The Candidate
Nothing matters more than winning. Not even what you believe in.
Bill McKay (Reford), California Democratic candidate for US Senator, a man of intetrity and idealsm, wil now let the great American political machine manipulate him. Because now he's got to win. This is a sharp insider's view of how admen, press agents, pollsters and media czars converge on election campaigns.
Member Reviews
Solid Depiction Of Political Backrooms - revsdd
For a movie made in 1972 this holds up surprisingly well! Robert Redford stars as Bill McKay - an idealistic young lawyer who is largely unknown, except for the fact that his father was once Governor of California. McKay allows himself to be reluctantly recruited by organizers for the Democratic Party to run against the popular Republican incumbent for a seat in the U.S. Senate. When first recruited, McKay is told that he can be his own man. As the campaign progresses, though, he falls more and more under the control of his handlers.
This seemed realistic - like a look into a real campaign for the Senate. I also appreciated Don Porter's portrayal of Republican incumbent Crocker Jarmon as well as the fact that the movie wasn't turned into a simplistic evil right-winger vs. righteous left-winger story. Instead, both candidates came across as sincere and well-meaning. Both the beginning and the ending of the movie were well done. In the beginning Lucas is just finishing up working for a losing campaign. Far from being broken hearted by his candidate's defeat, though, he simply packs up and moves on to McKay. There's no depth of commitment to the candidate; playing the game is all that counts. At the end, McKay is unexpectedly elected, and he pulls Lucas aside and with a bewildered look on his face says, "so what do we do now?" Lucas looks back uncomfortably and just leads him out of their hotel room to greet his supporters. The point is clear: Lucas doesn't care what McKay does now. He's probably already on the lookout for the next candidate and the next campaign. After they walk out, director Michael Ritchie has the camera linger, and the final few seconds of the movie are simply a shot of an empty hotel room - surely a commentary on the emptiness of the political scene.
This movie is solid rather than spectacular; interesting rather than riveting, very well put together and believable in almost every way.Decent Film - McStinky
If you like politics, you'll probably like this movie. Robert Redford plays a do good lawyer who is convinced to run for Senator from California. Being the defender of the small guy and an enivornmentalist he's told that this will give him a chance to raise his issues in the public's eye and he's guaranteed to lose. Problem is, he gets bitten by the political bug and by the end of the movie he's as polished as all the other politicians who've been doing it for years. And to boot, he actually wins.Idealistic Cynicism - Klee
I remember first seeing this film about 20 years ago and the final scene has stayed with me ever since. The film is a remarkable blending of the nostalgic hope and faith in the noble, good politician that was first experienced in the early 1960's and the cynicism resulting from an inherently corrupting policial machine embodied by the scandals of the Nixon Watergate era. The result is a truly realistic - although dated - look at the political process. And that final scene is still as haunting as ever!
Member Reviews
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Solid Depiction Of Political Backrooms - revsdd
For a movie made in 1972 this holds up surprisingly well! Robert Redford stars as Bill McKay - an idealistic young lawyer who is largely unknown, except for the fact that his father was once Governor of California. McKay allows himself to be reluctantly recruited ...Decent Film - McStinky
If you like politics, you'll probably like this movie. Robert Redford plays a do good lawyer who is convinced to run for Senator from California. Being the defender of the small guy and an enivornmentalist he's told that this will give him a chance to raise ...Idealistic Cynicism - Klee
I remember first seeing this film about 20 years ago and the final scene has stayed with me ever since. The film is a remarkable blending of the nostalgic hope and faith in the noble, good politician that was first experienced in the early 1960's and the ...