Front Runner

About Front Runner

'Front Runner' is a political drama film directed by Jason Reitman. It recounts the story of Gary Hart's 1988 presidential campaign, which was derailed when he was caught in a love affair scandal. The story highlights the themes of privacy and the impact of media scrutiny on political campaigns.

Making / Production

This film is based on the 2014 book 'All the Truth Is Out: The Week Politics Went Tabloid' by Matt Bai. The screenplay is written by Matt Bai, Jason Reitman, and Jay Carson and the film was distributed by Sony Pictures. The film was premiered at the Telluride Film Festival in August 2018 and was widely released in November 2018.

Actors

• Hugh Jackman as Gary Hart: Jackman gave an exceptional performance, embodying Hart's charisma and the deep turmoil he experienced with the public scandal.
• Vera Farmiga as Lee Hart: Playing Gary Hart's wife, Farmiga displays a range of emotions, dealing with the personal and public fallout of her husband's infidelity.
• J.K. Simmons as Bill Dixon: Simmons portrays Gary's campaign manager, brilliantly portraying the character's strategic political mind and ethical dilemmas.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film is based on the real-life U.S. Senator Gary Hart's 1988 Presidential campaign.
• 'Front Runner' was the opening night film at the 2018 Telluride Film Festival.
• The film provides a detailed look at the start of political news turning into tabloid stories, which deeply impacts today's political campaigns.

Awards

The movie, although critically acclaimed for its performances and direction, did not win any major awards.

Quotes

• "We're all going to have to grow up a bit." - Gary Hart
• "This campaign is about the future. Not rumors, not sleaze, and I care about the sanctity of this process, whether you do or do not!" - Gary Hart

Music, Soundtrack

• The score for the movie was composed by Rob Simonsen, known for his evocative and stirring compositions.
• The soundtrack was not commercially released, but Simonsen’s subtle and melancholic score greatly amplifies the film's drama and emotion.