The Contender
The Contender theatrical poster
Directed by	Rod Lurie
Produced by	James Spies Douglas Urbanski Willi Bär Marc Frydman
Written by	Rod Lurie
Starring	Gary Oldman Joan Allen Jeff Bridges Christian Slater Sam Elliott William L. Petersen Saul Rubinek Philip Baker Hall Mike Binder Robin Thomas Mariel Hemingway Kathryn Morris
Music by	Larry Groupé
Cinematography	Denis Maloney
Editing by	Michael Jablow
Distributed by	- USA - DreamWorks - UK - Icon Entertainment (theatrical) Warner Home Video (DVD) - Australia - Paramount Pictures
Release date(s)	October 13, 2000
Running time	126 minutes
Country	USA
Language	English
Budget	$9,000,000 USD
IMDb profile

For other uses of this term, see Contender.

The Contender (2000) is a political thriller directed by Rod Lurie about a US Democratic President and the events surrounding his appointment of a new Vice President. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 404 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (509 × 755 pixel, file size: 51 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) This image is of a poster, and the copyright for it is most likely owned by either the publisher or the creator of the work depicted. ... Rod Lurie (born 1962) is an American director, screenwriter and former film critic. ... Douglas Urbanski (born 17 February 1957 in Somerville, New Jersey) is a theatre impresario, raconteur and film producer. ... Rod Lurie (born 1962) is an American director, screenwriter and former film critic. ... Gary Oldman (born Leonard Gary Oldman on March 21, 1958 in New Cross, London, England) is an Emmy Award-nominated, BAFTA Award-winning English film actor, writer and director. ... Joan Allen in a scene from The Contender Joan Allen (b. ... Jeffrey Leon Bridges (born December 4, 1949 in Los Angeles, California) is an Academy Award-nominated American actor. ... Christian Slater (born August 18, 1969) is an American actor. ... Sam Elliott (born Samuel Pack Elliott on August 9, 1944 in Sacramento, California) is an American film and television actor, usually recognised by his tall, thin, rough-hewn physique, a thick handlebar moustache and a gruff speaking voice. ... William Petersen, an American actor, was born on February 21, 1953, in Evanston, Illinois. ... Saul Rubinek (born July 2, 1948) is a German-born Canadian film actor, often cast as a shady professional. ... Philip Baker Hall (born September 10, 1931) is an American screen actor. ... Mike at his ranch; 2005 Mike Binder was born February 7, 1955 in Sacremento, California to Anderson and Noreen Binder, both talented pediatricians. ... Robin Thomas (b. ... On the cover of Playboy, April 1982 Mariel Hadley Hemingway (born November 22, 1961 in Mill Valley, California, USA) is an American actress. ... Kathryn Morris (born January 28, 1969) is an American actress. ... This article is about the film studio. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American motion picture production and distribution company, based in Hollywood, California. ... October 13 is the 286th day of the year (287th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... ISO 4217 Code USD User(s) the United States, the British Indian Ocean Territory,[1] the British Virgin Islands, Cambodia, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Panama, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the insular areas of the United States Inflation 2. ... A contender is a stock character found in stories and films depicting the development and triumph of an individual through athletic achievement. ... This is a list of film-related events in 2000. ... Rod Lurie (born 1962) is an American director, screenwriter and former film critic. ... Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... The Democratic Party is one of two major political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. ...

Story

"Sometimes you can assassinate a leader without firing a shot."

The President, in the wake of his Vice President's death, is seeking the confirmation of his replacement. President Evans considers nominating a loyal Governor of Virginia, Jack Hathaway, to the position. However, when Hathaway witnesses a car drive off a bridge, tries to save the driver and fails, the President drops him, claiming that his administration can't afford another Chappaquiddick. The President then nominates a talented female Senator as his vice president, only to see her accused of sexual immorality by Republicans, possibly with the help of his first choice for VP. Refusing to dignify the ever-escalating attacks with a response, the Vice Presidential nominee poses a tough question: would having adventuresome sex as a college student even be an issue at all if she were a man? The Chappaquiddick Incident refers to the circumstances surrounding the 1969 death of Mary Jo Kopechne, a campaign worker for U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts. ...

