Review of Absolute Power (1997) by Rob F — 03 Jul 2009

I took a break from the Dirty harry Collection to take a gander at another Eastwood flick, and same old story, I loved every minute of it.

While Eastwood was fantastic, this film was different because most of the supporting cast was amazing as well. Ed Harris was great as a confused detective just looking for the truth, Laura Linney as the untrusting daughter finding the family she shunned for years and Scott Glenn as a secret service agent who's torn between right and wrong. In fact the only problem I had with the supporting cast was Hackman! Nothing about his performance but I think the film really could have used more of him. An actor playing the President in this kind of story should hardly ever be off the screen. When he was on he was great, again I just wish there had been a bit more with him.

The story doesnt get too extraordinary, again keeping it simple about a thief who is casing a place when he witnesses a murder involving the President. Most angles are played out including an attempt to capture/kill the thiefs daughter in order to lure her out. All culminating in the reason I couldn't give this movie 5/5, the ending. While it kept me entranced for the first 105 minutes, the final fifteen brought it to a somewhat unsatisfying result. The cover up is exposed in a rather boring fashion and all this tension that has kept you glued to the set ends in a matter of moments. Almost like they were running out of film and didn't want to buy another reel.

All in all, a great movie, but with a cast like this it would be hard pressed not to be (though great casts hardly ever result in a terrific movie ie- Righteous Kill). In all the commotion you don't even realize that Hackman and Eastwood never really share the screen and never even talk to one another. Wow, now that I think of that, it kinda bothers me...