The Contender
The vice president is dead, and as the president makes his choice for a replacement, a secret contest of wills is being waged by a formidable rival. When Senator Laine Hanson is nominated as the first woman in history to hold the office, hidden agendas explode into a battle for power.
Working with a mid-range budget of $20.0M, the film achieved a steady performer with $22.4M in global revenue (+12% profit margin).
Nominated for 2 Oscars. 1 win & 22 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
The Contender (2000) demonstrates carefully calibrated plot construction, characteristic of Rod Lurie's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 6 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.6, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Laine Hanson
Shelly Runyon
President Jackson Evans
Jack Hathaway
Kermit Newman
Reginald Webster
Main Cast & Characters
Laine Hanson
Played by Joan Allen
Senator and Vice Presidential nominee facing political attacks over her past.
Shelly Runyon
Played by Gary Oldman
Republican congressman leading the confirmation hearing with a personal vendetta.
President Jackson Evans
Played by Jeff Bridges
The sitting President who nominates Hanson despite political pressure.
Jack Hathaway
Played by William Petersen
Democratic Governor passed over for VP nomination after a scandal.
Kermit Newman
Played by Sam Elliott
White House Chief of Staff advising the President during the confirmation crisis.
Reginald Webster
Played by Christian Slater
Elderly Democratic congressman on the confirmation committee who supports Hanson.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (2% through the runtime) establishes Senator Laine Hanson is shown as a respected, principled Democratic senator, living a quiet life with her family. She is established as competent and ethical in her current role.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when President Jackson offers Laine Hanson the Vice Presidential nomination. This unexpected opportunity disrupts her stable Senate career and thrusts her into the national spotlight.. At 11% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 30 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Hanson formally enters the confirmation hearing process. She makes the active choice to face the committee despite warnings about Runyon's opposition. She crosses into the hostile world of the confirmation battle., moving from reaction to action.
At 63 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat False defeat: Runyon presents damaging photographs and witness testimony about alleged sexual misconduct. Public opinion turns sharply against Hanson. What seemed like a principled stand now appears to be collapsing. The stakes are raised dramatically., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 95 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, All is lost: President Jackson, under immense pressure, asks Hanson to withdraw her nomination. Her dream of the Vice Presidency dies. Her reputation appears destroyed. The whiff of death - her political career seems finished., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 101 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Synthesis and revelation: The President's aide Kermit reveals that the entire scandal was fabricated - Runyon's witness lied. Additionally, evidence emerges of Runyon's own hypocrisy. Armed with truth and renewed conviction, Hanson sees the path forward., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Contender's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping The Contender against these established plot points, we can identify how Rod Lurie utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Contender within the drama genre.
Rod Lurie's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Rod Lurie films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. The Contender represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Rod Lurie filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include After Thomas, South Pacific and Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights. For more Rod Lurie analyses, see Straw Dogs, The Last Castle.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Senator Laine Hanson is shown as a respected, principled Democratic senator, living a quiet life with her family. She is established as competent and ethical in her current role.
Theme
President Jackson states the theme about principles vs. politics: "Greatness is not what we have, it's what we give." The story will explore whether integrity can survive political warfare.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of the political world: the Vice President has died, President Jackson must choose a replacement. We meet key players including Congressman Shelly Runyon, who chairs the confirmation committee. Hanson's family life and political career are established.
Disruption
President Jackson offers Laine Hanson the Vice Presidential nomination. This unexpected opportunity disrupts her stable Senate career and thrusts her into the national spotlight.
Resistance
Hanson debates accepting the nomination, consulting with her husband and advisors. She prepares for confirmation hearings. Meanwhile, Runyon begins investigating her past, driven by his preference for Governor Hathaway and partisan motives.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Hanson formally enters the confirmation hearing process. She makes the active choice to face the committee despite warnings about Runyon's opposition. She crosses into the hostile world of the confirmation battle.
Mirror World
President Jackson becomes Hanson's mentor and thematic mirror. He believes in standing on principle regardless of political cost, embodying the theme. Their relationship will teach Hanson about maintaining integrity under fire.
Premise
The "promise of the premise" - political warfare on display. Runyon and his team unleash sexual allegations about Hanson's college past. The hearing becomes a media circus. Hanson refuses to dignify the accusations with responses, standing on principle.
Midpoint
False defeat: Runyon presents damaging photographs and witness testimony about alleged sexual misconduct. Public opinion turns sharply against Hanson. What seemed like a principled stand now appears to be collapsing. The stakes are raised dramatically.
Opposition
The opposition closes in from all sides. Media attacks intensify, political allies waver, even the President's staff urges him to withdraw Hanson's nomination. Her family suffers. Hanson continues refusing to defend herself, causing frustration among supporters.
Collapse
All is lost: President Jackson, under immense pressure, asks Hanson to withdraw her nomination. Her dream of the Vice Presidency dies. Her reputation appears destroyed. The whiff of death - her political career seems finished.
Crisis
Dark night of the soul: Hanson faces the decision to quit or continue fighting. She grapples with whether her principled silence was noble or foolish. She must decide if the cost to her family and career was worth it.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Synthesis and revelation: The President's aide Kermit reveals that the entire scandal was fabricated - Runyon's witness lied. Additionally, evidence emerges of Runyon's own hypocrisy. Armed with truth and renewed conviction, Hanson sees the path forward.
Synthesis
The finale: Hanson returns to the hearing for final testimony. She delivers a powerful speech refusing to dignify the questions about her sex life, asserting it's irrelevant to her qualifications. President Jackson confronts Runyon, exposes his tactics, and strong-arms the confirmation. Hanson is confirmed.
Transformation
Closing image mirrors the opening but transformed: Hanson is sworn in as Vice President, vindicated. She has proven that principle can triumph over politics. She maintained her integrity and won, showing who she has become - a leader who refused to compromise core values.