THE CONTENDER
US, 2000, 126 minutes, Colour.
Joan Allen, Gary Oldman, Jeff Bridges, Christian Slater, Sam Elliott, William Petersen, Saul Rubinek, Philip Baker Hall, Mike Binder, Robin Thomas, Mariel Hemingway, Kathryn Morris.
Directed by Rod Lurie.
One of the famous quotations from classic films is "I could have been a contender". It comes from On the Waterfront, spoken by Marlon Brando as Terry Molloy. He is talking about boxing. The contenders in The Contender are politicians, tougher and sometimes more vicious fighters than any in the sporting ring. And, while they may not lay a hand on an opponent, they are going for the complete knockout.
We have recently seen the confusion and squabbles of the American election and its uncertain aftermath. We have seen the Clinton years with their mixture of achievement and constant threat to the unpredictable president. American politics holds a continual fascination for the rest of the world. Here is a two-hour glimpse that is both intriguing and scandalising. It is full of dirty tricks, muck-raking, with rough tactics and rough language. Yet, it is generally a powerful insight into America and its democracy in action.
Joan Allen is not a prominent Hollywood star but has received Oscar nominations in recent years for her roles as Elizabeth Proctor in The Crucible and Pat Nixon in Nixon. She is a versatile and talented actor and received another Oscar nomination for this performance. Here she plays Senator Laine Hanson, daughter of a former state governor, who has moved from the Republican party to the Democrats. When the Vice-President? dies in office, the president (Jeff Bridges in a performance that could reveal some of the toughness under the smooth Clinton-like surface) must appoint a substitute who is to be examined and approved by a confirmation committee. He nominates Laine Hanson.
She seems an ideal choice. However, a skilled Republican (Gary Oldman is very persuasive) who resents having once lost to the President and finds the senator's liberal stances (especially on pro-choice) and her being a woman in power quite abhorrent. He discovers a sex scandal in her past and exploits it on the internet as well as in the press. What happens - and here is one of the film's main messages - is that she insists that her private life is her own and has no bearing on her political position. She refuses to answer the questions. She states that in acknowledging that people could ask them, she would be opening floodgates of invasion of privacy. With the experience of the Lewinsky scandal, this issue needs serious consideration.
There is much more in the plot than Senator Hanson's interrogation. Another candidate for Vice President (William Peterson) has become a national hero in trying to rescue a girl who went off a bridge into a river. A young House of Representatives Democrat (Christian Slater) joins in the attack on Senator Hanson. The White House advisers take an active part in investigating backgrounds of candidates and enemies. The FBI is also investigating.
At times, the film goes in for patriotic American rhetoric, especially in the Senator's speech on her values (they are those of the contemporary liberal who relies on personal integrity rather than on any religious tradition) and in the President's final address to the Congress. Nevertheless, this well acted-film, despite the rhetoric, is an absorbing look at the contemporary United States.
1.A film about American politics? The state of the US, 2000? American politics before President Bush, before September 11, 2001?
2.The Washington settings, the White House, the Capitol? Virginia, homes? The surrounding countryside? The bridge and the river? The musical score?
3.The title, the adversarial tone? Laine Hanson’s principles?
4.The points of view of the Democrats, policies, principles? Left of centre? Laine Hanson’s stances, liberal, atheist, individualist, life choices, pro-choice, the separation of church and state? Her speech to the Senate hearing declaring those principles? The response of a more conservative Republican audience? Impact on overseas audiences – the American patriotism at the end?
5.The accusation against Laine Hanson, the rumours, the senator leaking them, the photos, the articles, the scandals and sexuality? The American people’s response to these revelations? Their more Calvinistic and puritanical response? Her consideration that they were beneath her dignity? Her giving the example of the House of Un-American? Activities and the man commenting on issues and opening up accusations for others? The irony of the truth and of what she really did? Her being a woman of principle? Her comments on the right to privacy, and no right to media or Senate inquiry intrusion?
6.The prologue and Jack Hathaway, fishing, his assistant, the crash, diving into the water? The television interviews, the possibility of becoming vice-president? His audience with Jackson Evans? His being told he was not a candidate? His wife’s reaction, her pushiness? Her meeting with Shelley Runyon? The double-talk? The FBI interviewer, her questions? Probing, the truth? The president setting him up, his fall? His being charged, the repercussions?
7.The introduction to Laine, the sexual encounter with her husband, the revelation of the past affair with him, the hurt to her good friend? Her apology? Her comments about love and it being irrational? Being called to the White House, she and her husband meeting the president? Her manner, presence, competence, ability to become vice-president? The discussion with the president, with his assistants, with Kermit? Jerry being present? The situation, the strategic plan? The humorous comment about the president getting any food that he liked and trying to trap the cook?
8.The portrait of the president, in himself, shrewd, his tribute to his dead vice-president, tough with Hathaway but feeling the strain? His choice of Laine, his sense of history, his legacy? His strategies, the discussions with Kermit, Jerry? The discussions with Shelley – and the back-story of their rivalry and Shelley getting revenge? Receiving more information about Laine? The meeting with Webster, the shark sandwich? Inviting him and his wife later to the top table? His comment about Webster and seeing himself when young? The affidavits, his going to the Congress, his stirring speech and his talk about shame, especially for Runyon? That being his legacy? His talking to Laine about the truth, her refusal to go public? His final speech, his refusal to accept her resignation? Politics and integrity?
9.Kermit, tough, advice, his dealings with the president, with the other members of the staff, with Hathaway? His visit with Jerry to Runyon, Jerry giving the false plant about Hathaway being a possibility while another senator was the second choice? With Laine, his anger at her behaviour, at her tactics? His being calmed? Getting the information from the FBI agent, praising her, telling her comments about Laine were inappropriate? Jerry as the assistant, shrewd, tactics behind the scenes?
10.Laine’s minder, Lewis, the clandestine meeting, getting the fire with the information about Laine, questioning the motives of the informant, his being at her side during the hearings?
11.Shelley, politics, the past, his style, his presumptions, exercise of power? The dinner with the president and clash with him, memories of the past? Vengeance? Laine, her going late, eating the steaks, her vegetarian choice, their dislike of each other? The importance of the scenes with his wife, her wanting children? The wife’s visit to Laine, telling her about the abortion, Runyon not knowing – and Laine deliberately deciding to use this inside information? Webster, his pursuit of Shelley, Shelley using him? The files, the information, the web leaks? The hearings, points of order, interrogating Laine about her oath and belief in God, abortion issues, painting her as a villain, anti-life? The personal questions, the issue of her taking maternity leave were she to be president? His victory? The trap about Hathaway, his being set up by the president, the press conference and his endorsement of Hathaway, no matter what? The showdown in the president’s office and his discovery of the truth? His presence in the Senate, his walking out during the president’s speech, the president saying “Shame”?
12.Webster, young, ambitions, dislike of Laine Hanson, with Runyon? His talking to the president, the sandwich, getting advice? The discussions with Laine in her office? The hearings, his getting the affidavits about Laine’s innocence? At the banquet, with the president? His looking at the portraits of the presidents in the hall – and the president’s comment? His ultimately doing the right thing?
13.The insights into politics, deals and hearings?
14.Laine Hanson as a person, the president saying she was only human – and the echoes of the Clinton era and behaviour? The theme of not guilty but responsible? Dignity, principles, the end?
15.The portrait of American politics in view of the Clinton era, the early 21st century and the Bush administration?
