Les coulisses du pouvoir

Nearly 20 years after its initial release, Sidney Lumet's "Power" is more timely than ever. With the U.S.A. currently under the leadership of an individual who entered the Presidency with no democratic mandate, having lost the general election, who attained office by virtue of a de facto appointment by the United States Supreme Court, and who has since chosen to make the country the aggressor in an internationally condemned war of 'preemption', many Americans are left wondering how such a mental and political lightweight attained the highest office in the land. This film helps make clear the process by which many venal, poorly qualified candidates are able to achieve office in American politics. It portrays the power of the most adept advertising industry in the world as it is used to slickly package a political product for the voting public's consumption, and how foreign economic and political interests can play an important role in the process.

With a sizable cast, it's perhaps not surprising that the quality of the performances varied as widely as they did. Richard Gere does an excellent job as Peter St. John, the packager for candidates running in several different elections through the course of the movie. Denzel Washington displays a reptilian cold-bloodedness as his antagonist, a quality he will bring to full fruition in the later "Training Day" (2001). J.T. Walsh, one of the best at playing villains, is also good in his limited role. Kate Capshaw and E.G. Marshall hold up their parts well, but Julie Christie and especially Gene Hackman are not at their best here. Beatrice Straight received a well-deserved Razzie nomination for Worst Supporting Actress. After her big scene, there wasn't a piece of the set that didn't have her teethmarks all over it.

The cinematography, by Andrzej Bartkowiak, was terrific, and the musical score complemented the film well, particularly the repeated use of Bennie Goodman's "Sing, sing, sing" with its driving drum solo (by Gene Krupa in the original recording, I believe) used to symbolize St. John's ambition.

Two trivia points: The television game show St. John turns on in his hotel room when he discovers his phone has been bugged is, appropriately, "The Price is Right." The rock outcrop scenery for the political commercial supposedly being filmed in Chaco Canyon, New Mexico is actually part of Vasquez Rocks in southern California, a backdrop that has been used in countless movies and television shows.

As political films go, "Power" is much better than average and well worth viewing. Rating: 7/10.

...the doors opened and fresh air rushed in as a weary audience trudged sleepily from the theater to the parking lot.

"Power" is powerful medicine for those unable to get some sleep. Buy this as a CD or VHS and keep it in your bedroom for those nights when you are wide awake.

Those who liked the film did so because they find a political reason for it. It was written in the 1980s and apparently for no particular reason at all other than to make some quick bucks...which it did not.

Reviewers and public held the project in such low esteem that only a few critics and political zealots bother to comment on it.

Everyone involved (and the audience) should seek out "The Candidate" to see how good this movie could have been. What happened the South American story? What were Julie Christie and Kate Capshaw thinking to allow their roles to be cardboard cut-outs. Up to now I have liked every Gene Hackman performance and/or movie. He was either disinterested (which I can hardly believe) or dreadfully miscast. I have also liked and defended Richard Gere (and been vilified for it). But here he had no "power". He was never intimidating and only occasionally persuasive. All in all I was very disappointed. I really expected much more from this director and cast. If you can't find "The Candidate" watch "Wag the dog" again or even "Bulworth".

The beginning of Power is complicated, but just keep watching the movie and it'll all become clear to you. Richard Gere stars as a savvy campaign consultant who knows how to win elections. He knows that issues aren't as important as how a voter feels about a candidate, and his track record is so splendid, people across the country vie to hire him during election season. The movie follows him as he works on his main campaigns, but there's another obstacle in the way besides November. One of his clients, E. G. Marshall, has failing health and isn't seeking re-election. His spot is up for grabs, and different people want the power that comes with his Senate seat - even international villains. Also in the supporting cast are Kate Capshaw, Julie Christie, Beatrice Straight (understandable, since Sidney Lumet also made Network), Michael Learned, J. T. Walsh, a young Denzel Washington, and a strangely effeminate Gene Hackman Back in 1986, it was probably a big deal to film a script that exposed the inner workings of a political campaign. But today, it's common knowledge that a campaign manager will tell a candidate to work on his tan rather than his stance on an issue. It just doesn't have the same effect anymore. Or, perhaps, I'm too knowledgeable for my own good. I was a political science major in college, with an emphasis in campaign management, so to me, the lifting of the campaign season's curtain wasn't a revelation. I've been actively involved in politics for the past twenty years, and to be honest, I can't imagine having a non-political brain. Perhaps my impression of this film is correct, or perhaps there are people who will find it surprising. To those folks, go ahead and rent it if you like behind-the-scenes political dramas, to see that subgenre's daddy. But if you're political and looking for a shock, you won't find it here. Check out Our Brand Is Crisis for the equivalent of Power, thirty years later.

Perhaps this film would have hit me harder in 1986, but now, with so many movies and so much news reporting about the inner workings of politics and image-makers, I watched it on DVD (loaned by Ron and Evelyn) and came away thinking, "so what?" There really isn't anything new or Earth-shaking. Gere is good as the hot-shot political consultant who gets high dollars to get candidates elected to offices at various levels all over the USA and even Central and South America. He tells them, "do what I tell you and after you get into office, you can do whatever you want." I got the feeling that the movie is very authentic but has no great impact when it was over. The critic Ebert has a very fair and complete review. It's median IMDb vote of '6' is about right.