Review of Patriot Games (1992) by Miles H — 08 Feb 2008

It's a pretty solid thriller at times. That is, when it's not resorting to action movie cliches or overemphasizing key points that most of the audience has already figured out. As a politically motivated thriller, it's limp, but as a more primitive actioner, it does work.

Ford has played this role many times, but this was one of the first, and it's not a bad performance. Archer's alright, but she doesn't have much to do save for being in peril and assuming the role of the domesticated American wife.

Sean Bean and Patrick Bergin make good, loathsome villains (hey, I'm Irish, but the antagonists here are truly deplorable monsters). Richard Harris and Samuel L. Jackson even have some nice cameos here and there.

In short, it's alright if you like your action semi-realistic, but without a lot of cerebral thought. There are definitely moments of true suspense and excitement. However, there are lulls, numerous breaks in character, and surprising ammorality for a film that strives to draw the line between the righteous and the wicked.

A scene involving the decimation of an Irish splinter cell training camp, a la the CIA, is visually impressive, but its brutality makes it difficult to view the protagonists in a holy light, warranted or not.

This moral conflict was better explored in the sequel "Clear and Present Danger", a better film in many ways. This one's more exciting, but there's not much else to be gained.