User reviews

The main character in "Power" is Pete St. John, a highly successful media consultant. Pete is to the world of politics what a public relations consultant would be to the world of business. His job is to advise candidates for political office on the best way in which to present themselves to the media and to the electorate. The film focuses on four of Pete's clients- Roberto Cepeda, running for the Presidency of an unnamed Latin-American country, Wallace Furman, running for the Governorship of New Mexico, Andrea Stannard, the incumbent Governor of Washington State, and Jerome Cade, running for the Senate in Ohio.

We are supposed to accept Pete as a ruthless and cynical individual, and he is certainly prepared to act for anyone regardless of their political beliefs. His four clients are, politically speaking, very different. Cepeda is a left-wing populist, Cade a right-wing businessman with ties to the oil industry, Stannard a social liberal and Furman another businessman but a man with few political ideas even though he is anxious for a political career. Cade is hoping to win the Senate seat being vacated by Sam Hastings, who is not merely a former client of Pete's but also a personal friend. Hastings holds environmentalist views which are diametrically opposed to Cade's pro-business opinions, and Pete suspects that his friend may have come under pressure to stand down from the Senate. Pete is forced to take a hard look at himself and to decide whether (as his ex-wife Ellen and his former partner Wilfred believe) he owes his success to a lack of principles.

The film came out in 1986, a time when America was just starting to recover from the trauma of the Watergate scandal of the previous decade. Although many (principally Republicans) believed that Ronald Reagan, who had just won his second successive landslide victory, had restored the American people's faith in their political system, there were many others (not only Democrats but also many foreign observers) who felt that the American people had been the victims of a gigantic political con-trick, that they had been induced to vote for Reagan by a slick political marketing campaign. A film about a slick political marketing man therefore seemed very topical in the mid-eighties.

The film was directed by Sidney Lumet, and could have been an opportunity to do for the American political system what Lumet had done for the American media in the brilliantly satirical "Network" around a decade earlier. Unfortunately, it never really works in the same way as "Network" had done, for a number of reasons. The first is the acting. "Network" had at its centre a towering performance from Peter Finch, well-supported by excellent contributions from William Holden and Faye Dunaway. There is nothing really comparable in "Power". Although Richard Gere is good in the earlier part of the film as the unscrupulous smooth operator, he seems less convincing later on when Pete rediscovers his principles. The supporting actors are not very memorable; there are some big names in the cast, but Julie Christie as Ellen, Gene Hackman as Wilfred and E. G. Marshall as Sam have all done much better things than this. Perhaps the best is Denzel Washington as Arnold Billing, Cade's ruthless public relations man.

The second reason for the film's relative lack of success is that it never actually succeeds in convincing us that Pete really is all that unprincipled. He may not care very much whether his clients come from the left or right of the ideological spectrum, but we never actually see him do anything unethical until, ironically, after his supposed "conversion" when he supplies confidential information to his client's opponent. We see commercials he makes in support of Furman and Stannard, but both are very mild and defensive in tone. A really unscrupulous politician like Richard Nixon, notorious for his use of "dirty tricks" against opponents, would have sacked Pete from his campaign team for being a pussy.

The third reason is that there are too many competing story lines. It would have made for a more dramatic and powerful film if Lumet and the scriptwriter David Himmelstein had concentrated on just one, preferably the Senatorial race in Ohio, which is the most important and most potentially interesting of the four stories. The Latin American storyline seems to be dropped quite early on- we never learn whether Cepeda becomes President of his country- but the Ohio story is continually interrupted as Pete jets off to Seattle or Santa Fe.

"Power" is not altogether a bad film. The problem is that it could have been so much better. The idea of a film examining political corruption, not just the corruption of those who seek to wield power through holding political office but also the corruption of those who seek to wield power by influencing public opinion, was a good one. It could have been the occasion for a brilliant film. Unfortunately, "Power" tries to be that film but falls some way short of what it could have been. 6/10

Nearly 20 years after its initial release, Sidney Lumet's "Power" is more timely than ever. With the U.S.A. currently under the leadership of an individual who entered the Presidency with no democratic mandate, having lost the general election, who attained office by virtue of a de facto appointment by the United States Supreme Court, and who has since chosen to make the country the aggressor in an internationally condemned war of 'preemption', many Americans are left wondering how such a mental and political lightweight attained the highest office in the land. This film helps make clear the process by which many venal, poorly qualified candidates are able to achieve office in American politics. It portrays the power of the most adept advertising industry in the world as it is used to slickly package a political product for the voting public's consumption, and how foreign economic and political interests can play an important role in the process.

