22. The Front Runner; movie review

THE FRONT RUNNER
Cert 15
113 mins

BBFC advice: Contains strong language

What is in the public interest and what just interests the public?
I faced these questions and the subsequent dilemmas countless times in my career as a newspaper executive and mostly they were prompted by allegations of sleaze against a public figure.
Gary Hart's sexual transgressions cost him the Democrat nomination for the 1988 presidential election and possibly a place in the White House.
But Hart refused to see why his private life should not be separated from his work for the public.
The key in all such instances is that if the subect lies about what he or she has done or is proven to be a hypocrite.
Hugh Jackman plays Hart who is first seen missing out on the 1984 nomination and then powering ahead as the Democrat front runner four years later.

Indeed, not only is he seen as the almost-certain nomination but polls indicate that he is also way ahead of the Republican candidate, George Bush.
However, the film alights upon the three weeks when it all went wrong for Hart (this is not a spoiler because it paraphrases a statement at the beginning of Jason Reitman's film).
Initially, the wind is seen to be behind the senator who speaks brilliantly in interviews and whose youth and good looks are playing well with the public.
His wife (Vera Farmiga) is in the background but supportive while his campaign team, led by an old friend (J.K.Simmons) seems to have boundless energy.
Meanwhile, the press pack follows his every move and he showers them with soundbites which please the headline-writers.
But, despite oozing intelligence, he doesn't seem to understand that any personal foibles could wreck his chances.
I thought I may enjoy The Front Runner because I have been involved in political journalism during my career and am intrigued by the public interest question.
The portrayals of the journalists are enturely convincing - the one (Steve Zissis) who trips over the story of Hart's affair is scarcely competent but gets lucky but it is the more cerebral reporter (Mamoudou Athie) who endangers Hart.
I thought that The Front Runner may bore Mrs W because of its focus on the American political system.
Not so. She was also grabbed by the ethical debate and was helped by engaging performances, particularly by Jackman.
Sadly, however, the word hasn't got around about the movie's qualities. Indeed, I hadn't seen any publicity material.
Consequently, there were only five of us in Nottingham Cineworld's Screen 6.
That is a shame because questions about politicians and their morals are as relevant today as they were in 1988.

Reasons to watch: One of the moral questions of our time
Reasons to avoid: It's American politics...

Laughs: Two
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 8/10

Did you know? Gary Hart managed George McGovern's failed 1972 presidential campaign.

The final word. Jason Reitman: "The more I talked about it with friends, the more I realised that everyone’s response was different: some people rooted for Hart, some people rooted for the journalists." Town and Country

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