Reviewed by Victor Rebikoff.
Director: Jason Reitman, Sony Pictures, M 113 Minutes.
In a surprise move, Aussie action star Hugh Jackman (aka Wolverine) has chosen to play the part of US Senator Gary Hart, the Democratic presidential candidate and front runner for the 1988 Democratic nomination against Republican George H.W Bush.
As the movie opens, Hart is hopeful of becoming the Democratic presidential candidate in 1984 but loses to Democrat Walter Mondale, so decides to re-enter the race in 1988 with the ongoing help of campaign manager Bill Dixon (JK Simmons –‘Renegades’).
This time Hart is considered the front runner after outpolling the other Democratic contenders and appearing the happily married family man supported by his devoted wife Lee (Vera Farmiga –‘The Commuter’) and daughter Andrea (Kaitlyn Dever –‘All Summers End’).
However, during a visit to Miami Hart is invited on board a partying Florida yacht aptly named Monkey Business where he meets the demure Donna Rice (Sara Paxton –‘All Relative’) with whom he is believed to have had an extramarital affair.
To make matters worse the principled politician challenges the press to follow him around which proves a huge mistake when he is photographed by the Miami Herald leaving his apartment with a mysterious woman.
With the sex scandal out in the open Hart attempts to salvage his reputation by fronting a media pack to highlight his political credentials, only to be confronted by a hostile and moralistic press only interested in his indiscretions.
In order to protect his wife and daughter from further publicity the disgraced Hart finally succumbs to the inevitable by dropping out of the 1988 presidential campaign.
‘Juno’ director Jason Reitman has fashioned an interesting but balanced account on the rise and three-week fall of the Democratic presidential candidate, adapted from journalist Matt Bai’s book “All the Truth is Out-The Week Politics Went Tabloid.”
In ensuring his movie on a scandal-driven presidential candidate is enjoyable Reitman has assembled an impressive cast, particularly the ever-popular Jackman to portray the charming and handsome politician – and his performance doesn’t disappoint – as also do Farmiga and Simmons.
Despite the storyline’s slow-pace Reitman highlights the relevance of whether a potential presidential candidate’s private life hinders his or her ability to be elected President of the United States considering the alleged extramarital affairs of the present incumbent.
Vic’s Verdict: 3 ½ Stars