With a sizable cast, it's perhaps not surprising that the quality of the performances varied as widely as they did. Richard Gere does an excellent job as Peter St. John, the packager for candidates running in several different elections through the course of the movie. Denzel Washington displays a reptilian cold-bloodedness as his antagonist, a quality he will bring to full fruition in the later "Training Day" (2001). J.T. Walsh, one of the best at playing villains, is also good in his limited role. Kate Capshaw and E.G. Marshall hold up their parts well, but Julie Christie and especially Gene Hackman are not at their best here. Beatrice Straight received a well-deserved Razzie nomination for Worst Supporting Actress. After her big scene, there wasn't a piece of the set that didn't have her teethmarks all over it.

The cinematography, by Andrzej Bartkowiak, was terrific, and the musical score complemented the film well, particularly the repeated use of Bennie Goodman's "Sing, sing, sing" with its driving drum solo (by Gene Krupa in the original recording, I believe) used to symbolize St. John's ambition.

Two trivia points: The television game show St. John turns on in his hotel room when he discovers his phone has been bugged is, appropriately, "The Price is Right." The rock outcrop scenery for the political commercial supposedly being filmed in Chaco Canyon, New Mexico is actually part of Vasquez Rocks in southern California, a backdrop that has been used in countless movies and television shows.

As political films go, "Power" is much better than average and well worth viewing. Rating: 7/10.

The box cover and the title for the movie are wrong. This is not a movie about power, but the power of the media. The cover shows a little figure of a man (Gere) standing in the center of the title: Power. Almost as timeless as Network, Power is also the story of the media and the power it has over the world. Gere is the star of the film, but Gene Hackman and Denzel Washington carry the film with their great supporting roles. Although the plot of the South American candidate disappears somewhere in the middle of the movie, the story of the 3 other candidates in Washington, Ohio and New Mexico is what keeps the movie going. An interesting and very true look into the world of the media in politics, Power is a shelved classic that is worth the watch.

Perhaps this film would have hit me harder in 1986, but now, with so many movies and so much news reporting about the inner workings of politics and image-makers, I watched it on DVD (loaned by Ron and Evelyn) and came away thinking, "so what?" There really isn't anything new or Earth-shaking. Gere is good as the hot-shot political consultant who gets high dollars to get candidates elected to offices at various levels all over the USA and even Central and South America. He tells them, "do what I tell you and after you get into office, you can do whatever you want." I got the feeling that the movie is very authentic but has no great impact when it was over. The critic Ebert has a very fair and complete review. It's median IMDb vote of '6' is about right.

Continuing my plan to watch every movie in Denzel Washington's filmography, I come to 1986's Power

WOW talk about a step up, Denzel goes from two made for TV movies to starring with Gene Hackman, Julie Christie and Richard Gere in a movie directed by Sidney Lumet.

Lumet has directed some great movies and has directed great actors to great performances (Al Pacino in Serpico and Dog Day Afternoon, Paul Newman in Verdict, Christopher Reeve in Death Trap, Peter Finch, Robert DuVall and Ned Beatty in Network, Sean Connery in The Hill, The Offence, The Anderson Tapes and Family Business) and with regards to the actors this is no exception, but for me, the movie just falls short, not delivering on its set up and potential.

Hackman is a master at these type of roles, Julie Christie is always great; J. T Walsh and E. G Marshall never disappoint, whilst Kate Capshaw is the best I have ever seen her. As for Denzel, he doesn't have a lot of screen time, but he makes the most of what he does have and it is an important role.

Random fact: Burt Reynolds was cast in the Richard Gere role, but due to a jaw injury he recorded when filming City Heat, he had to drop out.

This may explain why Gere is sporting a Burt Reynolds like, moustache in the movie.

