The Front Runner
The Front Runner

Movie spotlight

The Front Runner

2018
Movie
113 min
English

Gary Hart, former Senator of Colorado, becomes the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1987. Hart's intelligence, charisma and idealism makes him popular with young voters, leaving him with a seemingly clear path to the White House. All that comes crashing down when allegations of an extramarital affair surface in the media, forcing the candidate to address a scandal that threatens to derail his campaign and personal life.

Insights

IMDb6.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes62%
Metacritic60
Google Users68%
Director: Jason ReitmanGenres: Biography, Drama, History, News

Plot Summary

The film chronicles the 1988 presidential campaign of U.S. Senator Gary Hart, once considered a strong contender for the Democratic nomination. When Hart begins a widely publicized affair, his political aspirations are thrown into chaos. The movie explores the media's role in dissecting his personal life and its impact on his public image and career.

Critical Reception

The Front Runner received mixed to positive reviews from critics. While Hugh Jackman's performance as Gary Hart was widely praised, many critics found the film to be somewhat superficial in its exploration of the political and media dynamics. Audiences generally had a similar reception, appreciating the timely subject matter but wishing for a deeper dive.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praises Hugh Jackman's compelling portrayal of Gary Hart.

  • Acknowledges the film's relevance in discussing media scrutiny of politicians.

  • Criticizes the narrative for lacking depth and providing a surface-level examination of the events.

Google audience: Google users generally appreciated the film's subject matter and Hugh Jackman's performance, finding it an interesting look at a pivotal moment in political history. However, some viewers felt the movie could have explored the complexities of the scandal and its implications more thoroughly.

Fun Fact

Director Jason Reitman chose to film on location in Colorado, where Hart's campaign famously imploded, to lend authenticity to the story.

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TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
Stephen Campbell

Stephen Campbell

_**Reasonably well made, but barely scratches the thematic surface**_ > _This is a circus. The consequences will extend long past my nomination. The consequences will be with us for decades. This grotesque and coordinated character assas...

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