THE FRONT RUNNER
Affair of the Hart…
In 1988, US senator Gary Hart – young, charming, intelligent – was cruising towards a Democratic presidential nomination when breaking news of marital infidelity derailed his career. This might seem like a storm in a teacup given the current climate, but Jason Reitman’s film identifies the Hart campaign, and the Miami Herald’s reporting on it, as a pivotal moment.
With its grainy film stock, subtle splicing of real footage, eye for detail, corralling of everyday chaos and eschewing of sensationalism, Reitman’s drama is infused with authenticity. In such a carefully crafted environment, the cast offer lived-in performances, with Hugh Jackman flaunting just the right mix of star quality and idealism (with a tint of sleaze) as Hart, and J.K. Simmons oozing worldweariness and hard-headed pragmatism as his campaign manager. Vera Farmiga, meanwhile, does plenty with the little she’s offered as Hart’s dignified-in-her-suffering wife.
Besides its ace replication of analogue filmmaking, what pleases most about The Front Runner is its refusal to judge. Should a politician’s private life impact on his work? Does taking salacious snapshots in a back alley constitute journalism? What is and isn’t in the public interest? All these questions and more are raised, but don’t expect to be force-fed any easy answers. Jamie Graham
THE VERDICT
The Front Runner won’t be, er, the front runner at the Oscars, but could well find itself part of the campaign trail.