The Front Runner (2019)

Rating: 6.5/10
Genre: Drama
Related Titles: Labor Day, Up in the Air, Vice
By Leanne Harragan

In 1987, Gary Hart ex-senator of Colorado becomes the front-runner for the Democratic Presidential nomination. His intelligence and charisma make him popular, his clear path to the White House is destroyed when stories of an affair surface. The scandal threatens his campaign and his personal life.

While I felt every last minute of this (just under) two hour film, it's quite interesting and continues to be relevant to politics and fame today. Gary Hart is charming, charismatic and almost a sure winner for the Presidential race, that is until rumours of an affair surface. This changed his life and his families life. While the film falls short with pace it's worth a watch and definitely brings the morality of journalists and politics into question. 

When considering the morals of journalism this film really brings that the forefront, because of a story that two journalists leaked the lives of many were affected besides Gary Harts. Hart's daughter Andrea had to sneak out of the house in the back of a truck to escape the press, his wife was constantly harassed by the press and 'other woman' Donna Rice, despite her continued denial of everything was hounded by mobs at the airport. This leads to the consideration of how a story can affect so many more people than just those named. It also highlights the standards that politicians and other famous faces are held up to. This film will definitely have you asking some questions. Is it right to follow their every move? Is it fair that every part of their life is published for all to read? On the other hand, does the media have to excuse a private life? Do those in positions of power especially deserve privacy? Do the voters have a right to know every detail of those in power lives? 

The cast is scattered with plenty of recognisable faces and names like J.K.Simmons, Vera Farmiga and Alfred Molina to name a few but they feel wasted in this film where Hugh Jackman takes the spotlight. As the Front Runner, Gary Hart, Jackman gives an excellent performance but leaves everyone else in the dust as more background characters than anything else. This is a shame that some of the other characters weren't given more to work with. That being said, I was particularly moved at the scene between alleged 'other woman' Donna Rice and Hart's campaign scheduler, the two women share a moment that just sums up how women were viewed by men around them and in the world of politics despite their educations. This stood out to me as an important moment in the film that didn't directly included Jackman. 

I think the problem with the pace of this film is that it is a chronological tale of the events as they unfold, this means that at times not a whole lot is really happening, then at other times everything is happening. The solution here could be to avoid the chronological tale and look at mixing everything up somewhat like the similar political film Vice has just done. Nevertheless, The Front Runner is entertaining enough and will definitely make you think about the kind of news being reported around you and just how it can change lives.

Rating: 6.5/10

By Rebecca Mannick

Fresh from all his successes as PT Barnum from 'The Greatest Showman' you could argue that his role as American politician Gary Hart plays up to the showman character. Gary Hart is 'the Front Runner' as the senator of Colorado as he launches his Democratic campaign in 1987. You already know that Hart has made a name for himself as he is a prime Democratic candidate in I guess the south - who are notoriously red. Gary Hart was charismatic and charming - it seemed that he never put a foot wrong until reporters from the Miami Herald spotted a female leaving Hart's Washington DC townhouse. This was only spotted after one of the females friends had tipped the reporters off. 

Hugh Jackman's performance was impressive, yet I would say sometimes it was forced he still did a good job. The way in which he could switch on and off when it came talking to reporters was mad - once the reporter asked a question that he didn't like - you could tell straight away - his demeanour changed, his tone of voice and his physical behaviour also changed. 

One thing that put me off - as an ordinary member of the audience - with limited knowledge on American politics - was that the information wasn't spoon fed to the audience. Usually I enjoy having the decipher the information and hierarchy their importance however in this one it just had me feeling lost. The first fifteen minutes moved so fast I couldn't keep up but then it slowed down and then made it drag in anticipation for the next piece of action. If the timing and the pace could have been evened out it would have been an easier watch for the audience. 

One of the main things that bothered me was Hart's reaction to when he was caught with Donna Rice. He was more angry at the reporters than he was ashamed of his infidelity. It brings the question up of the media's tactics. In 2019 we are so far removed from this particular situation - absolutely disgusting techniques have been used to gain information, even false and unproved evidence can be published. What media outlets don't take into consideration that there are actual people on the other side. 

To round 'The Front Runner' up - it definitely is not a front runner for best movies this year. I see the potential of this story being something great but there just wasn't enough content to carry it over the line.