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Our take
Gary Hart's campaign is overtaken by questions about an affair, and The Front Runner spends most of its time in press rooms and tense conversations at home. Sex is discussed plainly, and the campaign staff swear when the pressure rises. We would start at 14; younger children are unlikely to get much from the political argument.
Uplifting themes
The story raises questions about privacy, press ethics, and whether voters care more about character or policy. It does not preach one answer, which may spark good teen debate with a parent Hart's wife Lee shows dignity under humiliation, and some younger staff wrestle with loyalty versus truth, though few come out spotless
Story (may spoil tone)
Gary Hart, former Senator of Colorado, becomes the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1987. Hart's intelligence, charisma and idealism makes him popular with young voters, leaving him with a seemingly clear path to the White House. All that comes crashing down when allegations of an extramarital affair surface in the media, forcing the candidate to address a scandal that threatens to derail his campaign and personal life.
Details
Language Campaign staff and journalists use the s-word, bull s-word, a-word, and…
Campaign staff and journalists use the s-word, bull s-word, a-word, and several f-words when tempers flare. Milder damn and hell pepper everyday talk
Sex / nudity The plot revolves around affair allegations, reporters asking if Hart h…
The plot revolves around affair allegations, reporters asking if Hart had sex with another woman, and gossip about bedrooms and flirting. There is no explicit sex scene; intimacy stays off screen and in headlines
Drugs / alcohol Whiskey and beer appear at events, cigarette boats are mentioned in pas…
Whiskey and beer appear at events, cigarette boats are mentioned in passing, and dialogue references cocaine dealing in a past case
Flashing lights We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.
We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.
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Talk after watching
- The film asks whether a politician's private life is fair game. Where would you draw that line?
- Reporters say they are just doing their job, but their choices change lives. When does scrutiny become cruelty?
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The Front Runner
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