In the line of fire

DIRECTED BY-:
Wolfgang Peterson
STARRING-:
Clint Eastwood
John Malkovich
Rene Russo

YEAR OF RELEASE-:
1993
PREMISE-:
A secret service agent who couldn't save Kennedy is determined not to let a clever assassin take the current president's life. 

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS.

THE PROBLEMS-:


  • Leary is conveniently not able to escape by the time the police arrives at the hotel in California. 
  • Why didn’t Leary escape the hotel through the back? Why was he trying to get away by just casually strolling on the sidewalk IN FRONT OF the hotel? 
  • While chasing Leary, Al conveniently puts his hand on a burning pipe which causes him to fall behind.
  • It is VERY convenient that the driver who drops Frank off to the airport has a very PARTICULAR way of remembering phone numbers, which eventually helps Frank in catching Leary.
  • The plot heavily relies on Pam Magnus being extremely stupid and not only chaining her guard dog INSIDE the house, but also inviting a stranger inside.
  • Leary is also really lucky that he miraculously stumbled upon this enormously stupid employee at the bank.
  • This unavailability of Pam Magnus conveniently causes Frank to eventually discover Leary in the seating area JUST IN TIME before he can shoot the president. 
  • Leary struggling to load a bullet in his gun is completely out of his character (a highly experienced CIA assassin). 
  • By acting out of character, Leary wastes a lot time which is luckily enough for Frank to save the president. 
  • Why does Leary wait so long AFTER he’s loaded his gun, to shoot at the president? Why does he aim his gun in slow motion? 
  • How does Leary not notice Frank, a grown man, running towards him? Shouldn’t he have been extra vigilant of his surroundings? 
  • Leary not noticing and not even bothering to check if Frank has an earpiece and microphone on him is completely out of his character. 


THE POSITIVES-:

  • Good characterization of the protagonist.
  • Good performances by everyone in the cast.
  • Action scenes are shot well. 
  • The decent pacing and screenplay never let the film feel stretched or dragged out.  

RATING -: 6/10


 

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