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IMDbPro

The Contender

  • 20002000
  • RR
  • 2h 6m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
24K
YOUR RATING
The Contender (2000)
Theatrical Trailer from Dreamworks
Play trailer2:24
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Drama
  • Thriller
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.
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
24K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Rod Lurie
  • Writer
    • Rod Lurie
  • Stars
    • Joan Allen
    • Gary Oldman
    • Jeff Bridges
Top credits
  • Director
    • Rod Lurie
  • Writer
    • Rod Lurie
  • Stars
    • Joan Allen
    • Gary Oldman
    • Jeff Bridges
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 387User reviews
    • 135Critic reviews
    • 59Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 1 win & 22 nominations total

    Videos1

    The Contender
    Trailer 2:24
    The Contender

    Photos200

    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 Hansonas Laine Hanson
    Gary Oldman
    Gary Oldman
    • Shelly Runyonas Shelly Runyon
    Jeff Bridges
    Jeff Bridges
    • President Jackson Evansas President Jackson Evans
    Christian Slater
    Christian Slater
    • Reginald Websteras Reginald Webster
    Sam Elliott
    Sam Elliott
    • Kermit Newmanas Kermit Newman
    William Petersen
    William Petersen
    • Jack Hathawayas Jack Hathaway
    Saul Rubinek
    Saul Rubinek
    • Jerry Tolliveras Jerry Tolliver
    Philip Baker Hall
    Philip Baker Hall
    • Oscar Billingsas Oscar Billings
    Mike Binder
    Mike Binder
    • Lewis Hollisas Lewis Hollis
    Robin Thomas
    Robin Thomas
    • William Hansonas William Hanson
    Mariel Hemingway
    Mariel Hemingway
    • Cynthia Charlton Leeas Cynthia Charlton Lee
    Kathryn Morris
    Kathryn Morris
    • Paige Willominaas Paige Willomina
    Kristen Shaw
    Kristen Shaw
    • Fiona Hathawayas Fiona Hathaway
    Douglas Urbanski
    Douglas Urbanski
    • Makerowitzas Makerowitz
    Noah Fryrear
    • Timmyas Timmy
    Angelica Page
    Angelica Page
    • Dierdraas Dierdra
    • (as Angelica Torn)
    Joseph Lyle Taylor
    Joseph Lyle Taylor
    • Paul Smithas Paul Smith
    • (as Joe Taylor)
    Kevin Geer
    Kevin Geer
    • Congressman Skakleas Congressman Skakle
    • Director
      • Rod Lurie
    • Writer
      • Rod Lurie
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details 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 At the Movies: 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 reviews387

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    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.
    helpful•20
    6
    • Geofbob
    • Apr 30, 2001

    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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