Power (1986)

A high powered media consultant (Richard Gere) takes on the campaign of a wealthy businessman (J.T. Walsh) for a Senate seat being vacated by a personal friend (E.G. Marshall) who is dropping out due to illness or so he says. But something isn't right and it isn't long before the consultant discovers his phones are being tapped as he attempts to uncover the truth. Directed by the overrated Sidney Lumet, the film might have made for a decent conspiracy thriller if it weren't for the heavy handed direction and screenplay (by David Himmelstein). This is the kind of film Stanley Kramer did in the late 50s and 1960s, where the characters pontificate and lecture us. We haven't been hammered this hard over the head since Lumet's NETWORK! It's a rather self congratulatory film that could have used a bit of wit. The acting is all over the place ranging from excellent (Denzel Washington, Julie Christie) to bad (Kate Capshaw, Matt Salinger). With Gene Hackman, Beatrice Straight, Fritz Weaver, Michael Learned, E. Katherine Kerr and Noel Harrison.