I try as much as possible to see the latest film at my neighborhood 75-year old theater which is a really neat venue with half of the original seats taken out and a fine example of 1920's ornamental Egyptian facade interior design. I did not get that chance and instead was forced to endure this film in a 7-plex cramped stadium theater. I sure could have used a sofa, because, by the 1 hour mark I was ready for a nap. I am a big Gary Oldman fan because he is perhaps the great character actor of our time. This man is an absolute chameleon. He is reminiscent of the great Sam Jaffe. I also like Jeff Bridges. I found many of his facial expressions in this film to take me back to Thunderbolt and Lightfoot. However, such expressions are believable in a Cadillac convertible somewhre in Montana, but not in the oval office. This film really scared me. Perhaps it is a really good look into the spiritually corrupt amorality of the neo-fascist cabal which is trying to run the country these days. Their sham facade of humanistic pretense and all of its phoney social justice is an attempt to mask what is in the end some Orwellian-style tyranny. The climactic scene of the movie certainly prescribed such a world. The incredible moral and psychological violence of these power-addicts in Washington should be a stern warning to us all; we must be constantly vigilant and do all we can to confine this ugly game that they play so they cannot squeeze the life out of this nation.
Review of The Contender
