With the collaboration of Russia and USA, a tyrant leader is captured and put the jail. This is seen as a triumph by both countries. However US President James Marshall (Harrison Ford) is skeptical. He is determined to favor humanity over politics and save more people the next time.
It is time for the President to go home on Air Force 1. The plane has The First Lady (Wendy Crewson), the president’s daughter, important administrative staff, his press secretary, bodyguards and a Russian-speaking (led by Gary Oldman) group who is supposed to make an interview with the President and the staff. The plane safely takes off. However unknown to the passengers, there is a traitor on the staff and with his help, the Russian group prove that they are something else all together. They hijack the plane, threatening to kill the hostages. Their demand? The release of the tyrant. The Vice President (Glenn Close) does her best to control the situation. The President can leave in his escape pod and jump off to safety or he can stay to fight for the hostages and the family. While it seems like mission impossible, the president will do his best to use his “General” skills, his intelligence and well…adrenaline…
This movie was fun. Pure, unsaturated action/thriller. So what if Harrison Ford will save the world once again? He does it well and we expect him to. Our Han Solo/Indiana Jones/ Jack Ryan sure has the guts and the experience to pull it off.
If there were any major flaws, I didn’t notice. I was too busy having fun. I liked the fact that all the terrorists spoke in Russian between themselves. It added authencity. While some might argue that we get another heroic President with the perfect family life gets to save the world, along with a little help from his friends (Independence Day, Bill Pullman also comes to mind), it is not like the screenplay writer hasn’t rubbed the viewers’ noses in America’s political sins. Movies like this tend to portray a perfect politician: honest, determined, family-oriented, loving and humane. He also comes with a fondness for football and a good sense of humor. I like this type of fictional politicians because let’s face it, movies are the only places we are going to see this politician. So enjoy his character, root for him and well…let the action begin. I guess I don’t really need to mention that Glen Close and Gary Oldman are good as always. I am yet to encounter a role that they sold and I didn’t buy.
Reasons to see the movie:
– The Cast: Harrison Ford, Glenn Close, Gary Oldman, William H. Macy
– The Concept and The Genre: It is so cool to imagine how it would be to fly in that nuclear-war resistant, ultimately gorgeous plane. And action on a plane is a concept I do enjoy.This one is truly well done. It had 2 Oscar nominations: Best Sound and Best Editing.
– The script is good.
Made in 1997. Directed by Wolfgang Petersen (Outbreak, The Perfect Storm, Troy). Written by Andrew W. Marlowe.
6.3 on IMDB. 7 for the art, 9 for the entertainment from me.
Favorite Villain Quote:
– Egor Korshunov (Gary Oldman)- to the First Lady: In a war, people die.
– First Lady: This isn’t war! You just murdered an unarmed woman!
– Egor Korshunov: You who murdered a hundred thousand Iraqis to save a nickel on a gallon of gas are going to lecture me on the rules of war? DON’T!!!!
Related Posts:
Regarding Henry starring Harrison Ford and Annette Bening
Six Days Seven Nights starring Harrison Ford and Anne Heche
I went to see this with my mother in law who does not like action films and she really enjoyed it! I loved it too because I’m a big Gary Oldman fan. I like Harrison Ford and Glenn Close as well.
When will Academy give Harrison Ford an Oscar? If it depended on me, he would have won one with “The Fugitive”. He always exceed in everything he does. I am a huge fan. Though, I have to agree that this vision of a perfect politician, husband and father was a bit “unrealistic”.
But, the movie was great…. it was entertaining and pleasant.
@ Erika: Ha ha. I am glad she did. Mother-in-laws aren’t usually famous for their good taste in movies but this movie does rock. I saw it my mother and she loved it too. She loves all these three actors and a good, old-fashioned action flick.
@ Patricia: I am becoming a huge Harrison fan myself. I previously found him too serious but when I see him more and more in roles that are fun, I am changing my mind. This role was indeed too good to be true but I am glad he played it anyway. We need to see these types of guys in movies, at least;) Although I am curious…how much of President Marshall is there in Harrison himself? Got to ask Calista Flockhart, I guess…