Second-term Democratic U.S. President Jackson Evans must select a new Vice President following the sudden death of his vice president, Troy Ellard. Based on lack of enthusiasm in test screenings to the final scene where Laine addresses the House Judiciary Committee, and with Spielberg's advice, Lurie added music intended to be inspirational, which did receive a better response from test audiences. 5.0 out of 5 stars The Contender 1 2 and 3 Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2010 The first series was the best and each subsequent not as good but I have enjoyed all of them. However, she did not prove her innocence, citing that by doing so will further the idea that it was acceptable to ask the questions in the first place. [20] Author Harry Keyishian wrote the ending, in which it appears Laine will be confirmed despite her civic religion, is unrealistic, and "swelling music replaces logic and probability". the contender cast podcast Posted by 0 Comment. [3] He did not see Sheldon Runyon as a villain, and Lurie claimed he was not written to be one. As a result, a number of crew members were costumed and stood in. The winner received US$150,000 and bragging rights as "The Contender Champion". | The Contender is an unusual movie in that its a serious political film and the entire cast does an equally outstanding job. In one such scene, before Laine is announced as vice presidential nominee, a typhoon was forecast, and Lurie's assistant from India performed a religious ritual to ward it off, which the director credited with working. In writing the screenplay, Lurie considered a number of possible endings, including one i… Director Rod Lurie said he wrote the screenplay because he wished to make a film starring Joan Allen, and wrote the part of Laine Hanson with her in mind. It became the subject of controversy regarding alterations that displeased Oldman, who co-produced. [4][8], "Contender Earns Broadcast Critics' Honor", "Strange Bedfellows: 'Contender' mixes sex, politics and a bit of feminism as Joan Allen aspires to the White House", "The Gary Oldman Story That Almost Wasn't", "Gary Oldman: Four prior Playboy-ish provocations", Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, "Four Independent Films Dominate Spirit Nominations", "Screen Actors Guild Announces Nominations", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Contender_(2000_film)&oldid=989200510, Films about fictional presidents of the United States, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 17 November 2020, at 16:52. | Began his career 14-0 until losing a decision to longtime contender Matthew Macklin on HBO in 2013. Cast. Last Season. Newman turned down the role, which Lurie attributed to the actor's retirement. The Contender is an American reality television series that initially aired from March 3, 2005 to January 7, 2009 on NBC, ESPN, and Versus and currently airs on Epix.Each season of the series follows a group of boxers as they compete with one another in an elimination-style competition, while their lives and relationships with each other and their families are depicted. The final fight will air on Monday, May 20th. Know about Film reviews, lead cast & crew, photos & video gallery on BookMyShow. | The vice president is dead, and as the president makes his choice for a replacement, a secret contest of wills is being waged by a formidable rival. A list of all the characters in The Contender. The film focuses on a fictional United States President (played by Bridges) and the events surrounding his appointment of a new Vice President (Allen). The site's critical consensus reads, "The Contender wears its political heart on its sleeve, but strong performances and a solid screenplay help the end result add up to a gripping drama from either side of the aisle". Contender Brands is a product development company based in Atlanta, Georgia. Watch all 17 The Contender episodes from season 1,view pictures, get episode information and more. Hosts Sylvester Stallone and Sugar Ray Leonard give 16 young boxing hopefuls a shot at the big time in this Mark Burnett and Jeffrey Katzenberg reality drama. The obvious choice seems to be Virginia Governor Jack Hathaway, who is hailed as a hero after he recently dove into a lake in a failed attempt to save a drowning girl. If it really is, she's going to have trouble getting congressional confirmation. Most important, The Contender has timing. [6], The scene where Laine is interviewed by Larry King was shot before principal photography. 2000 Directed by Rod Lurie. The Contender. Lurie and Allen said it was the first time DreamWorks adopted a film the company had not produced. “The Contender,” hosted by undefeated boxer Andre “Son of God” Ward, premieres August 24 at 10 p.m. [11] It earned $22,361,811 worldwide. The series is a deviation from the original Contender series, which involved boxing. Company Credits Evans addresses Congress, where he chastises all Democrats and Republicans who blocked Hanson's confirmation. [2] In writing the screenplay, Lurie considered a number of possible endings, including one in which Laine is assassinated. The Contender Director: Rod Lurie Cast: Gary Oldman, Joan Allen, Jeff Bridges, Christian Slater Studio: Cinerenta Medienbeteiligungs KG US Release Date: 2000-10-13 [1] Oldman's manager Douglas Urbanski noted they independently produced the film before DreamWorks became involved. In an October 2000 issue of Premiere magazine, Oldman supposedly alleged that editing cuts were made due to the studio's Democratic leanings. [23], After viewing The Contender, actor Dustin Hoffman placed a telephone call to Oldman to commend his work in the film. Official Sites [9], The film finished its run with a total domestic gross of $17,872,723,[10] a low amount even though the release during the 2000 United States presidential election could have created interest. [18] Stephen Hunter of The Washington Post wrote, "As entertainment of a tawdry but compelling sort, The Contender certainly delivers", but found Allen's character uninspiring. Season 5 2008 | 13 Episodes. [4], Before approaching Jeff Bridges for the part of President Evans, Lurie submitted the screenplay to Paul Newman, reflecting how the character was envisioned to be older than he is in the final film. Joan Allen plays the key role and provides an exceptional performance, but no one in the cast is a slacker. [1] Christian Slater joined the cast, saying he was interested in the screenplay's discussion of principles. Edited by David Coggins. 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