The Candidate Viewer's Guide

I will be distributing this during class on Tuesday, but for those who would like a preview and others in Dr. Rhodes' sections, here is a viewer's guide to The Candidate. Enjoy.

Watching a movie is often an enjoyable and relaxing couple of hours. We eagerly pay ten dollars or more for tickets, popcorn, Junior Mints, a cold drink, etc. to have the opportunity to kick back and let the film come to us. Studying films, though, requires more energy on our part. When we study films, we are required to situate ourselves as active and critical participants in the viewing rather than passive receptors. The reward is a much deeper understanding of the film and appreciation of the work of the actors, directors, screenwriters, etc. Great films, like The Candidate, can be entertaining to watch passively but are best understood and appreciated through active and critical study. As you watch The Candidate (and the other films in the American Democracy Project Film Series), be prepared to take notes and pay attention to the subtleties of the acting, filmmaking, script, etc.

To assist you in doing so, I've put together this "Viewer's Guide to The Candidate" to serve as a framework for viewing the film. Of course, this is only a guide; Dr. Botsch and Dr. Dyer will also have important things to say about the movie. In short, I hope Thursday's discussion will include your observations and interpretations based upon your viewing of the film and the discussion afterward.

The Candidate is the second of two movies (The first movie is Downhill Racer in 1969.) in which actor Robert Redford and director Michael Ritchie collaborate to study the notion of "winning" in American society. As you watch, consider what the movie says about "winning" and the "American Dream."

HINTS:
o The "American Dream" is often associated with material prosperity and social success. Keep an eye on the sets--particularly homes and offices--and personal and professional relationships.

o Consider how Robert Redford's character is positioned in relation to different automobiles, especially how that position evolves over the course of the movie.

The screenwriter for The Candidate, Jeremy Larner, served as a speechwriter for U. S. Senator and presidential candidate Eugene McCarthy. Consider what the movie says about political campaigns, specifically the role of in-depth discussion and developed argumentation versus sound bytes and sloganeering.

HINTS:
o Consider how Robert Redford's character reacts to the lights, sound equipment, crowds, etc. in the various scenes in which he is giving a speech. In fact, try to keep track of how Redford’s character’s relationships with and reactions to all sorts of machines develop over the course of the movie.

o Although Howard K. Smith's (the television anchorman) commentary is most obvious, note the more subtle nuances in the script, especially when different characters discuss communicating (or not communicating) a message.

We will discuss the following questions in class on Thursday:
o What is the "turning point" of the film and why is it significant?

o What is the last line of the film and why is it significant?

o Is Robert Redford's character a "hero"?