THE FRONT RUNNER

The film follows the rise and fall of Senator Hart, who captured the imagination of young voters and was considered the overwhelming front runner for the 1988 Democratic presidential nomination when his campaign was sidelined by the story of an extramarital relationship. As tabloid journalism and political journalism merged for the first time, Senator Hart was forced to drop out of the race – events that left a profound and lasting impact on American politics and the world stage.

Jason Reitman (1977) is an American film director, screenwriter and producer. He majored in English/Creative Writing at the University of Southern California. Reitman's first feature film from 2005, Thank You for Smoking, was a commercial and critical success and was nominated for three Golden Globes, including for Best Picture - Musical or Comedy. His second film, Juno, generated great buzz after it premiered at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and earned three other Oscar nominations, including for Best Picture and Best Director. The film was a major box office hit, making it the largest success of Reitman's career. In 2009 Reitman directed Up in the Air, which premiered at the Telluride Film Festival.  It won the Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay and received nominations for Best Picture and Best Director. It earned six Academy Award nominations, including for Best Director, Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay, and recognition from numerous critics' associations.

Starring as disgraced US senator Gary Hart, (Jackman) delivers a thoughtful performance in a film about morality in both politics and the newsroom.

Benjamin Lee, The Guardian