The Front Runner

Right now you can watch The Front Runner in Australia on Netflix — and it holds up to as much attention as you give it. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. 381 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Watch it for Hugh Jackman — one of the stronger performances out there right now. Put it on tonight on Netflix and see for yourself.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, The Front Runner earns its spot. Character-driven storytelling at its most effective — The Front Runner earns every emotional beat it goes for. Gary Hart, former Senator of Colorado, becomes the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1987. Hart's intelligence, charisma and idealism makes him popular with young voters, leaving him with a seemingly clear path to the White House. All that comes crashing down when allegations of an extramarital affair surface in the media, forcing the candidate to address a scandal that threatens to derail his campaign and personal life. Hugh Jackman and Vera Farmiga lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2018. The Front Runner resists tidy resolutions in a way that respects how messy real consequences actually are. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

For anyone looking for storytelling that takes its characters seriously, The Front Runner delivers. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Hugh Jackman is the centre of it, and it is one of their strongest performances on record. The patience it asks of you early on is paid back with interest.