The Candidate

Audience Reviews

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Mickey B @Mickerdoo Aug 10 I mean Redford is charming, has a good speech and I don’t hate his platform. I could see how he’d get some votes. Politics tires me. See more Shaun G @RT66815191 Oct 21 Billed as a comedy or at least a satire, I felt the movie played itself too straight to come across as either. Perhaps the reality of modern politics has rubbed the satirical edge off of this 70s look at politics. Redford is likeable enough, but there were no 'laugh' moments, I felt it was too straight for comedy and not enough substance to be gripping. I watched the movie in small bursts to get through it. See more Matheus F @matheusf_neto Sep 29 I love the script of this movie and the performances of Redford and Boyle. See more Atilla T @Treviewd1nce Sep 24 Fell asleep towards the end. Also, how little has changed in our politics. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Sep 16 Funny in 1 hour and 50 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Ed . @RT01276001 08/29/2025 Nepo baby eeks victory over professional politician. The Candidate is the first film to portray a political campaign in the ‘modern’ era, i.e., color television. Robert Redford's understated performance of a slow descent from idealism to jaded politician is fine. The Candidate grows more anodyne as his polls rise. The film quietly shows a Gary Hart moment where a female groupie exits the Candidate’s hotel room seconds before he does, all while Peter Boyle’s campaign manager looks on. There’s no comment or even any nonverbal acknowledgement of this, and it first gave me the impression that this may have been due to a cut on the editing table. However, I believe this is further evidence of the Candidate’s moral compass succumbing to power and opportunity. There's no resorting to either hero worship a la The American President or to demonization of the opponent, apparently named after the now defunct Crocker Bank. While I enjoyed this film, I have a couple of questions and a comment: (1) Why was Redford’s character so naïve about the campaign trail considering his father was an esteemed former Governor of the State? (2) It’s a general rule that the polls tighten during a long campaign, especially when an unknown candidate gets more attention and becomes more known. Many voters go from undecided to their party’s candidate. That this was not mentioned at all is curious. My comment: That Parade Magazine photographer was waaaay out of line with his joking comment to the Candidate that he was having an affair with his wife. I would have thrown the guy out of my house. While this joke was not suggested by the wife, she showed indignation and was upset by her husband’s displeasure. Perhaps this is a subtle hint of the status of their marriage. I would have found this unacceptable. Then again, I would not have brought the campaign wench to my room either. Great performances by Redford, Boyle, Don Porter as the Incumbent, and the one and only Melvyn Douglas. See more Read all reviews

The Candidate

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