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Actors: Joan Allen, Jeff Bridges, Gary Oldman
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about The Contender |
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The Vice President has died in office, and President Jackson Evans (Bridges) nominates a woman, Senator Laine Hanson (Allen), to replace him. The confirmation process turns ugly, however: rumors of a video that show Hansen participating in an orgy as a 19-year-old in college surface, and Republican Senator Sheldon Runyon (Oldman), who would prefer to see Governor Jack Hathaway (Petersen) as the new Vice President, holds hearings on the matter. Hanson must decide whether to go the high road and stick by her principles or fight back (and dirty) against the charges. This is a solid 2000 political thriller that never quite gets beyond very good. Allen is particularly fine, and Oldman hams it up a bit as a crusty conservative.
--David Loftus, Resident Scholar
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After the death of the Vice-President of the United States, the current president (Jeff Bridges) must select a candidate to fill the position. However his selection, Senator Hansen (Joan Allen) causes more trouble than expected when Committee Chairman (Gary Oldman) opposes her by bringing scandelous material to the committee's attention in order to discredit her and select a different candidate. A very well thought out movie with a great storyline. I thoroughly enjoyed Oldman's character as a conservative, pro-life man concerned with the national good, even though he is portrayed as the antagonist. Overall an excellent film, with a interesting twist at the end.
--Evan, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of The Contender |
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Movie
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 60%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40%
Time/Era of Movie:
- 1980's-1999
Legal/Political Thriller?
Yes
Political Plotlets:
- power struggle between good/bad govt factions
- govt officials abusing power
Taboo Sex Story?
Yes
Kind of story:
- orgies!
Legal Thriller Plotlets:
- finding out whether someone is really guilty
Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Profession/status:
- politician/elected ruler
Age:
- 40's-50's
Hair color?
- blonde
Hair style
- medium/shoulderlgn, wavy (woman)
Body type
- skinny (woman)
Events of movie makes character more...
- happy
- tougher
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Hair color
- brunette (Brown)
Hair style
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- average build (man)
How much in movie?
- 40%
- 60%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- politician/elected ruler
Eccentric:
Yes
- obsessed
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 40%
Hair color
- brunette (Brown)
Hair type
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- skinny (man)
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Setting
United States
Yes
City?
Yes
City:
- Washington D.C.
Misc setting
- fancy mansion
- resort/hotel
- building
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- non-gory references to death/punishment
Movie makes you feel...
- encouraged
Sex/nudity in movie?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- orgies
- seeing breasts
- seeing nude female butt
- seeing full frontal--women
Unusual forms of death
- drowned
Any profanity?
- Some foul language
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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