Cast and characters

• Gary Oldman as Rep. Sheldon Runyon (R-IL). Runyon is a conservative Republican who leads the attack on the nominee, namely by leaking rumors on the Internet, overseeing accusations of prostitution, and challenging the nominee's liberal position on abortion.

• Joan Allen as Sen. Laine Billings Hanson (D-OH). The nominee for Vice President. She is a Republican-turned-Democrat who fiercely guards her privacy, although it is later revealed the rumours surrounding her personal life are false. A coincidence is that Joan Allen had one of her very first jobs ever as an actress working for producer Douglas Urbanski in Chicago in the late 1970's.

• Jeff Bridges as President Jackson Evans. In the DVD commentary, Lurie explained the President does not have a confrontational personality, but relies on his charm to achieve his aims. Laurie's first choice was Paul Newman. Producer Douglas Urbanski objected to that idea and suggested Jeff Bridges instead.

• Sam Elliott as Chief of Staff Kermit Newman. Inside man to Jackson Evans, Democratic watch dog, and is President Evans' most trusted aide. Oversees Senator Hanson's confirmation for the President.

• Christian Slater as Rep. Reginald Webster (D-DE). A Democrat who allies with Runyon to defeat the nominee. He later allies with the President.

• William Petersen as Governor Jack Hathaway (D-VA). A popular Democrat and the President's heir-apparent. He has good relations with Runyon and is Runyon's preference for the Vice Presidency. Hathaway is also motivated by his decidedly ambitious wife. Also, Hathaway turns out to be a corrupt individual, providing one of the final twists in this film.

• Kathryn Morris as Special Agent Paige Willomina. A clever FBI agent who collects information leading to the revelation of Governor Hathaway's liability in the car tragedy victim's death, to the complete surprise of many.

• Mike Binder as Lewis Hollis. He is Laine Hanson's Legal Counsel.

• Robin Thomas as Will Hanson. He is the husband of Laine Billings Hanson and Campaign Manager. He was previously married and had an affair with then Laine Billings while campaigning for Senator.

• Saul Rubinek as Jerry Toliver. He is a Democrat and Press Secretary to President Evans.

• Philip Baker Hall as Oscar Billings. He is Laine Hanson's father and former Republican Governor of Ohio.

Gary Oldman (born Leonard Gary Oldman on March 21, 1958 in New Cross, London, England) is an Emmy Award-nominated, BAFTA Award-winning English film actor, writer and director. ... This article deals with conservatism as a political philosophy. ... The Republican Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States of America, along with the Democratic Party. ... Look up rumour in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Whore redirects here. ... Look up liberal on Wiktionary, the free dictionary Liberal may refer to: Politics: Liberalism American liberalism, a political trend in the USA Political progressivism, a political ideology that is for change, often associated with liberal movements Liberty, the condition of being free from control or restrictions Liberal Party, members of... Joan Allen in a scene from The Contender Joan Allen (b. ... Joan Allen in a scene from The Contender Joan Allen (b. ... Douglas Urbanski (born 17 February 1957 in Somerville, New Jersey) is a theatre impresario, raconteur and film producer. ... Jeffrey Leon Bridges (born December 4, 1949 in Los Angeles, California) is an Academy Award-nominated American actor. ... DVD (Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc) is an optical disc storage media format that can be used for data storage, including movies with high video and sound quality. ... Paul Leonard Newman (born January 26, 1925) is an Academy Award, Golden Globe, Cannes Award, and Emmy Award-winning American actor and film director. ... Douglas Urbanski (born 17 February 1957 in Somerville, New Jersey) is a theatre impresario, raconteur and film producer. ... Jeffrey Leon Bridges (born December 4, 1949 in Los Angeles, California) is an Academy Award-nominated American actor. ... Sam Elliott (born Samuel Pack Elliott on August 9, 1944 in Sacramento, California) is an American film and television actor, usually recognised by his tall, thin, rough-hewn physique, a thick handlebar moustache and a gruff speaking voice. ... Christian Slater (born August 18, 1969) is an American actor. ... William Louis Petersen (born February 21, 1953) is an American actor, best known for playing Gil Grissom on CSI. // Petersen was born in Evanston, Illinois of Danish ancestry. ... Kathryn Morris (born January 28, 1969) is an American actress. ... Mike at his ranch; 2005 Mike Binder was born February 7, 1955 in Sacremento, California to Anderson and Noreen Binder, both talented pediatricians. ... Robin Thomas (b. ... Saul Rubinek (born July 2, 1948) is a German-born Canadian film actor, often cast as a shady professional. ... Philip Baker Hall (born September 10, 1931) is an American screen actor. ...

