The Congressman

The casting and acting were stellar, the dialogue was entertaining and thought-provoking, humor was sprinkled throughout, the pace was quick, character development was excellent, the scenery of Monhegan Island, Maine was gorgeous, capturing many aspects of the island's beauty (forest, coast, village,...),... The highlights for me were the points made about the pledge of allegiance, the importance of nurturing a marriage, and how good this congressman was at listening to his constituents. This movie captured much in a short amount of time.

The timing of "The Congressman" is perfect for this tumultuous time in American history. Written by a retired congressman, who made significant contributions including protecting the Alaskan forest, it captures the essence of what we think a good-hearted congressman would do if he/she was not influenced by forces not in the interest of democracy, the environment, or the people. I haven't seen Mr. Smith Goes to Washington in forty years, but I think that movie had a similar spirit, if I remember correctly.

Congressman Charlie Winship (Treat Williams) is tired of being a Congressman, drinks a lot, is undergoing a divorce and and won't stand during the Pledge of Allegiance in the House of Representatives to start the business day. There is a movement to recall him.

Charlie gets invited to a small fishing town on an island that is having problems with poachers taking their lobsters. This is where he has a realization of what is important in life and comes to understand what being a Congressman is all about and he is determined to help the town.

This is too simple a plot and we needed something more to sustain us. The acting is good all around; and the solutions to the poaching problems were telegraphed from the very beginning. So we just sat back and enjoyed the cinematography, which was very good. There could have been more drama regarding the Recall effort. There could have been more conflicts with the poachers, but all we got was a fishing boat being blown up.

Notables: Elizabeth Marvel as Rae, Charlie's romantic interest on the fishing island; George Hamilton as Laird Devereaux who is the prime force to recall Charlie.

We were concerned how Charlie would get himself out of being recalled for not standing during the Pledge of Allegiance in the House. This came to be the twist we hoped for. (5/10)

Violence: Yes. A bloody nose on a basketball court and a fishing boat exploding. Sex: No. Sex: No. Language: Yes and much of it seemed forced.

Sometimes life moves at a pace that requires a 'reset' and the beauty of the coast of Maine stirs one's thoughts back to what is important. Treat Williams provides a great portrayal of a career politician, Congressman, who reconnects with the beauty of Maine and the people he represents. Interesting to gain perspective on the life and manipulations in politics. This movie grabs your attention immediately with a kickoff of time represented in pictures. The politics involved make you question how you would handle the situation that arises. The supporting actors are perfectly cast, grasping the lifestyle of a small lobster trapping town facing it's own Goliath. This is amust see film that you will enjoy watching time and time again.

This movie kept my interest from beginning to end and I wasn't even bored. It did have one major conceptual error though. Being made in 2015 we are decades past the time when anyone in the media would go after a Democrat to take them out. Not gonna happen. So with a little rearranging the story could be made plausible. Too bad the writers weren't more savvy and realistic. It could have been a bigger hit. You won't be disappointed with the acting. Very well done. 6.7/10.

35 years ago Robert Mrazek was quoted as saying that a successful screen play should contain a lot of sex and violence or else be "damned good." The latter is the case with "The Congressman," his long-awaited cinematic debut. The violence in "The Congressman" is subtle, the sexuality implied. Mrazek doesn't preach at us as Sorkin might have. He transforms character flaws into cautionary tales, he tells us what can happen in life if we value our own integrity, say what we mean, mean what we say. Take out a few f-bombs and "The Congressman" might serve as a means to teach our children and grandchildren what government service should be all about.