote; it is dangerous for parodies or satires to refer to the true stories on which they are based - it leads to a dislocation in the audience's point of view, and in this case to the awkward question - if this is a post-Clinton Democrat President, and he's coming to the end of his second term, in just what year is the action supposed to be taking place?!)

Given the White House shenanigans in recent years, it is surprising that some IMDb commenters should question the plausibility of the plot, which I feel stretches our credulity no further than most Hollywood thrillers. Joan Allen as vice-Presidential nominee Laine Hanson, and Gary Oldman as Shelly Runyon, her would-be character assassin, have strong parts and make the most of them - though personally I think it is Bridges' movie - but there is perhaps a little too much of Christian Slater in a curious role as Reginald Webster, a young, liberal, but seemingly anti-feminist, Democrat Congressman. The director, Rod Lurie, seems unable to make up his mind whether Webster should be portrayed as an overly-naive idealist, or an ambitious cynic with his eye on the main chance.

Overall, this is a fast-moving, enjoyable film, making the points that petty personal indiscretions should have little influence when it comes to power politics, and that it's about time the USA had a woman as President or at least a heart beat away.