Another film to add to the long list of unnecessarily maligned blockbusters is 1998's The Peacemaker. Perhaps it was because it was fledgling studio Dreamworks first ever release that critics turned on it. Maybe it was a case of kicking the popular George Clooney while he was down (he'd just come off the stinky Batman & Robin the year before). Either way, the bulk of their criticism is unfair as the film is an intelligent, white knuckle roller coaster.
The film comes across as the bastard offspring of Jack Ryan (of Tom Clancy's spy novels) and Jack Bauer (of TV's 24 which would emerge onto our screens three years later). In Nicole Kidman's character you have someone like Ryan; a brilliant, highly educated analyst, who's put in a situation way out of their depth, and who rises to the occasion thanks to their quick thinking, nerve and high moral values. Clooney gets the Jack Bauer role of being an impulsive, highly experienced field agent who's prepared to break rules and take risks, no matter the cost, in order to get results. It's the paring of these two characters, both having mutual respect for each other while standing their ground and fighting their corner, that provides the emotional core of the fast moving thriller.
The plot, much like 1994's True Lies and 1996's Broken Arrow, is straight out of a season of 24 or Clancy's The Sum Of All Fears ...terrorists acquire a nuclear warhead with the intention of detonating it in an American city. After a well staged set piece showing the nuke being stolen, the pace never lets up. There's two great action sequences (a Venice car chase and a Helicopter assault) which would do a Bond movie proud, while the last 25 minutes is a sustained pursuit through New York's alleys and streets to stop the terrorist from detonating the bomb.
It nicely balances the bullshit action movie aspects (Hans Zimmer's pounding score) with a restrained adult tone, while director Mimi "Deep Impact" Leder does a solid, if uninspired job of orchestrating the chaos. A youthful and cute Kidman is convincing as a person of authority while a swaggering and charismatic Clooney is clearly reveling the chance to do a macho, leading man stint (he's still in his early wobbly head mode before Soderberg tamed the TV actor in him).
Most enjoyable.
1 comment:
Yeah, I've always really liked The Peacemaker. It's a darn good action thriller with two excellent leads and some cracking set pieces.
Plus you can have a giggle at Bobblehead George and his wacky head wobbling.
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