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IMDbPro

The Front Runner

  • 20182018
  • RR
  • 1h 53m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
14K
YOUR RATING
Hugh Jackman in The Front Runner (2018)
Follows the rise and fall of Senator Gary Hart (Hugh Jackman), who captured the imagination of young voters and was considered the front runner for the 1988 Democratic presidential nomination when his campaign was sidelined by the story of an extramarital relationship.
Play trailer2:19
15 Videos
66 Photos
BiographyDramaHistory
In 1987, U.S. Senator Gary Hart's presidential campaign is derailed when he's caught in a scandalous love affair.In 1987, U.S. Senator Gary Hart's presidential campaign is derailed when he's caught in a scandalous love affair.In 1987, U.S. Senator Gary Hart's presidential campaign is derailed when he's caught in a scandalous love affair.
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
14K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Jason Reitman
  • Writers
    • Matt Bai(based on the book "All The Truth Is Out" by)
    • Jay Carson
    • Jason Reitman
  • Stars
    • Hugh Jackman
    • Vera Farmiga
    • J.K. Simmons
  • Director
    • Jason Reitman
  • Writers
    • Matt Bai(based on the book "All The Truth Is Out" by)
    • Jay Carson
    • Jason Reitman
  • Stars
    • Hugh Jackman
    • Vera Farmiga
    • J.K. Simmons
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 124User reviews
    • 177Critic reviews
    • 61Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 5 nominations

    Videos15

    International Trailer
    Trailer 2:19
    Watch International Trailer
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:06
    Watch Official Trailer
    Sacrifice
    Clip 1:01
    Watch Sacrifice
    Ambushed
    Clip 1:01
    Watch Ambushed
    The Front Runner: Sacrificed
    Clip 1:01
    Watch The Front Runner: Sacrificed
    The Front Runner: Ambushed
    Clip 1:01
    Watch The Front Runner: Ambushed
    The Front Runner: Follow Me (Dutch Subtitled)
    Clip 0:56
    Watch The Front Runner: Follow Me (Dutch Subtitled)
    The Front Runner: Sacrifice (Dutch Subtitled)
    Clip 1:06
    Watch The Front Runner: Sacrifice (Dutch Subtitled)
    The Front Runner: Ambushed (Dutch Subtitled)
    Clip 1:06
    Watch The Front Runner: Ambushed (Dutch Subtitled)
    The Front Runner: Ambushed (French Subtitled)
    Clip 1:00
    Watch The Front Runner: Ambushed (French Subtitled)
    The Front Runner: Fresh Perspective (Featurette)
    Featurette 2:04
    Watch The Front Runner: Fresh Perspective (Featurette)
    The Front Runner: Stick To The Facts (Featurette)
    Featurette 1:37
    Watch The Front Runner: Stick To The Facts (Featurette)

    Photos66

     Molly Ephraim: May 22
    Mamoudou Athie at an event for The Front Runner (2018)
    Sara Paxton at an event for The Front Runner (2018)
    Hugh Jackman at an event for The Front Runner (2018)
    Molly Ephraim at an event for The Front Runner (2018)
    Sara Paxton at an event for The Front Runner (2018)
    Ari Graynor at an event for The Front Runner (2018)
    Tommy Dewey and Chris Coy at an event for The Front Runner (2018)
    Kaitlyn Dever at an event for The Front Runner (2018)
    Chris Coy at an event for The Front Runner (2018)
    Hugh Jackman and Jason Reitman at an event for The Front Runner (2018)
    The Front Runner (2018)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Hugh Jackman
    Hugh Jackman
    • Gary Hart
    Vera Farmiga
    Vera Farmiga
    • Lee Hart
    J.K. Simmons
    J.K. Simmons
    • Bill Dixon
    Mark O'Brien
    Mark O'Brien
    • Billy Shore
    Molly Ephraim
    Molly Ephraim
    • Irene Kelly
    Chris Coy
    Chris Coy
    • Kevin Sweeney
    Alex Karpovsky
    Alex Karpovsky
    • Mike Stratton
    Josh Brener
    Josh Brener
    • Doug Wilson
    Tommy Dewey
    Tommy Dewey
    • John Emerson
    Kaitlyn Dever
    Kaitlyn Dever
    • Andrea Hart
    Oliver Cooper
    Oliver Cooper
    • Joe Trippi
    Jenna Kanell
    Jenna Kanell
    • Ginny Terzano
    RJ Brown
    RJ Brown
    • Bill Martin
    Alfred Molina
    Alfred Molina
    • Ben Bradlee
    Mamoudou Athie
    Mamoudou Athie
    • AJ Parker
    Ari Graynor
    Ari Graynor
    • Ann Devroy
    John Bedford Lloyd
    John Bedford Lloyd
    • David Broder
    Steve Coulter
    Steve Coulter
    • Bob Kaiser
    • Director
      • Jason Reitman
    • Writers
      • Matt Bai(based on the book "All The Truth Is Out" by)
      • Jay Carson
      • Jason Reitman
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The film was made with only technology that was available in the 80's.
    • Goofs
      The film begins in 1984 then the screen displays "4 years later" but it actually picks up in early 1987.
    • Quotes

