| 100 |
Chicago Sun-Times
One of those rare movies where you leave the theater having been surprised and entertained, and then start arguing.
|
| 88 |
Charlotte Observer
Supplies the three key elements of the best political thrillers: suspense, credibility and the feeling that you're really sitting in the Oval Office.
|
| 88 |
Chicago Tribune
It's an intelligent and informed look at the preposterous ways our leaders are often picked and sabotaged.
|
| 83 |
Portland Oregonian
An assured and gripping political drama filled with remarkable performances and razor-sharp writing and editing.
|
| 75 |
New York Post
Excellent performances in an entertaining if less than totally plausible story.
|
| 75 |
San Francisco Examiner
The sort of smutty scandalmongering the average moviegoer can really get behind.
|
| 75 |
New York Daily News
Lurie has made an impressive contribution to the bulging library of political film, and he has showcased some performances sure to get Oscar consideration.
|
| 75 |
Miami Herald
Heavy-handed and manipulative, it also proves formidably engrossing.
|
| 75 |
San Francisco Chronicle
Thoroughly engrossing.
|
| 75 |
Philadelphia Inquirer
A sharp, intricate political drama.
|
| 70 |
Los Angeles Times
It does move right along and it's enlivened by stronger, more enjoyable acting than this kind of picture usually provides.
|
| 70 |
Newsweek
Silly as it is, The Contende has a lurid zest that keeps you hooked, and a rambunctiously good cast.
|
| 70 |
Washington Post
As entertainment of a tawdry but compelling sort, The Contender certainly delivers.
|
| 70 |
LA Weekly
What Lurie has made is "The West Wing" without the constraining niceties of prime time.
|
| 70 |
The New York Times
A cast that chews the scenery with such obvious enjoyment that you're happy to put up with its tin-eared oratory and preposterous plot turns for the sake of a good ride.
|
| 70 |
Slate
Has a nonsensical twist ending that almost wrecks it, but until then it has enough fast, hyperliterate venality to make it great fun.
|
| 70 |
TV Guide
This smart political thriller gets pulses pounding with no pyrotechnics and only one car crash. And it's a doozy.
|
| 67 |
Austin Chronicle
A potpourri of issue-oriented drama enlivened by superlative performances and smart dialogue.
|
| 67 |
Entertainment Weekly
Engages in the cinematic equivalent of not inhaling.
|
| 63 |
Baltimore Sun
Misfires by constantly tossing out liberal feel-goodisms.
|
| 63 |
USA Today
Compelling and provocative -- though not memorable.
|
| 60 |
Chicago Reader
Bridges and Allen are so bracingly good that you're encouraged to overlook how manipulative the proceedings are.
|
| 60 |
Rolling Stone
Until The Contender slips into partisan politics and platitudinous piety, it's a lively, entertaining ride.
|
| 60 |
Washington Post
I can recommend the first two-thirds of this movie with great enthusiasm.
|
| 60 |
Variety
The large, talented cast elevates the film above the trappings of its loquacious debates, particularly Allen.
|
| 58 |
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Annoyingly shallow, filled with one-note characters, and not half as daring as it seems to think it is.
|
| 55 |
Mr. Showbiz
It's a polished, beautifully made movie with a rotten heart.
|
| 50 |
Christian Science Monitor
The story is so calculated that it ultimately bears little relation to the real world.
|
| 50 |
Boston Globe
Wonderfully cast and slickly directed, but so crudely written.
|
| 40 |
Film.com
The film's very premise, while initially promising, doesn't hold up to lengthy scrutiny.
|
| 40 |
Film.com
A sophomore writing-directing effort from former film critic Rod Lurie.
|
| 40 |
Village Voice
Graceless writing and shameless plot contrivance.
|
| 20 |
Dallas Observer
The most offensive movie of the year.
|
| 20 |
Film.com
The film looks horrendous, poorly composed and staged, and the rhythm staggers.
|
| 20 |
Salon.com
The most gutless and naive political drama of recent memory.
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