TORONTO – DreamWorks Pictures’ political thriller “The Contender” enjoyed its world premiere at the 25th Toronto International Film Festival at a Gala screening last Sunday, September 10, at Roy Thomson Hall.
The film’s stars Joan Allen, Jeff Bridges and Sam Elliott, writer/director Rod Lurie, and producers Marc Frydman and James Spies were on hand to greet the audience at the screening and at the reception immediately following.
Opening nationwide on October 13, 2000, “The Contender” stars Gary Oldman, Joan Allen, Jeff Bridges, Christian Slater, Philip Baker Hall, William Petersen, Saul Rubinek and Sam Elliott. Written and directed by Rod Lurie, the film is produced by Marc Frydman, Douglas Urbanski, Willi Baer and James Spies. Dr. Rainer Bienger and Gary Oldman are the executive producers, with
Scott Shiffman and Steve Loglisci serving as co producers.
In the tradition of such films as “All the President’s Men,” “The
Candidate,” “The Seduction of Joe Tynan” and “The Parallax View,” “The Contender” is a political thriller that takes us behind the scenes of political power plays. The story surrounds the President’s (Jeff Bridges)choice of a woman, Senator Laine Hanson (Joan Allen), to replace the Vice President who has died in office.
The selection meets with opposition from members of both parties, in particular a powerful political adversary (Gary Oldman). Hanson’s confirmation hearings set off a firestorm of controversy as shocking secrets from her past are revealed, threatening her personal life and jeopardizing her political future.
DreamWorks was formed in October, 1994, by its three principal partners – Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen – to produce live-action motion pictures; animated feature films; network, syndicated and cable television programming; home video entertainment; records; books; toys; and consumer products.