      Gary Hart: This campaign is about the future. Not rumors, not sleaze, and I care about the sanctity of this process, *whether you do or do not*!

    • Crazy credits
      The film opens with the 1984 Columbia Pictures logo.
    • Connections
      Featured in CTV News at 11:30 Toronto: Episode dated 8 September 2018 (2018)
    • Soundtracks
      Salute to the President
      (aka "Decision '84")

      Written by Henry Mancini

      Performed by Henry Mancini

      Courtesy of Henry Mancini Enterprises, Inc.

    User reviews124

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    5/10
    a blip in history
    Greetings again from the darkness. Jason Reitman has proven himself to be an outstanding filmmaker who delivers entertaining stories with insightful commentary often accompanied by biting humor. His excellent films include: THANK YOU FOR SMOKING, JUNO, UP IN THE AIR, and one of this year's most underappreciated films, TULLY. His latest is based on the book "All the Truth is Out" by Matt Bai (who also co-wrote the screenplay with Reitman and "House of Cards" Producer Jay Carson), and it tells the story of Colorado Senator Gary Hart and his derailed 1988 campaign for President.

    The film begins in 1984 when an idealistic Hart loses the Democrat party nomination to Walter Mondale, who of course, went on to lose the national election to Ronald Reagan. It then picks up as the 1988 campaign is underway and Hart is the party frontrunner, and some say the candidate most likely to win the Presidency. Hugh Jackson plays Hart and is unfortunately burdened with an ill-fitting and distracting wig meant to emulate the lush locks sported by the youthful looking Senator. Vera Famiga plays his wife Lee, and Kaitlyn Dever plays their daughter Andrea. Casting two such fine actresses matters because of what happened during the campaign.

    Senator Hart was the favored candidate of the young and the idealistic forces, though the details of his platform were never communicated clearly. Mostly, he was presented as the energetic candidate of hope versus the stodgy Republican Party that had delivered Ronald Regan for 8 years and was now looking to George Herbert Walker Bush. Everything changed for Hart when rumors of marital infidelity, and possibly even an open marriage, began to circulate. When the media asked him, he was defiant ... at times snapping in anger that his personal life was no one's business.

    We are taken inside the campaign via many familiar faces, including campaign manager Bill Dixon played by JK Simmons, and a terrific turn by Molly Ephraim as staffer Irene Kelly. We are invited on board the aptly named party yacht "Monkey Business" when Hart first meets Donna Rice (Sara Paxton), setting off what could considered be the birth of political gossip-columns. The Herald and Washington Post are key players here, as are editor Ben Bradlee (Alfred Molina) and iconic journalist Bob Woodward. Apparently this is supposed to show us how politics and the media coverage of politics changed with Gary Hart.

    Where the movie lets us down is in not providing any explanation to why Hart was the front runner, whether the U.S. or even the democratic party missed out on a great (or even competent) President, and how in the world Hart was so clueless as to why citizens might have an interest in his personal life activities that included sleeping with a woman (or women) that weren't his wife. By the way, the reason for the last one is character ... and we've since learned it's not as important as what we might have once thought. These are all key issues as to why this is even a story, and whether or not it's interesting enough to re-tell.

    Instead of details, we are bombarded with overlapping dialogue and frenetic editing designed to generate some buzz and energy. The reality is that Gary Hart was really not that interesting, and in fact, by denying the importance of character, he thumbed his nose at his supporters. This blip on American history is simply not enough to justify a 2 hour a movie, and Mr. Jackman never seems able to capture the essence of Hart (whatever that essence might have been). There is obvious relevance to how today's press treats personal stories, but a bland candidate makes for a bland movie.
    helpful•17
    8
    • ferguson-6
    • Nov 16, 2018

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 21, 2018 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Canada
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • 爆料世代
    • Filming locations
      • Atlanta, Georgia, USA
    • Production companies
      • Columbia Pictures
      • Stage 6 Films
      • BRON Studios
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $2,000,105
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $51,543
      • Nov 11, 2018
    • Gross worldwide
      • $3,242,235
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 53 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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