Review of Air Force One (1997) by Tonypolito — 22 Oct 2010

Better title: "Die Hard in a 747." Action/thriller that works pretty well, though doesn't entirely deserve its success.

There's plenty of "intellectual borrowing" buried in the storyboards. Remember how they dramatically drop-cabled a pilot into the plane's cabin in "Airport '75?" Remember that traitor-with-a-gun as the last bad guy on board the Red October? Remember the patriotic singing Russians on that same sub? If so, then know there's ample opportunity for beer runs while watching this film.

President Harrison Ford plays it straight down the line, reprising the angry/indignant style of Jack Ryan ("Patriot Games," "Clear and Present Danger") whom viewers have already received quite well. Really, Bruce Willis is a little too rough around the edges to convince as America's Head of State.

Gary Oldman - as Evil Ivan, VP, Revolutionary Hijacking, Eastern European Division - delivers fairly well. Other strong supporting talents such as William H. Macy and Philip Baker Hall are essentially wasted, completely subjugated by weak dialogue and constant drama/action.

Political correctness injects Glenn Close as Vice-President, who delivers weak - and while clearly sporting one taut face-lift too many. The strategic lighting, makeup and gauze-shot treatments don't bail her out. There's plenty of female talent about that could have brought a lot more to the role than Close does.

The viewer best be prepared to suspend a lot of disbelief. Apparently you CAN have shootouts with fully automatic submachine guns at 25,000 feet and never pierce the fuselage. And people CAN dangle on cabling stretched between two planes flying at 600 mph without having their cheeks blown completely off their faces.

RECOMMENDATION: Even with all the noted shortcomings, the film works, mostly due to Ford's keystoning of it all. For viewers that enjoy the "Die Hard" genre, this film's a sure bet.