Pete St. John is a powerful and successful political consultant, with clients spread around the country. When his long-time friend and client Ohio senator Sam Hastings decides to quit politics, he is rapidly drafted to help with the campaign of the man destined to succeed him, unknown and mysterious businessman Jerome Cade...
Acting
Denzel Washington plays charming corruption like he's been practicing.
Direction
Lumet's 14th film, still obsessed with institutional rot.
Writing
Dialogue so slick you'll need a shower after.
Director
Sidney Lumet
Richard Gere
Pete St. John
Denzel Washington
Arnold Billings
Gene Hackman
Wilfred Buckley
Julie Christie
Ellen Freeman
Kate Capshaw
Sydney Betterman
E.G. Marshall
Senator Sam Hastings
J.T. Walsh
Jerome Cade
Beatrice Straight
Claire Hastings
Fritz Weaver
Wallace Furman
E. Katherine Kerr
Irene Furman
Michael Learned
Gov. Andrea Stannard
Polly Rowles
Lucille DeWitt
Matt Salinger
Phillip Aarons
Tom Mardirosian
Sheikh
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was Denzel Washington's first major villain role, two years before he became America's dad in Cry Freedom.
Lumet made this right after The Verdict, essentially asking: what if the corrupt system had a PR department? It bombed because reality caught up too fast.
US
