The Contender

Starring: Joan Allen, Gary Oldman, Sam Elliott, Christian Slater and Jeff Bridges

Director: Rod Laurie

Running Time: 126mins

Out to rent on Video or buy on DVD 29th October

After the untimely death of the Vice President, President Jackson Evans (Bridges) chooses Senator Laine Hanson (Allen) as his contender of the position. This does not go down well with the rest of Congress however and Senator Shelly Runyon (Oldman) is going to do everything in his power to make sure Hanson never gains the Vice-Presidency, including using a sexual smear campaign.

What starts off as a compelling high power drama slowly turns into a 'God Bless America' movie that really wants to salute it patriotism and show the world how American is setting the bench mark in equal rights and the right to choose. A really good ensemble cast is let down by a script that may appeal to the American's but the rest of the world will just see it as another result of the country having it's head up it's own arse.

Jeff Bridges and Gary Oldman do shine however and the rest of the cast are extremely watchable, but this can do nothing for the terribly over nationalistic ending that ruins what could have been a great political drama.

Commentary by Director Rod Lurie and Actress Joan Allen, Production Notes, Theatrical Trailer, "HBO First Look" Making Of & Deleted Footage

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