The Candidate (1972)

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1. 

   Siskoid

   To be sure, The Candidate's reality cannot match today's media circus, but if Robert Redford (as producer) wanted to explore that moment in American politics when surface became more important than substance, it does act as a fictional precursor of what we are subjected to today. He plays an environmental lawyer roped into standing against an incumbent Republican Senator in a California election. He doesn't really know much about policy or actual governance, he's just got a pretty face and his non-political approach charms some people. His opponent's policies are right out of the GOP playbook, so I hate him, but his hypocrisy makes him just as shallow as Redford, if actually experienced in governing. At first, I couldn't decide if it was wrong to make me root for the rookie candidate because I agreed with his politics, while also telling me he wasn't up to the job. On the score, thank God for the perfect ending. But the more I think about it, how many candidates have *I* voted for, knowing full well they had no real political experience, or really, BECAUSE they had no political experience (and thus no smell of corruption)? But because I worked in student activism, I've been in the room with pretty young men running for office, and surrounded by old party boys who acted exactly as Redford's staff does in the movie, laughing off his gauche pronouncements. Are the rookies doomed to be pawns, or worse, get corrupted in due course? There are no easy answers, and I found The Candidate very true to life as a result. The world has moved on since the 70s, but politics really haven't. 5 years 6 months ago
2. 

   JCS

   Alright film, more like a documentary style. 12 years 6 months ago

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