# Power (1986 film)

Power is a 1986 American political drama film directed by Sidney Lumet and starring Richard Gere. The original screenplay by David Himmelstein focuses on political corruption and how power affects both those who wield it and the people they try to control.
Denzel Washington's performance in the film as public relations expert Arnold Billings earned him the 1987 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture. Beatrice Straight's performance as Claire Hastings earned her a Golden Raspberry Award nomination for Worst Supporting Actress.

## Plot

Pete St. John (Richard Gere), a ruthless and highly successful media consultant, is juggling a couple of political candidates when he is asked to join the campaign of wealthy but little-known businessman Jerome Cade (J. T. Walsh), who hopes to win the Senate seat being vacated by St. John's friend Sam Hastings (E.G. Marshall).
St. John comes into conflict with Arnold Billings (Denzel Washington), a public relations expert whose firm Cade has hired. St. John's investigation into Cade's background prompts Billings to retaliate by bugging St. John's office phones, flooding the basement of his headquarters, tampering with his private jet, and interfering with his other clients.
These actions force St. John to examine himself and what he has become and to decide whether his ex-wife Ellen Freeman (Julie Christie) and his former partner Wilfred Buckley (Gene Hackman) are right in believing that his success is due primarily to the exploitation of others.

## Cast

* Richard Gere as Pete St. John
* Julie Christie as Ellen Freeman
* Gene Hackman as Wilfred Buckley
* Kate Capshaw as Sydney Betterman
* Denzel Washington as Arnold Billings
* E. G. Marshall as Senator Sam Hastings
* Beatrice Straight as Claire Hastings
* Fritz Weaver as Wallace Furman
* Kevin Hagen as Cop
* Michael Learned as Governor Andrea Stannard
* J. T. Walsh as Jerome Cade
* Matt Salinger as Phillip Aarons

## Production

David Himmelstein, a former political journalist from the East Coast turned screenwriter, drew inspiration for his screenplay by observing political television ads. With a background of fifteen years covering political campaigns, he conducted thorough research by consulting various prominent media strategists. Burt Reynolds was initially cast for a role but had to undergo dental surgery after experiencing nausea and dizziness from a previously fractured jaw, aggravated during a fight scene in City Heat (1984). Although it was anticipated that Reynolds would recover in time for filming, he advised director Sidney Lumet to have a backup plan just in case. The role went to Richard Gere. Principal photography commenced on April 1, 1985, at Stage G in Kaufman Astoria Studios in Astoria, New York, with plans for additional shooting at Modern Telecommunications Inc.'s uptown television studio in late April. To capture a pivotal moment where Richard Gere's character urges a political candidate to speak authentically, filmmakers utilized a makeup room. Studio 1 was utilized for filming the televised debate scenes, while location shooting occurred in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Seattle, Washington. Sheraton Hotel venues served as filming locations for interior scenes, including the office of "Jerome Cade" and a bar where "Pete St. John" meets "Ellen Freeman."

## Release

The film opened the United States Film Festival on January 19, 1986 at the Egyptian Theatre, Park City. 84 minutes into the premiere, the screening stopped as it was realised that the reels had been shown out of order. The audience were invited to stay and watch the rest of the film or return for a later screening.

## Critical reception

Vincent Canby of The New York Times, described the film as "a well-meaning, witless, insufferably smug movie that...suffers from the total lack of a comic imagination."
Roger Ebert of Chicago Sun-Times, gave it a positive but qualified review and wrote, "Because these relationships are so well-written and acted, and because Power seems based on a wealth of research about the world of campaign professionals, the movie builds up considerable momentum during its first hour. There's a sense of excitement, of identification with this man who is being driven by his own energy, ambition and cynicism . . . During the second half of the movie, however, a growing disappointment sets in. Power is too episodic. It doesn't really declare itself to be about any particular story, any single clear-cut issue . . . The climax is a pointless, frustrating montage of images. It's a good montage, but it belongs somewhere in the middle of the movie; it states the problem, but not the solution or even the lack of a solution. The movie seems to be asking us to walk out of the theater shaking our heads in disillusionment, but I was more puzzled than disillusioned . . . It's smart, it's knowledgeable, sometimes it's funny, occasionally it is very touching, and I learned something from it. That is almost enough, I suppose; it's more than most movies provide."
On Rotten Tomatoes, it has 50% score based on 12 reviews. On Metacritic it has a 50% score, indicating "mixed or average reviews".