Wolff rating: NOT BAD
Plot summary: Former Soviet nukes get loose to be sold to terrorist, and our beautiful National Security employee must work with a military intelligence wheeler-dealer to try to stop the explosion.
Biased, pithy comments: There is nothing creative in this movie, really. From start to finish, I was never surprised; all the people I thought were going to die did, all the twists I expected came to pass, more or less, and the movie didn't go any direction I didn't expect it to. At the same time, this is a slick, professional production of a fairly typical modern international thriller---far less cartoony than Bond, less flamingly jingoistic than a Jack Ryan adventure. The mood of the film is a little dark---this is about people trying to kill one another and they frequently succeed, and the people who do it are hardened professionals. Except for a few moments of ``If I were in charge of this operation, I wouldn't make *that* mistake,'' the movie keeps your suspension of disbelief going and is fast-paced and interesting. I really only wished for more characterization (the first fifteen minutes of exposition runs long) and a spark of originality. Also, swirling, tense camerawork sometimes got me a little queasy; other people I watched the film with said they found the swirling, tense music more motion-sickness-inducing than the camera. I would recommend this film to other people who like international thrillers, but this is certainly not a must-see for the whole world.
Other Notes: Spoilers----Oh please, like they wouldn't seal the exits in the hotel or get this guy's picture to the authorities at the airport! Doh!
How many times I have seen it: x1
Starring: George Clooney, Nichole Kidman, Marcel Iures, Alexander Baluyev, Rene Medvesek.
Directed by: Mimi Leder