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Specifications: - Region 1 - Run time: approx. 127 minutes - Subtitle: English -
Menus: Animated - Package: Keep case
Video Features: - Aspect ratio: 1.85:1 widescreen
Audio Features: - English: DTS 5.1 - English: Dolby Digital 5.1 - English: Dolby Surround
Bonus Materials: -
Audio commentary with writer- - 10 Deleted scenes -
A behind-the-scenes featurette: - Production notes (2 pages) - Cast and filmmaker bios - Theatrical trailer
Release Dates: Theatrical Release: 10/13/00 DVD Release: 03/06/01 Review Date: 03/05/01
List price: $ 26.99 On-line price: $ 18.99 Pre-order price was: $ 18.49
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| The
Contender
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Starring:
Gary Oldman, Joan Allen, Jeff Bridges, Writer/Director: Rod Lurie
MPAA Rating: R Genre: Drama - Political Thriller Studio: DreamWorks
Pictures |
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Movie: A Video: A Audio: A Extras: B+
Summary:
"The Contender" is a very riveting
political thriller that will quickly
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The Story
"The Contender" is a first-rate political thriller that is engrossingly riveting and thought provocative. With awesome performances by Joan Allen, Gary Oldman, Jeff Bridges, and other members of the cast, this movie will keep you guessing until the end (like a good thriller should). Don't miss this movie at all costs.
Jeff Bridges stars as President Jackson Evans who is in search of a replacement for his late Vice-President. Governor Hathaway (William Petersen) is the lead candidate and a well-recognized favorite of the Democratic party. His likelihood of being nominated for Vice-President seems too secure when he attempts a heroic rescue of a drowning woman during his fishing outing. President Evans instead choose to nominate another, Senator Laine Hanson (Joan Allen). She would become the first woman Vice-President, and this seems to draw attention from politicians on Capitol Hill and the American public alike. Before Senator Hanson can become the Vice-President, she has to undergo a congressional confirmation hearing, lead by committee chairman, Shelly Runyon (Gary Oldman). Runyon sets the tone of the rest of the movie when he says, "I'm not confirming a woman just because she's a woman."
When congressional committee chairman Runyon finds out that his personal favorite candidate, Governor Hathaway, is actually turned down though he was the President advisor's (Kermit Newman, played by Sam Elliott) first choice, he declares a private war on Senator Hanson. With the help of an idealistic young congressman Webster (Christian Slater), Runyon digs up dirt on Senator Hanson's past and exposes them to his advantage. Senator Hanson's response to the unbearably embarrassing allegations is to claim that what happened in her distant past is a personal matter, and that she would not dignify these allegations with a response. Sounds familiar? Ah, yes. We'll leave at that so you can enjoy this thriller.
"The Contender" takes us into the world of Presidential and Capital Hill politics. It shows us the politics that our elected leaders play. All claiming to act for the greater good of the nation, and making decisions with their perspectives on righteousness. Most importantly, the movie is about principles. For me personally, it's a reminder of humility, and about reserving judgment unless you know everything there is to know about that person. (And only God is all-knowing.)
There are 10 deleted scenes under "From The Cutting Room Floor", each with optional director's commentary. Many deleted scenes lend additional insight into the characters, though some would have been a distraction to flow of the main storyline. A few deleted scenes, had they been left in the final version of the film, would have given away the ending.
The featurette "The Making of a Political Thriller" explains that writer-director Rod Lurie is a self-confessed "political junkie." Inspired by the great political thrillers of the 1970s, particularly "All the President's Men" and "The Parallax View", director Lurie set out to create a powerful political thriller that would bring the genre back in vogue. In my opinion, he has succeeded.
Video & Audio
The image quality of this anamorphic widescreen DVD is excellent. The colors are accurate and saturated, while shadow detail is very good. "The Contender" DVD comes with both Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 soundtracks. Both soundtracks are well balanced and effective, as the dialogue is crystal clear.
Recommendation
I strongly recommend "The Contender" to everyone, political junkies and the casual political observer (like myself) alike. While "The Contender" is deeply moving and entertaining, this is a DVD worth buying for its message alone. It's another great DVD title from DreamWorks.
Buy "The
Contender" DVD at: |
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 Buy.com |
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Rent it at NetFlix.com
(Sign up for
NetFlix.com "Unlimited" DVD Rental Service Visit the DreamWorks web site.
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