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    About This Item

    Unique ID Code: 0000014943
    Added by: DVD Reviewer
    Added on: 5/3/2001 22:04
    View Changes

    Contender, The (US)

    7 / 10
    1 vote cast
    Rate this item
    Inline Image

    Sometimes you can assassinate a leader without firing a shot
    Certificate: R
    Running Time: 127 mins
    Retail Price: $26.99
    Release Date:

    Synopsis:
    "The most controversial movie in years," claims Joel Siegel of Good Morning America.

    Power comes at a stunning price, in this electrifying thriller that features riveting performances by an all-star cast. The vice president is dead, and as the president (Jeff Bridges) makes his choice for a replacement, a secret contest of wills is being waged by a formidable rival (Gary Oldman). When Senator Laine Hanson (Joan Allen) is nominated as the first woman in history to hold the office, hidden agendas explode into a battle for power.

    Critics rave that The Contender is "the most important American film in years…a remarkably powerful and provocative thriller," (Jeff Craig, Sixty Second Preview).

    Special Features:
    Interactive Menus
    Scene Access
    In-Depth Commentary with Writer/Director Rod Lurie and Award-Winning Actress Joan Allen
    Deleted Scenes
    A Fascinating Behind-the-Scenes Featurette: The Making of a Political Thriller
    Theatrical Trailer
    Production Notes
    Cast & Filmmaker Biographies

    Video Tracks:
    Widescreen Anamorphic 1.85:1

    Audio Tracks:
    Dolby Digital 5.1 English
    Dolby Digital Surround 2.0 English
    DTS 5.1 English

    Subtitle Tracks:
    English
    CC: English

    Directed By:
    Rod Lurie

    Written By:

    Starring:
    William L. Petersen
    Sam Elliott
    Christian Slater
    Jeff Bridges
    Joan Allen
    Gary Oldman

    Casting By:
    Carmen Tetzlaff
    Mary Jo Slater

    Soundtrack By:
    Larry Groupé

    Director of Photography:
    Denis Maloney

    Editor:
    Michael Jablow

    Costume Designer:
    Matthew Jacobsen

    Production Designer:
    Alec Hammond

    Producer:
    Douglas Urbanski
    James Spies
    Scott Shiffman
    Steve Loglisci
    Marc Frydman
    Willi Bär

    Executive Producer:
    Steven Spielberg
    Gary Oldman
    Maurice Leblond
    Rainer Bienger

    Distributor:
    DreamWorks Pictures

    Your Opinions and Comments

    7 / 10
    This is a rather long movie, which seems to never end. The plot is dramatic and is basically ok, but it takes way too long for anything to ever happen.
    The video transfer is very good. there are no compression signs and the colors are very vivid.
    The DTS and DD 5.1 soundtrack are ordinary. Since this is a 95% dialog based movie, there is hardly any activity in the surrounds (with the exception of the single helicopter
    scene).
    The menus are all beautifully animated and are accompanied by some nice tunes.
    The extras include a commentary, a behind the scenes look and some deleted scenes. None of the extras is too exciting.
    Bottom line - a good movie to fall asleep with. It takes a whole lot of coffee to stay awake through it. The Oscar nominations for this movie are beyond me.
    posted by Zvi Josef on 6/3/2001 18:44