The Contender is a strong-willed story about the politics of Washington and what goes on behind the scenes that we don't always get to see. Joan Allen stars as Senator Laine Hanson, recently appointed by the President (Jeff Bridges) to fill the vacancy 3 weeks after the vice-president passed away. Unfortunately, this doesn't sit well with some key players in Washington, including Gov. Jack Hathaway (William L. Peterson), the favorite for the vice-presidency. Hathaway's close friend, Congressmn Shelly Runyon (Gary Oldman) also doesn't like Hanson's appointment and as chair of the House committee that gives the OK for the vice presidential pick, he's not going to sit by quietly, nor is he going to approve a woman just because she's a woman.

While the movie is set up and could easily go the way of women's rights in Washington, it takes a distinctivly different path, choosing to tell a story that could fit any politician, man or woman. With Runyon on the war path, it seems as if nothing is sacred as the dredge up some past indiscretions that happened when Laine was 19 at college. Rather than bring it up directly at the hearing, it's leaked to newspapers, and Runyon, trying to be the good guy admonishes the paper for this kind of reporting and asks Laine to deny that it happened, a sort of indirect accusation. By her refusal to deny the report, stating that the past is simply that, and she won't comment on her personal life, it's essentially used as an admission of guilt.

Obviously a reference to the recent infidelity in the White House (even going so far as to reference the Clinton impeachment), The Contender goes about it's politics much differently than the real Washington. After these accusations are brought against Laine, she refuses to comment on them - rather than flat out deny them ("I did not have sexual relations with that woman") she doesn't even give them any credibility by making any sort of comment on them. Joan Allen gives a remarkable performance as Laine Hanson, and Jeff Bridges as the President is superb as well. What makes this film so good (in my opinion - as are all my reviews), is that it takes sides, it asks the hard questions, and it also has all the elements of a great movie - terrific acting, a great script filled with suspense and quite possibly, the most important, intelligent, well-written dialogue. The movie just makes sense. It doesn't try and appeal to every movie-goer. It has a specific target audience, and it hits the mark dead-on with that audience. Rarely am I so caught up in a film that it gets my heart pounding - The Contender had me going twice - not just in one of those states where you are completely engrossed in the film and notice nothing around you, but where the film completely takes you in, makes you feel like you're involved, and gets your heart pounding as you anticipate the next line.

The Contender does everything it set out to do and more - it gives a frank and personal look inside Washington politics, it has a message that more politicians should look at. Even if you don't realize it while watching the movie, the second you exit, you'll be able to look back and realize that it was truly a great movie. While that term may be thrown around more than necessary, The Contender earns every last syllable. It takes sides, entertains, and leaves you thinking and arguing as you leave the theater. Truly, one of the biggest and best surprises of the year.

Genres: Drama, Thriller
Rated: R
Runtime: 126 minutes
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