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The Contender

  • 2000
  • R
  • 2h 6m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
25K
YOUR RATING
The Contender (2000)
Theatrical Trailer from Dreamworks
Play trailer2:24
1 Video
99+ Photos
DramaThriller

Senator Laine Hanson is a contender for U.S. Vice President, but information and disinformation about her past surfaces that threatens to derail her confirmation.Senator Laine Hanson is a contender for U.S. Vice President, but information and disinformation about her past surfaces that threatens to derail her confirmation.Senator Laine Hanson is a contender for U.S. Vice President, but information and disinformation about her past surfaces that threatens to derail her confirmation.

  • Director
    • Rod Lurie
  • Writer
    • Rod Lurie
  • Stars
    • Joan Allen
    • Gary Oldman
    • Jeff Bridges
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    25K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Rod Lurie
    • Writer
      • Rod Lurie
    • Stars
      • Joan Allen
      • Gary Oldman
      • Jeff Bridges
    • 388User reviews
    • 132Critic reviews
    • 59Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 1 win & 22 nominations total

    Videos1

    The Contender
    Trailer 2:24
    Watch The Contender

    Photos201

    Gary Oldman in The Contender (2000)
    Gary Oldman in The Contender (2000)
    Joan Allen, Jeff Bridges, Sam Elliott, and Saul Rubinek in The Contender (2000)
    Joan Allen and Mike Binder in The Contender (2000)
    Congressman Shelly Runyon discusses tactics with Congressman Reginald Webster
    Gary Oldman stars as Congressman Shelly Runyon
    Senator Laine Hansen is assisted at her confirmation hearings by her communications director Lewis Hollis
    Joan Allen stars as Senator Laine Hansen
    Sam Elliott stars as White House Chief of Staff Kermit Newman
    Gary oldman stars as Congressman Runyon
    William L. Petersen stars as Gov. Jack Hathaway, Sen. Hansen's main rival for the VP job
    Christian Slater stars as Congressman Webster

    Top cast

    Edit
    Joan Allen
    Joan Allen
    • Laine Hanson
    Gary Oldman
    Gary Oldman
    • Shelly Runyon
    Jeff Bridges
    Jeff Bridges
    • President Jackson Evans
    Christian Slater
    Christian Slater
    • Reginald Webster
    Sam Elliott
    Sam Elliott
    • Kermit Newman
    William Petersen
    William Petersen
    • Jack Hathaway
    Saul Rubinek
    Saul Rubinek
    • Jerry Tolliver
    Philip Baker Hall
    Philip Baker Hall
    • Oscar Billings
    Mike Binder
    Mike Binder
    • Lewis Hollis
    Robin Thomas
    Robin Thomas
    • William Hanson
    Mariel Hemingway
    Mariel Hemingway
    • Cynthia Charlton Lee
    Kathryn Morris
    Kathryn Morris
    • Paige Willomina
    Kristen Shaw
    Kristen Shaw
    • Fiona Hathaway
    Douglas Urbanski
    Douglas Urbanski
    • Makerowitz
    Noah Fryrear
    • Timmy
    Angelica Page
    Angelica Page
    • Dierdra
    • (as Angelica Torn)
    Joseph Lyle Taylor
    Joseph Lyle Taylor
    • Paul Smith
    • (as Joe Taylor)
    Kevin Geer
    Kevin Geer
    • Congressman Skakle
    • Director
      • Rod Lurie
    • Writer
      • Rod Lurie
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      President Barack Obama told Entertainment Weekly in 2008 that Jackson Evans (Jeff Bridges) was his favorite movie President.
    • Goofs
      Senator Hanson is seen jogging in what is undoubtedly meant to be Arlington National Cemetery. Jogging is not permitted in Arlington National Cemetery, and presumably a U.S. Senator would know better than to be seen disrespecting American veterans in such a way.
    • Quotes

      Laine Hanson: Principles only mean something when you stick to them when its inconvenient.

    • Crazy credits
      For our daughters
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Remember the Titans/The Exorcist: The Version You've Never Seen/Under Suspicion (2000)
    • Soundtracks
      Ring Of Fire
      Written by June Carter Cash (as June Carter) and Merle Kilgore

      Performed by Jeff Bridges and Kim Carnes

      Courtesy Of Ramp Records, LLC.

    User reviews388

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    A very accurate portrayal of women in politics
    The Contender is a film with the potential to take any conscientious person with even a mild interest in how governments are run , and who the leaders are through a non-stop roller-coaster ride of challenge, triumph, pain, failure, and morality. Although I intensely appreciated this movie, I do not believe this could have been an oscar-winning film because the truths it expresses with regards to the presence of women in high ranking political positions far outway its acting and directing talents, with the possible exception of Gary Oldman's role as Shelly Runyon, who was frighteningly convincing at being an absolutely awful man. I enjoyed this movie because of its intention to show what women in politics really face. The strength displayed by Laine Hanson (Joan Allen) while up for vice president is nothing short of inspirational. Gary Oldman's character provides us with a good idea of how manipulative and ruthless people can be when in a position of power and, ironically, when they have been put in a position to judge another's morality. This film seems so realistic that we tend to forget it's a movie. It makes us question, why does a person have to be surrounded by such controversy and be forced to take on such a defensive position, simply for being a woman? What I appreciated is the refusal of Hanson to succomb to the pressure of taking that defensive position, regardless of the truth. Of course, the other refreshing aspect in this movie is Jeff Bridges' role as an ideal president.

    All in all, it is a long overdue account of reality, with great character development but not recommended for those with short attention spans, as it is dialogue, and lots of it.
    helpful•26
    12
    • edith_gagne
    • Mar 26, 2001

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 13, 2000 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Germany
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Претендент
    • Filming locations
      • Santa Clarita, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Cinerenta Medienbeteiligungs KG
      • Cinecontender
      • Battleground Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $20,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $17,872,723
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $5,363,900
      • Oct 15, 2000
    • Gross worldwide
      • $22,428,990
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 6 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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