Year: 1998
Directed By: Tony Scott
Written By: David Marconi
RYAN’S REVIEW
This movie came out during my first year in high school. What’s funny is that by the time I graduated four years later it had all but become a reality. The Patriot Act had been passed and the government had the capabilities that are portrayed as too dangerous in this film. This movie was made right before our society changed so drastically. This was made during a time when the internet was still young, cell phones were young, and the biggest problem the nation faced was the fact that the President was getting blow jobs on the side. The world was so different then and you can see that in this film. They use strange devices like video cassettes, pagers, and VCRs. I always enjoy movies like this that remind me of when the world was different, in a way that many of the younger generations will never understand.
The government agencies portrayed in this film are totally fictional but they still bear a representation of what certain agencies became after 9/11. Some of the technologies used in this film have become big time players in the new society we live in such as facial recognition technology and satellite surveillance. This movie made for a frightening scenario in 1998 but the realities of it in today’s world aren’t that severe. It doesn’t affect the day to day lives of normal people and most of what we see in this movie is just Hollywood stuff. One interesting thing I just noticed in the movie is that Jon Voight’s character was born on 9/11/40. Strange coincidences like that often pop up in films, as I mentioned in our Demolition Man review.
I have never been a fan of Ridley Scott‘s little brother, Tony Scott. He is the weaker director of the two brothers and I have never liked his coloring technique or his choppy way of piecing sequences together. I’ll admit that he has made several decent movies though and I have liked many of them, such as this one. Will Smith is, and always has been, one of the coolest guys in the business. I haven’t always been his biggest fan but I can’t deny his talent. He had swagger long before it became the thing people talked about. In this film he plays the part well and I have always remembered it as one of his better movies. It’s one that I bring up if I need to give someone an example of how good he really is. Gene Hackman fit his part well and this was another great addition to a long and distinguished career from Hackman. Jon Voight also naturally fits the role that he plays in this film. Tom Sizemore is another one perfectly cast in his part as a criminal with a big time shoot out ending. The casting department just hit a home run all around by putting together a great supporting cast featuring Seth Green, Jack Black, Barry Pepper, Jamie Kennedy, Gabriel Byrne, Regina King, Jason Lee, Lisa Bonet, and the sons of James Caan and Gary Busey.
This movie is a non-stop thrill ride that really keeps the excitement coming. It has a great cast, a good story, a lot of action, and a very climactic ending. I have written many times about how much action films meant in my household growing up. This one was held in high regard all around, and still is by me today. This movie runs a bit long at two hours and twelve minutes but it is definitely worth that time to see it.
AMBER’S REVIEW
Every time we review a Will Smith movie, I am going to link this video. Watch it.
Jay as Will Smith
For some reason, I got really sucked into this movie last night. We did have a babysitter, so maybe that had something to do with it, but I really found the movie to be really entertaining. I have seen it before, but it had been a really long time, so it was fun to follow along and trying to remember what happens and how. This movie is a fun ride, and Will Smith is always a fun guy to watch. I don’t think that he cries in this movie. Maybe he does, but Ryan has this running joke about how Will Smith cries in every movie he is in. He can make a tear appear at the drop of a hat.
I really like this movie. If you haven’t seen it, it is worth watching. It will keep you entertained and wondering if the government is really like that. Listening to everyone’s conversations. It’s all a little creepy if you ask me.
NEXT MOVIE: Enter the Dragon (1973)
The Movie Snobs 