The Contender (2000)

Director

• Rod Lurie

Starring

• Joan Allen
• Gary Oldman
• Jeff Bridges
• Sam Elliot
• Christian Slater

Last On

01:05-03:10 Tue 27th Jan 2009 125m
Channel 4

Synopsis

Former film critic Rod Lurie makes an assured second feature (his debut was 1999's Deterrence) with this streetwise insight into both the predatory nature of Washington power-broking and the increasingly base motives of contemporary journalism. In a part written especially for her, Joan Allen gives an Oscar-nominated performance as the senator selected by popular president Jeff Bridges (also nominated) to succeed his recently deceased vice-president. Lurie wisely restrains the scene-stealing antics of Gary Oldman, who as the veteran committee chair seeks to discredit Allen in favour of his own candidate. But Lurie's decision to tack on a flag-waving finale, after so much shrewd pseudo-satire, is disappointing.