Review of Absolute Power (1997) by John A — 06 Jun 2008

'Absolute Power' is the kind of thriller that attempts to explore character relationships yet still provide enough thrills to satisfy an adrenaline-hungry audience; one that includes a potentially smart storyline and interesting characters that work around the plot, rather than against it.

Unfortunately, this technique hasn't worked as well here as the film thinks it has. The plot is supposed to concern a thief who witnesses the president commit a horrific crime, and how he must find a way to convince others of the truth.

Eastwood's mistake is that he becomes so intently focused on the thief's father-daughter relationship he forgets about unwinding the plot; the tension is effectively built, and we desire an enthralling outcome, but it never materialises.

Instead a hushed, talky resolution takes it place, and the mid-section of the film seems to forget the whole thing. Dialogue is strangely convoluted too; take for instance "That thief witnessed a murder!" - yes, we know.

Later: "Just another open and shut case"...ah, but we know better! Dramatic irony, and all that. Eastwood uses it again and again; "It's not as though he has any evidence" is a line designed so we can shout at the screen "but he does, he does!!!".

For a director of Eastwood's calibre, this seems strangely amateur. Several scenes are repetitive and monotonous too, as though no-one could think of anything better to take up time with, and I struggled to believe the president of the most powerful country in the world would have such inept, 'looney-tunes' style bodyguards.

The film boasts a great cast and, despite being over-long and lacking in any subtelty, works as an intriguing political thriller. But with such a masterful director, and what can easily be a taut, refreshing plot, it's just not half as intriguing as it ought to be.