William ArnottClear & Present Danger - 2 Clocks
December 28th 2006 01:47
I will preface this by saying that it is not so much a review of Clear & Present Danger but more a stream of consciousness inspired by the movie…
I only recently began to realize how important casting is to a film [and television to be honest]. In my opinion there are three levels of talent when it comes to acting. The one held in highest regard is home to actors like Tom Hanks and Russell Crowe. These are the actors that are good no matter what. Doesn't matter who the character is, what genre the film is or even it's quality – they just become their character. No matter what they are selling I am buying. The next level can be used to describe the bulk of Hollywood. The actors who can get the job done, just as long as it falls within their range of talents. And then there are those who can only be described as bad. Strictly going through the motions and generating pangs of discomfort in their audience with each one.
Harrison Ford falls into the middle category [alb eight on the high end of the spectrum]. I think he is a fine actor, but I do have some complaints. The largest is that he is notorious for staring in action movies and I just don't buy him as the big hero. That is probably why the only action role I have ever really liked him in was the fugitive. Granted, most might categorize Dr. Richard Kimble as the big hero, but in my book that is a job that you actually have to sign up for. A big hero has a resume with hero credentials and Richard Kimble had no such credentials. His hero status was thrust upon him, much to his chagrin infact. Same thing in Firewall, where I also enjoyed Ford's performance – These were men who would have been perfectly content to never be involved in a car chase but due to circumstances beyond their control they have been forced to defend themselves and their families. Luke Skywalker and Indiana Jones [and I realize I may get some slack for these next comments], on the other hand, two of Ford's characters whose resumes would likely be found in a pile along side Superman and the Terminator I just don't like him.
In, Clear and Present Danger, Ford tows the line between big hero and ordinary guy whose just having a really bad day. He wasn't really a guy who was always destined for the front lines, but he did volunteer to work at the FBI. Semantics perhaps, but it was enough to make me question the talents of the movie's casting agent. Same thing in Air Force One – All around excellent flick, but some of the action scenes just seem like Ford is a little kid trying to hold his own with the big boys.
Come to think of it though, there is also another distinction that can be made between the roles that I have liked Ford in and those that I haven't. It would appear that those that I was less than impressed with were in films that I was forced to watch on the small screen. Now this would be the perfect lead in for my 2nd [and hopefully more brief] topic, but before we get there let us not forget the rest of the cast of Clear & Present Danger. I didn't like Donald Moffat as President Bennett – no big long explanation this time, just didn't like him. On the other hand, and here the film's casting agent begins to redeem herself, I loved James Earl Jones, as Ryan's mentor James Greer and Willem Dafoe was born to play the head of a covert operation.
Also, like every good action thriller, Clear & Present Danger provides a tech geek that the film's protagonist [had this been a different post I probably would have used the term hero] can always rely on just when the going gets really tough. And I must say I was thoroughly entertained by Greg German whose portrayal of Petey, the FBI's go-to computer nerd, had just the right mix of annoying younger brother and quirky best friend.
Okay now that we have totally exhausted the topic of casting, on to the one that I alluded to earlier – I need a home-theater. And I don't mean a 42' flat screen with HD and surround sound [although that would be nice]. No I'm talking about the whole nine – 100' screen and a dozen stadium-arranged lazy boys in a cozy soundproof room. It's either that or I will just have to make sure that I see all action movies before they leave the theaters.
I know I'm not the only one who has walked away from an at-home viewing of an action film and thought "I could have sworn that movie had some kick ass action scenes when I saw it in the theater." And it is for that reason, among others, that I will never again watch Déjà Vu. Because although it had what I think was one of the best car chases in movie history [those of you who saw it know exactly what I am talking about and those of you who haven't should go to the theater and see if before its too late], if I watched it on my pitiful 30' television, it would without a doubt end up as the scene during which I leave the room to grab a Snapple.
On a final note - To the cinematic powers that be – moviegoers, or at least this one, are okay with the good guy coming up a little short in the end. If art is ever going to really start imitating life it needs to loosen the big red bow sometimes.