The beginning of Power is complicated, but just keep watching the movie and it'll all become clear to you. Richard Gere stars as a savvy campaign consultant who knows how to win elections. He knows that issues aren't as important as how a voter feels about a candidate, and his track record is so splendid, people across the country vie to hire him during election season. The movie follows him as he works on his main campaigns, but there's another obstacle in the way besides November. One of his clients, E. G. Marshall, has failing health and isn't seeking re-election. His spot is up for grabs, and different people want the power that comes with his Senate seat - even international villains. Also in the supporting cast are Kate Capshaw, Julie Christie, Beatrice Straight (understandable, since Sidney Lumet also made Network), Michael Learned, J. T. Walsh, a young Denzel Washington, and a strangely effeminate Gene Hackman Back in 1986, it was probably a big deal to film a script that exposed the inner workings of a political campaign. But today, it's common knowledge that a campaign manager will tell a candidate to work on his tan rather than his stance on an issue. It just doesn't have the same effect anymore. Or, perhaps, I'm too knowledgeable for my own good. I was a political science major in college, with an emphasis in campaign management, so to me, the lifting of the campaign season's curtain wasn't a revelation. I've been actively involved in politics for the past twenty years, and to be honest, I can't imagine having a non-political brain. Perhaps my impression of this film is correct, or perhaps there are people who will find it surprising. To those folks, go ahead and rent it if you like behind-the-scenes political dramas, to see that subgenre's daddy. But if you're political and looking for a shock, you won't find it here. Check out Our Brand Is Crisis for the equivalent of Power, thirty years later.

Everyone involved (and the audience) should seek out "The Candidate" to see how good this movie could have been. What happened the South American story? What were Julie Christie and Kate Capshaw thinking to allow their roles to be cardboard cut-outs. Up to now I have liked every Gene Hackman performance and/or movie. He was either disinterested (which I can hardly believe) or dreadfully miscast. I have also liked and defended Richard Gere (and been vilified for it). But here he had no "power". He was never intimidating and only occasionally persuasive. All in all I was very disappointed. I really expected much more from this director and cast. If you can't find "The Candidate" watch "Wag the dog" again or even "Bulworth".

Pete St. John (Richard Gere) is a high-powered political consultant. One moment, he's working for a Latin American revolutionary. Next, he's in American politics. Rival consultant Arnold Billings (Denzel Washington) works for Arab oil and doesn't want his man to win in Latin America. Ellen Freeman (Julie Christie) is his ex-wife, Sydney Betterman (Kate Capshaw) is his assistant, and Wilfred Buckley (Gene Hackman) is his ex-partner. His friend, Ohio US Senator Sam Hastings (E. G. Marshall), is retiring while suspiciously claiming to be ill. Billings calls him up offering wealthy unknown businessman Jerome Cade (J. T. Walsh) for the seat. He joins the campaign and slowly uncovers the dirty politics.

This is directed by Sidney Lumet and I've never heard of it. There are some big names here. Sure, it's not the right genre for me back in the day. It probably wasn't well-received enough to piqued my curiosity. The political machine is well-researched. Some is more real and predictive than others. The backroom is somewhat fine, but there is no ground game. It tries for some comedy which doesn't work. The climax has no action or kinetic energy. The story has a reveal which isn't that surprising or that dark. This is all a bit flat.

There is a reason this political film flies under the radar; I doubt it's up for rediscovery, either. A power cast and a power director (Sidney Lumet--director of Dog Day Afternoon and Network) should somehow add up to more than this limp media expose, but once in a while a movie is just an entertainment, and with Richard Gere in thoughtful mode (without much of a character or a script), Julie Christie as a concerned ex-spouse, and Denzel Washington cast against type, this is an OK two hours that don't demand much from the viewer, and, while predictable, certainly meant well.

It was the script, Sidney, and someone should have told you. Wag The Dog is the political gem that works; The Candidate or even better, the original Manchurian Candidate with Sinatra are more persuasive--but if you like the stars, this one passes the time pleasantly.

