Votez McKay

The Candidate is a kind of gentle satire on the confrontation of ideological idealism and down-to-earth political reality, where political engagement usually means an endless amount of compromises on the way to obtaining a position from which you can make decisions about public affairs. At the end of this path, only pitiful remnants of the original ideals remain. I would appreciate it if the film, rather than being a socio-critical drama, were a sarcastic comedy on the given theme because the subject prompts it directly. Robert Redford fits perfectly into the role of a likable guy who impresses voters with his youth, energy, and charisma, and the film effectively shows the technology of influencing public opinion through professional image-makers and media advisors, who pull the strings and let themselves be hired by anyone who pays them, regardless of their own political beliefs (if they have any at all). The film is attractive primarily to those who are more interested in politics. Those who are indifferent to it will probably not appreciate the look into the political backstage, and the screenplay is not among those that can appeal to the widest masses of viewers. Overall impression: 70%. (09/08/2011)