The Contender (2000)

In the twilight of his final term, President Jackson Evans (Jeff Bridges), rocked by the sudden death of his Vice President, embarks on an audacious mission to carve an enduring legacy. His bold, unprecedented move? Nominating Senator Laine Hanson (Joan Allen) as his successor, marking her as the first woman destined for the Vice Presidency. Switching her political allegiance from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party, Hanson initially appears as an unblemished beacon of progress. However, the placid surface of the political waters is shattered when a scandalous allegation from her past surfaces. A tale of a college-era orgy involving a nineteen-year-old Hanson threatens to tarnish her reputation and derail her nomination. Confirmation Committee Chairman Shelly Runyon (Gary Oldman), a stalwart Republican, cunningly fans the flames of this scandal, wielding the press as his weapon to bring the salacious story into the public hearings. His ulterior motive? To pave the way for a heroic Governor (William Petersen), who captured the nation's heart with a daring rescue attempt, to step into the coveted position. As Hanson becomes the target of this vicious smear campaign, her once steady path to the Vice Presidency becomes a tightrope walk over a political abyss. Torn between defending her honour and adhering to her high principles, she is faced with a dilemma that tests the core of her integrity. "The Contender" (2000) is a riveting political thriller that explores the treacherous labyrinth of politics, where personal lives are pawns, and power is the ultimate prize. Will Hanson succumb to the onslaught, or will she rise above the fray to claim her place in history? The answer lies within the electrifying twists and turns of this compelling narrative.

The Contender is a drama movie featuring Gary Oldman and directed by Rod Lurie.

The Contender is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Xumo Play.

It is also possible to buy The Contender on Apple TV and Vudu.