Power (1986) stars Pete (Richard Gere) , a ruthless media consultant working for politicians , with clients spread around the country . He's an amoral image-maker whose services , packaging politicians for a TV orientated society , guarantee success. Pete used to work for Wilfred Buckley (Gene Hackman) until a professional disagreement led to Pete deciding to start his own consulting business, Wilfred who is now a friendly rival for the same pool of clients . After a close friend (E. G. Marhall) drops out of politics, the political consultant helping to find a replacement finds a web of corruption and deceit as well. That retirement leads to Pete being sought out by political neophyte Jerome Cade (J. T. Walsh) , who is looking to win the vacated seat. More seductive than sex... More addictive than any drug... More precious than gold. And one man can get it for you. For a price. Nothing else comes close. Smart woman , ex wife . You have the ballot. But who has the power?

A tiring often downright embarrassing story of politics and media manipulation marked a real low point in the career of Richard Gere . Fine cast can't find the energy needed to make this great , but it's still interesting . Support cast are pretty good though wasted , including prestigious actors , such as : Gene Hackman, Denzel Washington, E. G. Marshall, Beatrice Straight, Fritz Weaver, Michael Learned, J. T. Walsh and Matt Salinger . In addition , veteran Julie Christie and Kate Capshaw , Spielberg's wife , add love interest but their roles are bland cyphers . All the plot twists are well telegraphed in a storyline that doesn't come anywhere near director Lumet's corrosive exposé of other movies .Lumet did better with same material in Network and other films.

It contains adequate cinematography by Andrzej Bartkowiak and atmospheric musical score by Cy Coleman. The motion picture was middlingly directed by Sidney Lumet and it failed at box-office . After starting an off-Broadway acting troupe in the late 1940s, he became the director of many television shows in the 1950s. Lumet made his feature film Adaptation of directing debut with 12 Angry Men (1957), which won the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival and earned three Academy Award nominations. The courtroom drama, which takes place almost entirely in a jury room, is justly regarded as one of the most auspicious directorial debuts in film history. Lumet got the chance to direct Marlon Brando in The Figitive Kind (1960), an imperfect, but powerful adaptation of Tennessee Williams'. One of the best films was ¨Network¨, giving powerful scenes and providing a lavishly mounted vehicle for three great actors, Peter Finch, Faye Dunaway and William Holden. .Lumet was one of the best American filmmakers, including important films such as 12 angry men, Fail safe, The pawnbroker, The hill, The deadly affair, The group, The offence, Serpico , Equus, The wiz, Prince of the city , Deathtrap , Daniel, Power, The morning after, Family business, Night falls on Manhattan, Gloria, Before the devil knows you are dead, among others. Rating 4.5/10. Average.

Having worked in the political consulting industry, I found this film very realistic and true to form, although no one I knew had a private jet and I never got to take showers with my personal assistant. But the strategies and tactics shown in the film are a very good example of how the industry works. I enjoy watching the film every so often to remind me how much I did enjoy the business and how happy I am that I am no longer in it. The one thing they forgot to show was how difficult it was to collect our fees after the elections were over.

The main problem with "Power" is that it features way too may pointless characters and subplots that add absolutely nothing to the movie whatsoever. It gets boring after awhile, sitting around waiting through scenes that don't connect to find something that drives the movie forward. You could probably pass it all off as character development, but all of them are either recycled from earlier scenes in the movie, or are just simply to flat and uninteresting. Lumet never gives enough time to let any of the supporting cast blossom. He should have cut a few of the characters (hackman, the wife) and concentrated harder on others (Billings). It could have been a great, hard political thriller instead of a jumbled mess that loses any message in a sea of bad writing and acting, a fact that amazed me considering the cast. Even Gene Hackman performance wasn't up to par. Denzel Washington is the only real actor of note here. Gere and the others have all done much better performances elsewhere.

Sidney Lumet needs to go back to the fierce one man shows he did in the seventies (i.e, Serpico) and stop trying to recapture his success with "12 Angry Men" and "Fail Safe". It hasn't worked yet Sidney, and it most likely never will. leave the ensemble dramas to Altman.

3/10

* / * * * *

...the doors opened and fresh air rushed in as a weary audience trudged sleepily from the theater to the parking lot.

"Power" is powerful medicine for those unable to get some sleep. Buy this as a CD or VHS and keep it in your bedroom for those nights when you are wide awake.

Those who liked the film did so because they find a political reason for it. It was written in the 1980s and apparently for no particular reason at all other than to make some quick bucks...which it did not.

