The vice-president of the USA is dead. The President (Jeff Bridges) needs a replacement. The shoe-in would appear to be Governor Hathaway (William Petersen), a war hero adored by politicians, public and media - but the President has other ideas. He wants to give the post to a woman: Senator Laine Hanson(Joan Allen). He wants a change in the body politik of America. And he knows it's not going to be easy.
The Contender's premise is, in itself, something of a curate's egg in that it deals ostensibly not so much with contenders but with pre-selected people and further still, it is for the hardly coveted position of vice-president - a job that no-one need be assassinated for!. But then - this isn't really what the movie's about. No, this is a 'what if' film: What if a woman rose to a position of potential supreme power in the good ol' US of? And, as such, it's an interesting diversion.
Now, writing as a British left-winger (I mean, are Democrats really left wing!?) even I could see the bias in this movie. The right is represented (almost solely) by the figure of Republican, Shelley Runyon (Gary Oldman) and despite Oldman's typically skilled and mannered performance, the character is thinly one-dimensional and myopically vindictive; factors which question how he rose to the prominence he appears to enjoy in his party. One suspects - knowing Oldman's leftist leanings and the fact that he was co-producer - that he over-relished presenting the right as a band of intellectual fascists and somewhat over-egged his cake in the process.
Despite this major flaw (and a collection of tenuous narrative and plot developments) the film serves it's central premise pretty well. As a hypothetical diatribe on what might befall a female who could become the President of the world's most influential country, it hits the mark with a series of vignettes in which no holds are barred (the abortion question during the hearing is a particularly vicious example). The performance of Allen is a boost in this argument too. She has consistently been the best screen actress in America over the last half decade and she displays an inner integrity which serves her character well here. Indeed, on the whole, the acting is first rate. Bridge's maverick, laid back President might be Lebowski with a shave in the oval office - but it's charming and disarming in equal measure. And PLEASE don't allow yourself to be kidded by the belief that Kennedy, Clinton and Dubya didn't/don't behave in some or most part like this. Elliot, Petersen and notably Slater as an underwritten 'youthful conscience' all give solid support and it is really as an ensemble piece that this project scores.
As a thriller, however, it is flawed and eventually far-fetched and too many loose ends are tied up in a clinically convenient fashion. But it's intriguing never the less. And it's central argument - that a woman standing for vice-president would be given nothing short of a torrid time by the chauvinist, patriarchal politicians of the States (beware, Hilary) - is surely strongly founded indeed!
The Contender's premise is, in itself, something of a curate's egg in that it deals ostensibly not so much with contenders but with pre-selected people and further still, it is for the hardly coveted position of vice-president - a job that no-one need be assassinated for!. But then - this isn't really what the movie's about. No, this is a 'what if' film: What if a woman rose to a position of potential supreme power in the good ol' US of? And, as such, it's an interesting diversion.
Now, writing as a British left-winger (I mean, are Democrats really left wing!?) even I could see the bias in this movie. The right is represented (almost solely) by the figure of Republican, Shelley Runyon (Gary Oldman) and despite Oldman's typically skilled and mannered performance, the character is thinly one-dimensional and myopically vindictive; factors which question how he rose to the prominence he appears to enjoy in his party. One suspects - knowing Oldman's leftist leanings and the fact that he was co-producer - that he over-relished presenting the right as a band of intellectual fascists and somewhat over-egged his cake in the process.
Despite this major flaw (and a collection of tenuous narrative and plot developments) the film serves it's central premise pretty well. As a hypothetical diatribe on what might befall a female who could become the President of the world's most influential country, it hits the mark with a series of vignettes in which no holds are barred (the abortion question during the hearing is a particularly vicious example). The performance of Allen is a boost in this argument too. She has consistently been the best screen actress in America over the last half decade and she displays an inner integrity which serves her character well here. Indeed, on the whole, the acting is first rate. Bridge's maverick, laid back President might be Lebowski with a shave in the oval office - but it's charming and disarming in equal measure. And PLEASE don't allow yourself to be kidded by the belief that Kennedy, Clinton and Dubya didn't/don't behave in some or most part like this. Elliot, Petersen and notably Slater as an underwritten 'youthful conscience' all give solid support and it is really as an ensemble piece that this project scores.
As a thriller, however, it is flawed and eventually far-fetched and too many loose ends are tied up in a clinically convenient fashion. But it's intriguing never the less. And it's central argument - that a woman standing for vice-president would be given nothing short of a torrid time by the chauvinist, patriarchal politicians of the States (beware, Hilary) - is surely strongly founded indeed!