Power

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Power

R

1986

1h 51m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

50%

Tomatometer

12 Reviews

43%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Once-noble media consultant Pete St. John (Richard Gere) is now employed by a number of corrupt politicians. A potential client is Jerome Cade (J.T. Walsh), a businessman who wants to run for U.S. Senate. St. John begins to suspect that Cade may have significant dark secrets and starts investigating. This causes conflict with Arnold Billing (Denzel Washington), a ruthless member of Cade's staff. Meanwhile, St. John's former friend and partner, Wilfred (Gene Hackman), questions his motives.

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Paul Attanasio

Washington Post

01/04/2018

Before it turns slack and sentimental, "Power," Sidney Lumet's foray into the world of political consultants, crackles with a kind of moral static.

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

01/01/2000

There is little of the gratuitous hysteria that usually mars Lumet's work, and David Himmelstein's busy script keeps things moving, though at the price of losing track of a couple of significant subplots.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

01/01/2000

2.5/4

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.

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

04/29/2011

C

A misfire satire that preaches against slick political practices by high-powered political consultants.

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Lori Hoffman

Atlantic City Weekly

02/21/2007

3/5

Caffeinated Clint

Film Threat

02/07/2006

3/5

Gere is a revelation

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Steve D

@RT35616104 03/05/2023

Effective enough because of a great cast.

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06/14/2017

Relevant still (maybe not the technology tho)

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06/02/2016

It's disappointing that a film about power can be so flat. Despite taking several fascinating paths, they never really come together to convey a strong, impactful message. In fact, the only thing that sings in this film is Benny Goodman's explosive music.

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02/12/2016

Sat through most of it. Shit film.

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06/04/2014

Fine acting but a dull film. Power should have been a lot better than it was. Perhaps it is a bit dated but the film just never grabbed my attention.

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10/25/2013

An indistinctive drama, but it has a little bit directing (Lumet), and a little bit acting (Washington, Hackman).

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Sidney Lumet

Director

Richard Gere

Pete St. John

Julie Christie

Ellen Freeman

Gene Hackman

Wilfred Buckley

Kate Capshaw

Sydnet Betterman

Denzel Washington

Arnold Billing

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Synopsis

Once-noble media consultant Pete St. John (Richard Gere) is now employed by a number of corrupt politicians. A potential client is Jerome Cade (J.T. Walsh), a businessman who wants to run for U.S. Senate. St. John begins to suspect that Cade may have significant dark secrets and starts investigating. This causes conflict with Arnold Billing (Denzel Washington), a ruthless member of Cade's staff. Meanwhile, St. John's former friend and partner, Wilfred (Gene Hackman), questions his motives.

Director: Sidney Lumet
Producer: Reene Schisgal, Mark Tarlov
Screenwriter: David Himmelstein
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Lorimar Productions, Polar Entertainment Corporation
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 31, 1986, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.1M
Runtime: 1h 51m