The Front Runner (film)

The Front Runner
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Jason Reitman
Produced by
Screenplay by
Based on All the Truth Is Out: The Week Politics Went Tabloid
by Matt Bai
Starring
Music by Rob Simonsen
Cinematography Eric Steelberg
Edited by Stefan Grube
Production
company
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release date
  • August 31, 2018 (2018-08-31) (Telluride)
  • November 6, 2018 (2018-11-06) (United States)
Running time
 113 minutes[1]
Country United States
Language English

The Front Runner is a 2018 American biographical drama film directed by Jason Reitman, based on the 2014 book All the Truth Is Out: The Week Politics Went Tabloid, written by Matt Bai. Reitman co-wrote the screenplay with Bai and Jay Carson. The film chronicles the rise of American Senator Gary Hart, a Democratic presidential candidate in 1988, and his subsequent fall from grace when media reports surfaced of his extramarital affair. It stars an ensemble cast featuring Hugh Jackman as Hart, with Vera Farmiga, J. K. Simmons and Alfred Molina also starring.

The film premiered at the Telluride Film Festival on August 31, 2018, and is scheduled to be released in the United States on November 6, 2018, by Columbia Pictures. It received generally positive reviews, with acclaim for Jackman's performance.[2]

Synopsis

American Senator Gary Hart's 1988 presidential campaign is derailed when he is caught up in a scandalous extramarital affair.

Cast

Production

Development

Political columnist Matt Bai became interested in American Senator Gary Hart after writing a 2003 profile on him for The New York Times; he released the book on which the film is based, All the Truth Is Out: The Week Politics Went Tabloid, in 2014.[5] The screenplay was written by filmmaker Jason Reitman, Bai, and former Hillary Clinton press secretary, Jay Carson; Reitman also produces with Helen Estabrook for Right of Way Films, and Aaron L. Gilbert produces for Bron Studios.[6]

Casting

In June 2017, it was reported that Hugh Jackman would portray Gary Hart in The Front Runner.[7] In August 2017, the full cast list for the film was announced, including Vera Farmiga as Hart's wife Oletha "Lee" Hart, Kaitlyn Dever as their daughter Andrea Hart, Sara Paxton as Donna Rice, Ari Graynor as Ann Devroy, and J. K. Simmons as Bill Dixon, Hart's 1988 presidential campaign manager and longtime friend.[8] The following month, Jennifer Landon and John Bedford Lloyd joined the cast in unspecified roles.[9] In October 2017, Chris Coy was cast as press secretary Kevin Sweeney.[10]

Filming

Principal photography began on September 18, 2017, with Jackman revealing the first image from the set.[11][12] Production also took place in Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia.[13]

Release

In May 2018, Sony Pictures and Stage 6 Films acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film at the 71st Cannes Film Festival, with a planned awards season release.[14][15] It had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival on August 31, 2018.[16][17] It will also screen at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2018.[18]

The Front Runner is scheduled to begin a limited release on November 6, 2018, the first film to ever be released on an Election Day. It will then expand on November 16, 2018, and go nationwide on November 21, 2018.[19]

Reception

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 66% based on 32 reviews, and an average rating of 6.1/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "The Front Runner exhumes the wreckage of a political campaign with well-acted wit, even if it neglects to truly analyze the issues it raises."[20] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 67 out of 100, based on 10 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[21]

References

  1. ↑ "The Front Runner". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  2. ↑ Anderton, Ethan (September 1, 2018). "The Front Runner Early Buzz: Hugh Jackman is Oscar Worthy in Robert Altmanesque Political Drama". /Film. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  3. ↑ Burr, Bill (Interviewee) (September 10, 2018). The Front Runner TIFF Screening Bill Burr (Video). Toronto: MovieRoar. Event occurs at 0:04. Retrieved September 28, 2018. I play a reporter for The Miami Herald who, curiously enough, shares my Boston accent.
  4. ↑ Hamilton, John (April 3, 2018). "Comedian Bill Burr 'Walks his way out' to Pittsburgh". The Pitt News. Retrieved September 26, 2018. For some reason on my IMDb page they have me listed as playing George McGovern. I think somebody’s making fun of the fact that I’m bald, that’s what it is. But it’s funny to me because it’s just like, there’s just no checks and balances on IMDb — how did that get on there?
  5. ↑ Shafer, Jack (October 31, 2014). "Matt Bai's 'All the Truth Is Out,' About Gary Hart". The New York Times. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  6. ↑ McNary, Dave (June 27, 2017). "Hugh Jackman to Play Senator Gary Hart in 'The Frontrunner' Movie". Variety. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  7. ↑ Siegel, Tatiana; Galuppo, Mia (June 27, 2017). "Hugh Jackman to Play Gary Hart in Jason Reitman Political Drama (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  8. ↑ Breznican, Anthony (August 23, 2017). "Here's Who's Starring With Hugh Jackman In the Gary Hart Film 'The Front Runner'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  9. ↑ N'Duka, Amanda (September 29, 2017). "Jennifer Landon & John Bedford Lloyd Cast In 'The Front Runner'; Harold Perrineau Joins 'Dumplin'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
  10. ↑ N'Duka, Amanda (October 5, 2017). "Chris Coy Joins Hugh Jackman In 'The Front Runner'; Disney's 'Nicole' Adds Kingsley Ben-Adir". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
  11. ↑ Breznican, Anthony (September 18, 2017). "Hugh Jackman reveals first image as Gary Hart in 'The Front Runner'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  12. ↑ Busch, Jenna (September 18, 2017). "Hugh Jackman Tweets a Pic from Day One of The Front Runner". ComingSoon.net. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  13. ↑ Marc, Christopher (August 23, 2017). "Hugh Jackman's 'The Front Runner' Shoots September–October In Atlanta". Omega Underground. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  14. ↑ N'Duka, Amanda (May 10, 2018). "Jason Reitman's Gary Hart Movie 'The Front Runner' Set At Sony, Will Bow In Fall – Cannes". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
  15. ↑ "The Front Runner". Stage 6 Films. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  16. ↑ Tapley, Kristopher (August 30, 2018). "'First Man,' 'Front Runner' and 'Roma' Among 2018 Telluride Film Festival Selections". Variety. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Telluride Film Festival Program Guide" (PDF). Telluride Film Festival. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  18. ↑ Vlessing, Etan (July 24, 2018). "Toronto: Timothee Chalamet Starrer 'Beautiful Boy,' Dan Fogelman's 'Life Itself' Among Festival Lineup". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  19. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (September 5, 2018). "Gary Hart Movie 'The Front Runner' Votes For Election Day Release In Industry First". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  20. ↑ "The Front Runner (2018)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 7, 2017.
  21. ↑ "The Front Runner reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.