Reactions

According to Rotten Tomatoes, a majority of film critics endorsed The Contender. Among the majority is Roger Ebert, who called it "one of those rare movies where you leave the theater having been surprised and entertained, and then start arguing." The film was also nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Roger Joseph Ebert (June 18, 1942) is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American film critic. ... Academy Award The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, are the most prominent and most watched film awards ceremony in the world. ... The Academy Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role is one of the awards given to actresses working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; nominations are made by Academy members who are actors and actresses. ... The Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor is one of the awards given to male actors working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; nominations are made by Academy members who are actors and actresses. ...

The film has also been the subject of controversy, as some viewers see it as liberal propaganda. The accusation stems from the fact that the President and Senator Hanson, the primary protagonists, are both Democrats, and the primary antagonist is the Republican Runyon, played by Gary Oldman. In an October 2000 issue of Premiere magazine British citizen Oldman criticized the final product. He alleged that editing cuts were made due to the studio's Democratic leanings. Oldman and the film's producer, Douglas Urbanski, accuse DreamWorks heads Steven Spielberg, David Geffen, and Jeffrey Katzenberg - all Democrats - of "turning the political drama upside down to make it mesh with their pro-Al Gore agendas". "If your names are Spielberg, Katzenberg, and Geffen," Urbanski declared, "you can't have a film with a Republican character … who is at all sympathetic … being released on October 13 (less than a month before the Presidential election)." Oldman claimed when DreamWorks bought the film rights, the company forced director/writer Rod Lurie to turn The Contender into an unbalanced, "Democrat-friendly tale". DreamWorks spokesman Walter Parkes denied the charges. "There's no indication to me whatsoever that Rod [Lurie] ever felt pressured" and that "One only has to look at the coverage of the [Democratic] convention to see that the owners of this company have sympathies with the Democratic Party. Did those sympathies enter into the editorial process...or the decision to buy the movie? Unequivocally, no." Soviet Propaganda Poster during the World War II. The text reads Red Army Fighter, SAVE US! Chinese propaganda poster from during the Cultural Revolution. ... The protagonist is the central figure of a story, and is often referred to as a storys main character. ... An ... Gary Oldman (born Leonard Gary Oldman on March 21, 1958 in New Cross, London, England) is an Emmy Award-nominated, BAFTA Award-winning English film actor, writer and director. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Premiere is an American and New York City-based film magazine published by Hachette Filipacchi Médias, beginning publication in 1987. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Douglas Urbanski (born 17 February 1957 in Somerville, New Jersey) is a theatre impresario, raconteur and film producer. ... This article is about the film studio. ... Steven Allan Spielberg KBE (born December 18, 1946)[1] is an American film director and producer. ... David Lawrence Geffen (born February 21, 1943) is a record executive, film and theatrical producer, and philanthropist. ... Jeffrey Katzenberg (born December 21, 1950 in New York City) is an American film producer and Chief Executive Officer of DreamWorks Animation SKG. He is perhaps most famous for his period as studio chairman at The Walt Disney Company, and for producing the movie Shrek (2001). ... The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. ... October 13 is the 286th day of the year (287th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Rod Lurie (born 1962) is an American director, screenwriter and former film critic. ...

Quotes

• Shelly Runyon: We're both sticking to our guns. The difference is, mine are loaded.

• Timmy Hanson: Yeah, being the vice president is better than being the president.
  President Evans: Oh, I'm sure you're right.
  Timmy Hanson: 'Cause nobody wants to shoot the vice president.

• Shelly Runyon: I do. And what I say, the people will believe. And you know why? Because I'll have a very big microphone in front of me.

• Sen. Laine Billings Hanson: Principles only mean something if you stick by them when they're inconvenient.

Source

• CyberAlert, Oldman reactions

External links

• The Contender at the Internet Movie Database
• Washington Post Film Review