The Front Runner

Directed by Jason Reitman, The Front Runner follows presidential candidate Gary Hart (Hugh Jackman) as his campaign is derailed by scandal. Filmmaker Reitman, armed with a script written alongside Matt Bai and Jay Carson, delivers a mostly watchable yet increasingly erratic drama that benefits substantially from its top-tier performances, as the movie boasts terrific work from a thoroughly impressive roster of players – with Jackman’s often enthralling efforts matched by a supporting cast that includes Vera Farmiga, J. K. Simmons, and Alfred Molina. It’s clear, too, that The Front Runner‘s early success is due in no small part to Reitman’s compelling visual choices, as the filmmaker employs an almost Altmanesque sensibility that proves an ideal match for the fairly dense screenplay. And while the picture remains quite watchable throughout, The Front Runner admittedly does progress into a somewhat repetitive and padded-out second half that diminishes its overall effectiveness and impact – with the final result a decent-enough endeavor that probably should’ve topped out at around 90 minutes.

**1/2 out of ****