Reviewers and public held the project in such low esteem that only a few critics and political zealots bother to comment on it.

judging by the title and the tag line,you would think this a brilliant movie.far from,in my estimation.i found it run of the mill,plodding at times.i think it's partly because there have been so many films that have covered the genre(political intrigue)way better and raised the bar.Power hasn't really aged well.is it a horrible movie?no,more like vanilla,nothing special.i had trouble watching to the end,and can't see myself viewing it again anytime soon.i'm afraid the Power went out on this movie long before it was over.but here's the dilemma.it's better than awful,but not all that good either.sounds like about a 5/10 for me,but that's just my opinion.

Power was at first a dauntingly big movie to take in. Looking at it from the perspective of the lead character played by Gere (Pete St John) ... what you'll see here is a man working like a dog trying to promote a range of political candidates all over a big country. On the surface it looks like he's working only for the money. But as you dig deeper, he actually is very carefull about his work.

I felt the movie was very accurate in showing us what happens in a major league PR Firm. And as it turns out the side comments Pete St John makes (Gere) and his staff show the true challenges their job entails. It's both educational and accurate.

I liked the movie a lot. It has inspired me to work in the PR field. And I recommend anyone to watch it and learn from it.

If the only sex you've ever had is with a farm animal, then the tag line for this movie is probably still misleading.

This is by far one of the most boring movies I've had the pleasure to try and watch lately. I found the DVD lying around at my friend's house, and I made the sad mistake of not burning it.

I am unable to tell any details without spoiling the movie because there are only about 5 details to this movie. Just try to imagine someone making a movie about things on c-span only the fictional movie is 10 times less interesting than the most boring debate on c-span.

I think there is a conspiracy somewhere in this movie, but I was unable to tell exactly what it was after I gouched my eyeballs out and threw them at Richard Gere.

I don't know what Cy Coleman concocted for this otherwise good picture, but the reason I never stop watching it again is the music in which it is soaked from the beginning to the end, i.e.unending recollections of SING SING SING, as played by Benny Goodman and his band in the late thirties. Benny had passed more than ten years when the film was finished, so they skipped him from the credentials, together with Louis Prima, who composed the famous standard. Revolting. henry caraso

Great director. Great actors. What could go wrong? Well, many things. Let's start with the story. Have you read the synopsis on Imdb? I did and I still didnt understand what this movie was about. Basically this movie is a portrait of a pr manager for politicians. Back in the eighties it was kinda new to have pr managers running an election campaign. Now every upcoming tv personality has got a pr campaign. Therefore the story is outdated.

The execution of this story is done in a very bland way. There is none of the usual Sidney Lumet magic to be seen in this story. The photography looks bland and all the actors look rather silly. Richard Gere's moustache looks really silly. So does Gene Hackman's "polish" accent. There is no real suspense in this story. No chemistry between the actors. It all looks terribly bland and dated.

Only 17 reviews for this movie, that says a lot. This is one of the few flops talented director Sidney Lumet has made. Watch the classic "Network" instead by the same director, that movie is old as well, but has tons of emotions and a very suspenseful and thought provoking story, all of which are lacking in "Power".

Movies are Generally Rated in Context.

The Totality of the Talent, Budget, and Overall Resources Available to the Film-Makers.

Comparative Grouping with its Peers.

This is One of those that had at its Beckoning Call a Major Team of A-List Talent.

Superior Financing, and a Dream-Team of Hollywood Royalty.

So What Went Wrong?

The Movie Plays Like All Involved were Wearing Blinders.

Oblivious to Concerns About the Things that Make Movies Click.

The Director, Sidney Lumet has a Stellar Filmography,.

But His Helming on this Embarrassing Entry is, well, Embarrassing.

Attempting to Shine a Light on a Dark Profession that Manipulates, Slings Half-Truths, and Falsehoods.

Using the Tricks of the Trade to Sell Soul-Less, Empty Entities to the Masses, is Woefully Inept.

It All Began and was Laid Out in the 1920's

With Edward Bernays Little Bible for the Elite to Control the Minds of Men Titled "Propaganda".

The Term a Non-Pejorative Before the Nazis.

