The Contender

Former ABC critic Rod Lurie didn’t make much of a splash with his first feature, Deterrence, but things are shaping up nicely for the director’s follow-up, which casts Joan Allen as a senator in line for the vice presidency. This political thriller, being championed as a film “in the tradition of All the President’s Men,” finds forces within the government (led by Gary Oldman as Allen’s arch rival) colluding to prevent a woman from taking office. Jeff Bridges co-stars as the president, who stands beside his designate even after dirty sexual secrets threaten to ruin her both personally and politically. Both Allen (an Oscar nominee for Nixon) and Oldman (JFK) have onscreen political experience on their side, and they look fiery as ever in a film that should take the concept of mudslinging to new heights. And if Allen’s performance is as intense as it looks in the film’s trailer, she could be a contender in another race as well — best actress. (Oct. 13)

This article appears in September 1 • 2000.

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