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The Contender

Release Date: October 13, 2000

In the tradition of such films as All the President’s Men, The Candidate and The Parallax View, The Contender is a political thriller that takes us behind the scenes of political power plays.

When the sitting Vice President dies, Senator Laine Hanson (Joan Allen) is chosen by the President (Jeff Bridges) to be the first woman to hold the office. The selection meets with opposition from members of both parties, in particular a powerful political adversary (Gary Oldman) who will seemingly stop at nothing to discredit her. The confirmation hearings set off a firestorm of controversy as shocking secrets from Hanson’s past are revealed, threatening her personal life as well as her political future.

Laine Hanson has what it takes to be a heartbeat away from the presidency. Now she must prove she has the stomach for what it takes to get the job.

The DreamWorks Pictures film stars Gary Oldman, Joan Allen, Jeff Bridges, Christian Slater, William Petersen, Philip Baker Hall, Saul Rubinek and Sam Elliott. Rod Lurie wrote and directed the film, which is produced by Marc Frydman, Douglas Urbanski, Willi Baer and James Spies. Dr. Rainer Bienger, Gary Oldman and Maurice Leblond are the executive producers, with Scott Shiffman and Steve Loglisci serving as co-producers.

About the Film

About the Film

CAST
  • GARY OLDMAN,
  • JOAN ALLEN,
  • JEFF BRIDGES,
  • CHRISTIAN SLATER,
  • WILLIAM PETERSEN,
  • PHILIP BAKER HALL,
  • SAUL RUBINEK,
  • SAM ELLIOTT
DIRECTOR
  • ROD LURIE
SCREENWRITER
  • ROD LURIE
PRODUCERS
  • MARC FRYDMAN,
  • DOUGLAS URBANSKI,
  • WILLI BAER,
  • JAMES SPIES
CINEMATOGRAPHER
  • DENIS MALONEY
PRODUCTION DESIGNER
  • ALEXANDER HAMMOND
COSTUME DESIGNER
  • MATTHEW JACOBSEN
EDITOR
  • MICHAEL JABLOW
COMPOSER
  • LARRY GROUPÉ

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