It is a Masterpiece of Public Relations and Advertising Techniques.

That Created the Template for Madison Avenue and Beyond.

Bernays Outline is Still Used Today.

This Movie is the Opposite of a Masterpiece.

It is a Monumental Mess on Every Level.

Actors Over-Act...The Script is Boring as Hell.

Every Aspect of Technology and Techniques of the Trade are Hopelessly Dated.

While Trying So-Hard to be Cutting-Edge.

The Tape Reels Spinning, the TV Screens, the Wires, etc. Border on a Fetish.

Gene Hackman, Denzel Washington, and Richard Gere Give Perhaps the Worst Performances of Their Careers.

Nothing On-Screen Works and Nothing Rings True.

Sidney Lumet's lowest rated movie is actually a mature work by one of the greats, unfortunately it is a movie about ethics, and not flawless in dealing with such an noncommercial theme. It is about a main character that discovers the nature of the game he is playing, and the consequences of his professionalism. A hired gun realizes that the game is not a game, it is power. While not Lumet's masterpiece (see Network), it is still a worthy movie, brutally underrated.

Sidney Lumet's "Power" makes an analysis on how political campaigns are made and the work of people behind it like Pete St. John (Richard Gere), a media consultant chosen to work for a unknown candidate for Ohio senate, the businessman Jerome Cade (J.T. Walsh) who is about to take the seat of an more experienced Senator (E.G. Marshall) longtime friend of Pete. Pete's unsure if this man will make the same good things his old friend did while as member of the Congress but he takes the challenge and accept the job.

Pete will make things work out, after all he's the best man in his business, young, talented and ambitious with an enormous taste for the power (the biggest aphrodisiac of all, some might say). But, in this particular campaign he'll join forces with Arnold Billing (Denzel Washington), a unscrupulous public relations who doesn't trust Pete and vice versa, and while working on promoting the new Senator, Pete investigates Billing trying to figure out what he and his associates have to hide from him. And of course the other side will do the same and that will give something to St. John reflect on his way of living and the way he conduces things (e.g. the manipulated video campaign of a Latin politician trying to save a girl during a protest; Pete was behind everything telling how the man should act in order to get sympathy from his voters). Luckily, on his side there's old friends like his ex-wife, the journalist Ellen (Julie Christie) and his former partner in business Wilfrid (Gene Hackman), now a drunken, decadent and highly ethical man who no longer makes good campaigns for his clients.

David Himmelstein's screenplay fascinates us for showing the importance of a candidate's image and how influential media consultants can be in doing marvelous (and totally manipulated) campaigns. One small thing makes a huge difference in getting elected or not. "Power" has a realistic view of money and power and how they work together but there's a catch in the final moments that almost ruins the film. This realism which was working quite well succumbed to a happy ending where good idealism and honesty wins over the power of corruption, lies and deceptions, quite rare back in the 1980's and even more now in the 21st century, specially when it comes to politics. The movie denied itself with this; the writer's rhetoric failed at this point but it's nothing so harmful, it's just a little contradiction.

However, the script has another problem, this one concerning the motivations behind the characters, what they were fighting for, what they were up against; there's too many sides (Cade's working for powerful people like him, who seems to be dealing with oil from the Arabs; the idealist junior candidate played by Matt Salinger wants to protect the environment; and there's another one but we cannot care about him); it was all confusing, muddled, quite complicated to follow everyone and everything. To give an example of another work directed by Sidney Lumet on a similar subject of media that worked better with these side issues "Network" was terrific and effectively great, we all knew which character was standing for and why.

Just like "Network" this also has big names in the casting but the performances pale in comparison. Gere is quite comfortable in the main role, even though most critics argue he wasn't a good choice; I enjoyed him playing this kind of guy who seems to be a villain but it turns out he's not that bad; Christie is good; Hackman was very underused and Beatrice Straight was quite distractive as the old Senator's wife. The movie offers a highlight to Denzel Washington playing a tough type to crack, the real antagonist even though this is not being the usual hero versus villain film. By far, Denzel is the one you can't take your eyes off for the whole thing.

Highly watchable for what the story has to say, the lessons some of us can learn with elections and how illusionary they can be. "Power" indeed is a powerful drama. 9/10