On the candidate’s trail
Jackman tries to comprehend charismatic, scandal-rocked Gary Hart in ‘Front Runner’
NEW YORK — For Hugh Jackman, “The Front Runner” is a movie about a longago political event whose consequences reverberate today.
In the 1987 presidential race, charismatic Democrat Gary Hart was the frontrunner for the nomination and favored to easily win.
Then came a sex scandal with young, single Donna Rice, a luxury yacht unfortunately named Monkey Business and an incriminating photo of the married candidate with Rice on his lap.
The post-Watergate press actively pursued and exploited Hart’s liaison.
After just three days of headlines, Hart quit the race. Moviegoers may wonder if he’s nuts or unbelievably arrogant.
“There’s another answer,” said Jackman, 50, in a oneon-one sitdown at the Crosby Street Hotel. “For me, Gary was trying to focus on what was important.
“What was most terrifying to him is (with the scandal) he wouldn’t have the ability to actually outline his plans for the future of the country.
“He hated the personal attention. But he hated more than anything that the whole political process had been hijacked with his personal life.
“Some people who were close to him say that for a man who could see the future, he was blind to what was happening with the press coverage.
“There might have been a way for him to save his candidacy, but there were principles and lines he would not cross to get there.
“One of them was, ‘If I start talking about my marriage and my private life, then it’s open season for all time for everybody else.’
“We already know, in hindsight, it was already gone. The National Enquirer would be a huge part of every election. Those days were over. But he was not going to be a part of it himself.”
The Aussie met with Hart, now 80, and his wife, Lee. “They’re celebrating 60 years of marriage.”
Jackman’s dilemma: “How do you play an enigma? That question dogged me the whole time. As an actor, I’m drawn to roles like Barnum or Logan, where their heart beats out of their chest a little.
“This is the opposite. Gary’s one of those people you never really understand, either because of their intellect or they’re a private person. That was the greatest challenge for sure.
“I really relied on Jason (Reitman, the director) to help me out a lot there.” (“The Front Runner” opens Friday.)