Directed by:
Herbert RossScreenplay:
Kevin WadeCinematography:
Dante SpinottiComposer:
Trevor JonesCast:
John Cusack, James Spader, Imogen Stubbs, Mandy Patinkin, Richard Widmark, Dina Merrill, Philip Bosco, Paul Guilfoyle, Sam Wells, Don McManus, Kareem J. Grimes (more)VOD (1)
Plots(1)
This riveting portrait of political society and scandal in highbrow Washington, DC, stars James Spader as Tim Garrity, a socially responsible young man from the upper-middle classes who is engaged to the daughter of the influential and powerful Senator Stiles (Richard Widmark); and John Cusack as Peter Burton, a boy from the wrong side of the tracks with ambition to burn. Both are enrolled at the University of Virginia Law School in 1983. They become roommates and friends quite by accident, and differences in their individual pursuits in politics drive them apart. Taking the Reagan-era credo of greed to heart, Burton ruthlessly claws his way up the political ladder in his effort to get elected to Congress. In the process, he betrays Garrity by stealing his fiancée (Imogen Stubbs) and then becomes involved in shady dealings with a corrupt businessman (Mandy Patinkin). Garrity, principled but passive, stands by while Burton chews up and spits out everyone and everything in his path--until Burton turns on Senator Stiles, forcing Garrity to finally take action against his friend. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Cast
![John Cusack](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/267/267446_915377.jpg)
John Cusack
USA
Best movies:
Stand by Me (1986)
Bullets Over Broadway (1994)
Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen (2012) - a.f.
![James Spader](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/267/267813_1393e1.jpg)
James Spader
USA
Best movies:
Wall Street (1987)
Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989)
Stargate (1994)
![Imogen Stubbs](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/158/064/158064347_59f014.jpg)
Imogen Stubbs
UK
Best movies:
Sense and Sensibility (1995)
Twelfth Night: Or What You Will (1996)
Agatha Christie's Marple (2004) (series)
![Mandy Patinkin](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/162/379/162379271_2eceea.jpg)
Mandy Patinkin
USA
Best movies:
Wonder (2017)
Yentl (1983)
The Princess Bride (1987)
![Richard Widmark](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/165/606/165606299_296b61.jpg)
Richard Widmark
USA
Best movies:
Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)
Murder on the Orient Express (1974)
Night and the City (1950)
![Dina Merrill](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/105/792/105792655_90e577.jpg)
Dina Merrill
USA
Best movies:
The Name of the Game (1968) (series)
Roots: The Next Generations (1979) (series)
The Young Savages (1961)
![Philip Bosco](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/270/270885_e65e40.jpg)
Philip Bosco
USA
Best movies:
Children of a Lesser God (1986)
Trading Places (1983)
Deconstructing Harry (1997)
![Paul Guilfoyle](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/270/270808_5f701e.jpg)
Paul Guilfoyle
USA
Best movies:
L.A. Confidential (1997)
Spotlight (2015)
The Negotiator (1998)
Sam Wells
Best movies:
Iron Jawed Angels (2004)
The Broken Chain (1993) (TV movie)
Dave (1993)
![Don McManus](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/022/809/22809410_43c284.jpg)
Don McManus
USA
Best movies:
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Magnolia (1999)
Ocean's Thirteen (2007)
Kareem J. Grimes
Best movies:
Jarhead (2005)
Boyz n the Hood (1991)
The Mule (2018)
Mary Mara
USA
Best movies:
K-PAX (2001)
Indictment: The McMartin Trial (1995) (TV movie)
Bound (1996)
![Larry Joshua](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/475/160475451_2fd0e3.gif)
Larry Joshua
USA
Best movies:
Dances with Wolves (1990)
Unforgiven (1992)
Spider-Man (2002)
![Brad Sullivan](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/542/160542796_784c13.gif)
Brad Sullivan
USA
Best movies:
The Sting (1973)
The Untouchables (1987)
The Abyss (1989)
Antonia Rey
Cuba
Best movies:
Hair (1979)
Beat Street (1984)
The Changeling (1980)
John Petlock
USA
Best movies:
Columbo (1971) (series)
Gross Anatomy (1989)
Escape to Witch Mountain (1995) (TV movie)
Sam Hoffman
Best movies:
The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
True Colors (1991)
Frank Hoyt Taylor
Best movies:
Big Fish (2003)
Walk the Line (2005)
October Sky (1999)
John Battle
Best movies:
Space: Above and Beyond (1995) (series)
True Colors (1991)
William Jackson
Best movies:
Going Down in LA-LA Land (2011)
True Colors (1991)
Beautiful Dreamer (2006)