Information and disinformation about a vice presidential nominee’s past threatens to derail her nomination in Rod Lurie’s The Contender.

“Greatness. It comes in many forms, sometimes it comes in the form of sacrifice—that’s the loneliest form.” — President Jackson Evans

It’s a mystery how I missed The Contender during its original theatrical run in 2000. That summer saw the historic nomination of Senator Joseph Lieberman, which had sparked my growing interest in politics. You’d think a politically charged film like this would have been on my radar. Yet somehow, it wasn’t until years later that I even heard about The Contender. I was more familiar with Lurie’s ABC drama Commander in Chief, where Geena Davis plays a woman who unexpectedly becomes president. With 2025 marking the film’s 25th anniversary, I finally made time for The Contender, coincidentally watching it right after another Lurie project, Deterrence.

President Jackson Evans (Jeff Bridges), a Democrat in his second term, faces a major decision after the sudden death of Vice President Troy Ellard. The public assumes he’ll tap heroic Virginia Governor Jack Hathaway (William Petersen), who recently tried to save a drowning woman. Instead, Evans surprises everyone by selecting Ohio Senator Laine Hanson (Joan Allen). The nomination of a woman for vice president, let alone potentially president, becomes a legacy-defining moment—and the political storm begins. The Contender dives deep into the 25th Amendment’s implications—discussed in last year’s PBS documentary, The American Vice President—and how personal ambition and institutional sexism collide.

Senator Hanson’s nomination faces stiff opposition during her confirmation hearings, led by Judiciary Committee Chair Sheldon Runyon (Gary Oldman), a hardline Republican from Illinois. Runyon favors Hathaway and considers Hanson unfit. The biggest scandal they dig up? An alleged drunken college orgy. Really? As if any of these elected officials had spotless pasts. It’s a double standard we’ve seen repeatedly—men are forgiven, but women are punished. The Contender uses this dynamic to dissect hypocrisy and gender bias in modern American politics. Runyon isn’t alone, either; Democratic Congressman Reginald Webster (Christian Slater) also turns against Hanson.

Hanson refuses to dignify the smear campaign with a response. Runyon and Webster press the issue, with the latter’s betrayal particularly galling given their shared party affiliation. It evokes parallels to modern real-world politics—like when some Republicans opposed Trump after January 6, or more recently, refused to back his 2024 campaign. But in The Contender, there’s no criminality. Webster simply wants to elevate his own standing. Ironically, he only undermines his credibility. Meanwhile, Hanson remains stoic, dignified, and resolute in her silence. Lurie clearly intended Hanson to be a principled figure—a counterpoint to the toxic partisanship around her.

Adding another layer, The Contender introduces FBI Special Agent Paige Willomina (Kathryn Morris), who conducts a separate investigation. It appears at first to center on Hanson, raising questions about what the White House may know. Eventually, the investigation culminates in a crucial scene involving Chief of Staff Kermit Newman (Sam Elliott). To preserve the film’s power, I won’t spoil what happens—yes, The Contender is 25 years old, but some twists deserve to remain unspoiled. Still, it’s a brilliant move that adds complexity to an already loaded political chessboard.

At one point, President Evans meets with Runyon and reluctantly agrees to drop Hanson’s nomination—on one condition: Runyon must end the smear campaign and support Hathaway. Evans knows how to play the game. He’s forcing Runyon’s hand. If Hathaway falters, so does Runyon. The final stretch of The Contender builds to an emotional crescendo. During a joint session of Congress, Evans reverses course and reinstates Hanson’s nomination, delivering a soaring speech. Runyon, defeated, storms out in disgrace. It’s a rousing moment, one that combines West Wing-style optimism with real-world grit.

The Contender earned Oscar nominations for Joan Allen (Best Actress) and Jeff Bridges (Supporting Actor). Both are outstanding. Allen delivers one of the strongest performances of her career. Bridges brings both charm and gravitas to Evans. Gary Oldman, who disappears into the role of Runyon, was shockingly snubbed—possibly due to reported behind-the-scenes drama (see Roger Ebert and ABC News for more). While The Contender didn’t receive a Best Picture nomination, it did earn the Alan J. Pakula Award at the Critics Choice Awards in 2001. In another timeline, The Contender might have scored a Best Picture nod, but in 2000, political films had a tougher time breaking through, especially when competing with Thirteen Days and other prestige dramas.

Runyon and Webster are clear antagonists in The Contender. What’s most frustrating is Webster’s betrayal—he’s a Democrat turning on a qualified woman nominated by a president from his own party. Runyon, at least, is a partisan acting as expected. America requires a vice president by law. Hanson meets every constitutional standard. But would a man face this level of scrutiny? Probably not. The Contender exposes how deeply rooted sexism remains in politics—even among those who claim to support equality.

Twenty years after The Contender was released, Kamala Harris became the first woman elected as vice president. Still, no woman has ever been elected president. Both Hillary Clinton and Harris lost presidential campaigns—in 2016 and 2024, respectively. Following President Biden’s poor debate performance in June 2024, Harris became the Democratic nominee. Interestingly, Jeff Bridges was only 51 when The Contender was released, yet the role of President Evans was first offered to Paul Newman (75) and Gregory Peck (84), who declined due to age. Until Donald Trump’s election in 2016, no U.S. president had been elected in their 70s except Reagan.

The Contender remains as powerful and relevant in 2025 as it was in 2000. It’s a riveting, thought-provoking drama about honor, sacrifice, and political warfare. With a sharp script and phenomenal performances from Joan Allen and Jeff Bridges, The Contender deserves to be remembered as one of the best political films of its time. It challenges viewers to reflect on what leadership truly means—and who gets to define it.

DIRECTOR/SCREENWRITER: Rod Lurie
CAST: Gary Oldman, Joan Allen, Jeff Bridges, Christian Slater, Sam Elliott, William Petersen, Saul Rubinek, Philip Baker Hall, Mike Binder, Robin Thomas, Mariel Hemingway, Kathryn Morris, Kristen Shaw

DreamWorks Pictures released The Contender in theaters on October 13, 2000. Grade: 5/5

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