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The contender

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Movie propaganda

Sometimes you can assassinate a leader without firing a shot.

USA Senator Laine Hanson's (Joan Allen) nomination to the role of Vice President is jeopardised when a sex scandal in her past is revealed. Further impeding her are various congressmen determined never to see a woman rise to the top office.

Also starring Jeff Bridges as President Jackson Evans, Gary Oldman as Congressman Sheldon Runyon, Sam Elliott as Kermit Newman, Christian Slater as Congressman Reginald Webster, Robin Thomas William Hanson, Mike Binder as Lewis Hollis, William Petersen as Governor Jack Hathaway, Mariel Hemingway as Cynthia Lee, Saul Rubinek as Jerry Tolliver and Kristen Shaw as Fiona Hathaway. Written and directed by Rod Lurie.

Cinematic intelligence sources

Awards and film festivals:

Broadcast Film Critics Association 2001: Won: Alan J Pakula award

The contender official movie site
Studios and distributors:

Paramount Pictures

Intelligence analyst

Special Agent Matti

Theatrical report

Politics.

Which is to say back-stabbing, in-fighting, deal-making, hypocrisy, lying and sex. What, you thought politicians go into politics to make the world a better place?

Joan rips out a ripper of a performance as the besieged but principled Senator (some people with principles do slip through the net and make it to government). She is strong, forceful, feminine, empowered and human. She's an iron lady who feels ever sling and arrow of outrageous fortune, and lets you see it writ subtly in her stance, in her eyes, in her soul. Jeff comes across as surprisingly presidential: he's a post-Clinton, post-Bush baby boomer with an agenda, a determination and a conscience that doesn't get out of hand.

If you have ever looked at a politician and wondered how a human being could be so evil (think John Howard) then you should watch The contender and have your worst fears and your greatest hopes confirmed. This is hard core drama with the strength to make you get up and do something with your life.