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The Contender [DVD] [2001]
 
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The Contender [DVD] [2001]

DVD ~ Joan Allen
3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)

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The Contender [DVD] [2001]
72% buy the item featured on this page:
The Contender [DVD] [2001] 3.7 out of 5 stars (10)
The Contender [DVD] [2000]
17% buy
The Contender [DVD] [2000]
£5.77
Nobody's Baby [DVD]
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Nobody's Baby [DVD] 5.0 out of 5 stars (2)
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Product details

  • Actors: Joan Allen, Gary Oldman, Jeff Bridges, Christian Slater, Sam Elliott
  • Directors: Rod Lurie
  • Writers: Rod Lurie
  • Producers: Gary Oldman, Douglas Urbanski, James Spies, Marc Frydman, Maurice Leblond
  • Format: PAL, Widescreen
  • Language English
  • Subtitles: English
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: 15
  • Studio: Icon Home Entertainment
  • DVD Release Date: 29 Oct 2001
  • Run Time: 129 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B00005BCF2
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 42,464 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

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Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
After years of yawn-inducing testosterone displays in the political arena, The Contender is a uniquely intelligent feminist statement. Written and directed by Rod Lurie, the plot is concerned with appointing a female Vice President (Joan Allen as Senator Laine Hanson) to the White House. Barring her way are the collective prejudices and petty-minded historical grudges that mire all politics. For her, they're all focused in the repellent form of an unrecognisable Gary Oldman as Sheldon Runyan. Several other performances stand alongside these two excellent leads: a commanding President from Jeff Bridges, a fresh-faced do-gooder from Christian Slater and an incendiary moustache-free presidential aide from Sam Elliott. Beneath the extremely engaging surprise-filled plot, there are also several layers of commendable moral thematics. Effectively put on trial for being who she is and what she may or may not have done in her past, Allen's character stands for much more than a position in the Office. Viewers are presented with the thought-provoking statement: "principles only matter if you stick by them when they're inconvenient."

On the DVD: a trailer, four TV spots, an interview with Joan Allen and 10 deleted scenes (totalling 16 minutes) with optional commentary from director Lurie, all worthy of your attention. But the enthusiastic commentary from Lurie and Allen is the real treat. Crammed with information about the advice on re-editing given by Steven Spielberg, Lurie reveals the fall-out it caused with Gary Oldman. Gossip aside, it's also fascinating to hear him explaining his feminist standpoint after having become father to a daughter.--Paul Tonks

Special Features
1.85 Wide Screen
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Dolby Digital 5.1
Commentary By Rod Lurie And Joan Allen
Interview With Joan Allen
Deleted Scenes
Behind The Scenes Featurette The Making Of A Political Thriller
Theatrical Trailer And TV Spots
Interactive Menu
Scene Access


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Customer Reviews

10 Reviews
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 (2)
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 (5)
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 (2)
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Average Customer Review
3.7 out of 5 stars (10 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Three quarters a classic, 16 Nov 2004
By A Customer
After just catching this film again on TV, I felt (again) like I'd just watched a film that was oh so close to registering as a bona fide classic but was let down by some over the top chest beating in the final reels.

The story has been laid out on this page, so I won't go over it again. For three quarters of the film you are watching a tightly plotted film with truly stand out dialogue and acting of the highest class. Bridges is perfect as the Clinton-esque president, Oldman has a whale of the time as the puritanical and self motivated (and fantastically named) Sheldon Runyon while Allen again shows herself to be one of the top actresses working today as the stoic and morally bound Laine Hanson.

With all of these actors on top form, and other performances from Sam Elliott, Christian Slater, William Petersen amongst others lighting up linking scenes, the film moves smoothly along. It is a great shame then that all the good build up work is let down by (without giving too much away) a ridiculously unlikely twist spun by a central character, and a flag waving finale which contrasts completely with the calm and excellently made arguments brought before it, not to mention the sensational confrontations that litter the film.

Certainly worth watching, this is a film that we can assume was influenced by Hollywood's need for a barnstorming finish, which is ironic considering the subject matter.

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5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Gary Oldman impresses in political drama., 29 Oct 2001
By A Customer
The premise of "The Contender" is that the president (Jeff Bridges) is seven years in office and is desperate to be remembered for something worthwhile. His Vice President has the good grace to die on him which gives Bridges the opportunity to appoint a replacement. The favourite for the job is however ruled out and the attention then focuses on Sen. Lane Hanson (Joan Allen) the Prez seizes the moment and puts her forward for the job. However there is a fly in the ointment in the shape of a vicious and sneering congressman(played to perfection by Gary Oldman) he is totally determined to stop Hanson at all costs. The scenes involving Oldman and Allen are the best part of this movie and the supporting cast in the shape of William Peterson and Christian Slater impress.
There are two problems with this film one is the performance of Jeff Bridges who as the President seems more interested in ordering more and more outlandish types of snacks from the kitchen than running the country, and the cack handed "twist" ending.
Those aside it is Gary Oldman who shines as the vicious congressman in one the best make up jobs Hollywood has done in the last five years.
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5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars A fairly average film , but with powerful performances, 1 April 2002
By A Customer
THE CONTENDER is not a great film , in fact for most of the time the plot just seems to plod along at a snails pace , and the story can be a little confusing at times.However ,the film is saved by two mesmerising performances from Bridges and Oldman which make the film well worth watching.Joan Allen also deserves credit for her role as a would be vice president , who is faced with sexual demons from the past , and a demon in a more human form in the character played by Oldman , who it must be said steals the film with a stunner of a performance. Can she battle against the past and achieve her lifelong dream ?
THE CONTENDER is no political thriller of TRAFFIC standards , but you could do worse than take time to catch this one. A decent effort , but no more.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars who says politics is boring!
Senator Laine Hanson (Joan Allen) is selected as the nominee for Vice President after the incumbent's death. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Cng

4.0 out of 5 stars A good political film with Gary Oldman at his most devious.
I hate starting this with the weakest links but to me the part of Jeff Bridges was by far too nice as "Mr. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Inmi Opinion

5.0 out of 5 stars We should and will get over these sorry eight years
Rush to your DVD store and get this film at once. It is a duty, a must, a compulsory mandatory obligation for any free citizen in this world to watch this film, at least twice to... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Jacques COULARDEAU

4.0 out of 5 stars excellent feminist take on the liberal Whitehouse genre
Extremely highly principled film about a woman's position at the highest levels of the american political system. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Hill Walker

1.0 out of 5 stars Flashy amateurism or feminist/liberal propaganda (even Gary Oldman protested)
More like a platform from which to present an ideological creed rather than explore the repercussions of the explosive issues it so readily tackles, this movie fails to deliver... Read more
Published 23 months ago by M.W. Thrasher

5.0 out of 5 stars First Class
Finally a political thriller you can get involved in! Not just your usual run of the mill who-wants-to-assassinate-the-president-now palaver. Read more
Published on 9 Nov 2002 by Tanya

4.0 out of 5 stars Classy political drama
This is a real treat. Unusual content, and really very strong performances from an array of actors, both in leads and supporting. Read more
Published on 7 Feb 2002

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