Politics is an interesting but harsh matter, because, having felt a real taste of power and the ability to influence the course of events, a person, as a rule, changes forever. Many people who decided to devote their lives to this field went into it full of personal ideas and beliefs that they decided to implement. But, having taken up a status position and obtained with it a limitless source of power, they began to use them as a tool to promote their personal interests. A similar situation is faced by the main character of the political satire “Candidate”.
Synopsis Bill McKay, an idealist lawyer and an outspoken advocate for nature and the rights of the oppressed, receives an unexpected offer to run for senator of California. Previously never represented himself in politics, Bill gradually plunges into all this arrogance, changing in the eyes of not only the people around him, but also his own.
Robert Redford, who played Bill McKay, embodied the image of a convinced idealist and a true fighter for the rights of the oppressed, who, having tasted popularity and power, changes both as an activist and as an ordinary person. From secondary roles, I would single out Peter Boyle political consultant Marvin Lucas, who knows the entire background of politics to the bone, and therefore played a key role in the election campaign of Bill.
Director Michael Ritchie shot a fairly standard political drama with a mixture of satire. Throughout the film, he focuses not so much on Bill’s campaign as on the changes that are happening to the main character. At the beginning of the film, he appears as a social activist, however, far from all political games. However, having accepted a tempting offer, he gradually plunges into the world of politics. The hero, who once despised those with whom he fought so actively, gradually turns into something similar, changing as a person too. On the one hand, the idea is interesting. But for people who are a little versed in such things, this concept will seem painfully banal and not new.
Scenario According to the plot of the film, political expert and consultant Marvin Lucas offers Bill McKay to take part in the election race for the post of senator from the state of California as an opponent Democrat of the incumbent Republican Senator John McKay. Since the other candidates rejected the proposal, seeing no point in running in a predetermined election, Marvin saw that potential in Bill. Bill, a man far from politics (because he had enough of it when his father was governor), still agrees on the condition that the election campaign will be run only by him. At first, the hero appears as a very weak non-charismatic politician, but, to his own surprise, he begins to win the electorate. When Bill truly feels this seductive mix of popularity and power, he is already changing not just as an activist, but as a person. It is interesting to observe all this, of course, but to imagine the hero as such a glorious fighter who achieved success solely at the expense of his own initiative, and not someone with a large wallet and wide influence, is too naive.
Result In principle, “The Candidate” is not a bad movie. In modern times, it will be considered obsolete. But still it is worth noting the satirical orientation and, of course, the acting, replete with genuine talent.
7 out of 10