Running Mates (2000) (TV)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Ron Lagomarsino

Writer (WGA):

Claudia Salter (written by)

Release Date:

13 August 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

See Tom run!

Plot:

Tom Selleck is a governor who is campaigning to win the presidential nomination. |

Plot Keywords:

Governor | Primary Election | Politics | Political Corruption | Politician

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Tom Selleck	...	Gov. James Reynolds Pryce
Laura Linney	...	Lauren Hartman
Nancy Travis	...	Jennifer 'Jenny' Pryce
Teri Hatcher	...	Shawna Morgan
Faye Dunaway	...	Meg Gable
Bob Gunton	...	Sen. Terrence Randall
Bruce McGill	...	Sen. Mitchell Morris
Robert Culp	...	Sen. Parker Gable
Caroline Aaron	...	Jody Daniels
Gia Franzia	...	Delegate (as Gia Natale)
Wayne Pére	...	Aide Larry
Phil Brock	...	Aide Fermin
Matt Malloy	...	Aide Sam
Rachel Wilson	...	Heather Gable
Steffani Brass	...	Brooke Pryce

Also Known As:

Washington Slept Here (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

Netherlands:87 min | USA:90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish | Japanese

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Turner Films Inc.

Soundtrack:

Love Rollercoaster

Negative ad undermines a decent candidate

As a political junkie, I am more likely to enjoy political-themed movies like this one. While 'Running Mates' has some good ingredients (mainly Bob Gunton's populist U.S. Senator), it has some bad ingredients too. The approach is heavy-handed, to say the least. For example, how do we know the U.S. Senator backed by big business is supposed to be a bad guy? He refers to Laura Linney's character (Selleck's campaign manager) as 'bitch' instead of using her real name while they discuss business in a professional setting. And Dunaway is awful, looking wretchedly made-up and overacting outrageously as a onetime flame of Selleck's. And for this she got a Golden Globe nomination? At least Robert Culp (as Dunaway's Senator husband) underplays his part (what little there is of it anyway). Tom Selleck is kind of low key and pretty bland in the lead. However, if he was trying to go for the bland politician look, he nailed it. How much safer of a candidate could Selleck be? Even his climatic convention speech is pretty tame, and that's the CLIMAX! Overall, a decent time, if you get past all of those clichés. The cast is pretty good (especially Gunton and Nancy Travis), aside from Dunaway's occasional outbursts and Bruce McGill's slime-ball Senator (though there's not much else he could have done with such a one-note character). And what's with that misleading movie poster? It shows Linney holding hands with Travis (who plays Selleck's wife), insinuating a possible same-sex twist to the story. However, as the movie unfolds, it is obvious that no such link exists. The two aren't even close! Did the filmmakers need to lure viewers that bad? This, nominally a 6, gets bumped down to a 5 because of that poster debacle. Talk about a cheap shot. If you want to see a good political movie check our Bob Roberts (with Tim Robbins). It is a more polished candidate, while Running Mates is more a political hack.