Review of Executive Decision (1996) by Tony L — 25 Mar 2007

"You can forget Washington... we've got enough nerve agent here to wipe out half the Eastern Seaboard.".

A super excellent movie with a great and carefully-chosen cast.

You can tell they took their time with this movie-- the story has enough originality and interesting twists to elevate it above the average action movie plot. The pacing is tight and consistent-- you're always kept at a high level of interest in what's taking place.

I can't talk enough about the coolness of the cast. A few notes:

Steven Segal. Marketed as the super action star of the movie; dies early on and forces the remainder of the cast to piece together their rescue mission without their hero to lead them.

Kurt Russel. He's just good.

John Leguizamo is a military hotshot? He's a good actor and has fun with it.

Halle Berry in her breakout role.

JT Walsh in true form as the jerkass senator. Few could play calculating bastards like Walsh.

Don Cheadle makes every movie he's in better.

Oliver Platt. Great.

Overall, a solid action adventure that will live on TNT on Saturday late nights for years to come.