I only recently began to realize how important casting is to a film [and television to be honest]. In my opinion there are three levels of talent when it comes to acting. The one held in highest regard is home to actors like Tom Hanks and Russell Crowe. These are the actors that are good no matter what. Doesn't matter who the character is, what genre the film is or even it's quality – they just become their character. No matter what they are selling I am buying. The next level can be used to describe the bulk of Hollywood. The actors who can get the job done, just as long as it falls within their range of talents. And then there are those who can only be described as bad. Strictly going through the motions and generating pangs of discomfort in their audience with each one.
Harrison Ford falls into the middle category [alb eight on the high end of the spectrum]. I think he is a fine actor, but I do have some complaints. The largest is that he is notorious for staring in action movies and I just don't buy him as the big hero. That is probably why the only action role I have ever really liked him in was the fugitive. Granted, most might categorize Dr. Richard Kimble as the big hero, but in my book that is a job that you actually have to sign up for. A big hero has a resume with hero credentials and Richard Kimble had no such credentials. His hero status was thrust upon him, much to his chagrin infact. Same thing in Firewall, where I also enjoyed Ford's performance – These were men who would have been perfectly content to never be involved in a car chase but due to circumstances beyond their control they have been forced to defend themselves and their families. Luke Skywalker and Indiana Jones [and I realize I may get some slack for these next comments], on the other hand, two of Ford's characters whose resumes would likely be found in a pile along side Superman and the Terminator I just don't like him.
In, Clear and Present Danger, Ford tows the line between big hero and ordinary guy whose just having a really bad day. He wasn't really a guy who was always destined for the front lines, but he did volunteer to work at the FBI. Semantics perhaps, but it was enough to make me question the talents of the movie's casting agent. Same thing in Air Force One – All around excellent flick, but some of the action scenes just seem like Ford is a little kid trying to hold his own with the big boys.
Come to think of it though, there is also another distinction that can be made between the roles that I have liked Ford in and those that I haven't. It would appear that those that I was less than impressed with were in films that I was forced to watch on the small screen. Now this would be the perfect lead in for my 2nd [and hopefully more brief] topic, but before we get there let us not forget the rest of the cast of Clear & Present Danger. I didn't like Donald Moffat as President Bennett – no big long explanation this time, just didn't like him. On the other hand, and here the film's casting agent begins to redeem herself, I loved James Earl Jones, as Ryan's mentor James Greer and Willem Dafoe was born to play the head of a covert operation.
Also, like every good action thriller, Clear & Present Danger provides a tech geek that the film's protagonist [had this been a different post I probably would have used the term hero] can always rely on just when the going gets really tough. And I must say I was thoroughly entertained by Greg German whose portrayal of Petey, the FBI's go-to computer nerd, had just the right mix of annoying younger brother and quirky best friend.
Okay now that we have totally exhausted the topic of casting, on to the one that I alluded to earlier – I need a home-theater. And I don't mean a 42' flat screen with HD and surround sound [although that would be nice]. No I'm talking about the whole nine – 100' screen and a dozen stadium-arranged lazy boys in a cozy soundproof room. It's either that or I will just have to make sure that I see all action movies before they leave the theaters.
I know I'm not the only one who has walked away from an at-home viewing of an action film and thought "I could have sworn that movie had some kick ass action scenes when I saw it in the theater." And it is for that reason, among others, that I will never again watch Déjà Vu. Because although it had what I think was one of the best car chases in movie history [those of you who saw it know exactly what I am talking about and those of you who haven't should go to the theater and see if before its too late], if I watched it on my pitiful 30' television, it would without a doubt end up as the scene during which I leave the room to grab a Snapple.
On a final note - To the cinematic powers that be – moviegoers, or at least this one, are okay with the good guy coming up a little short in the end. If art is ever going to really start imitating life it needs to loosen the big red bow sometimes.
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Comment by Nina
I too like to see a resolution that's not completely perfect - it just adds a cheesiness and fakeness to the movie that just dulls the experience.
Comment by Lizard68591
The Blog Formerly Known As Saturday Morning Movie Club
Comment by Nina