Is that principal or principle? This is a very talkie political drama with a lot of stars, and unfortunately that's very distracting in the overall mood of what could have been a classic Sidney Lumet directed film on the strength of "Twelve Angry Men", "Network" and "The Verdict". Richard Gere is an influential political adviser, even more powerful than some of his clients, and often more ruthless. When his ruthlessness begins to get out of control and things begin to happen in regard to his clients and families he has to take a look at himself and doesn't like what he sees.
Some of the drama becomes very laughable, and the Academy Award winning Beatrice Straight who won an Oscar for her brief scene in "Network" chews up the scenery in her big scene here, something that Lumet should have toned down. She's the wife of senator E. G. Marshall, resigning in scandal, and Gere has to step in to fix everything, that is if he can find the ethics.
Along the way, he has help from young associate Denzel Washington (quite strong and practically walking away with the film, even though he's not a central character), moralistic ex-wife Julie Christie, former partner Gene Hackman and assistant Kate Capshaw. Unfortunately oscar winners Christie and Hackman are wasted, more attention being paid to their bad hairstyles then their characters. Hackman also has a weird accent that distracts, although he's nothing more than an extended cameo. Michael Learned though is great as a woman governor (similarities to Ann Richards), and I wish that the film had focused more on her.
The similarities to "Network" will be obvious, but this has a more faulty script, taking the film in too many places and never settling down to one theme. Lumet couldn't strike lightning twice, and the elements that should have dominated are supporting. Too many characters is another major issue, and the film becomes preachy without even indicating what its platform is. Gere also seems unprepared to take on such a complex character at this point, and probably would have been much better in this role in the 90's. It's a missed opportunity that I wish they could have taken more care with to get it all right.
Some of the drama becomes very laughable, and the Academy Award winning Beatrice Straight who won an Oscar for her brief scene in "Network" chews up the scenery in her big scene here, something that Lumet should have toned down. She's the wife of senator E. G. Marshall, resigning in scandal, and Gere has to step in to fix everything, that is if he can find the ethics.
Along the way, he has help from young associate Denzel Washington (quite strong and practically walking away with the film, even though he's not a central character), moralistic ex-wife Julie Christie, former partner Gene Hackman and assistant Kate Capshaw. Unfortunately oscar winners Christie and Hackman are wasted, more attention being paid to their bad hairstyles then their characters. Hackman also has a weird accent that distracts, although he's nothing more than an extended cameo. Michael Learned though is great as a woman governor (similarities to Ann Richards), and I wish that the film had focused more on her.
The similarities to "Network" will be obvious, but this has a more faulty script, taking the film in too many places and never settling down to one theme. Lumet couldn't strike lightning twice, and the elements that should have dominated are supporting. Too many characters is another major issue, and the film becomes preachy without even indicating what its platform is. Gere also seems unprepared to take on such a complex character at this point, and probably would have been much better in this role in the 90's. It's a missed opportunity that I wish they could have taken more care with to get it all right.