The Contender is about Joan Allen being appointed as Vice President. Gary Oldman, a high-ranking politician, starts a smear-campaign highlighting her sexual shenanigans in college in order to get his personal favorite candidate in the office. Will the suspense ever stop?

The Contender is actually pretty good for a political movie. It’s pretty heavy on the dialogue, but it’s well written and well acted. Gary Oldman is totally unrecognizable in his part! Things fall apart at the end when Joan Allen reveals “what really happened” in college in an explanation that almost defeats the purpose of the entire movie! Other than the weak ending, The Contender is decent for a drama.

I give The Contender *** out of ****.