Reviews

Firewall

2.0 stars

By PETER KEOUGH | February 9, 2006

2.0 Stars

FIREWALL This rehash is about as exciting as it sounds.

You could trace a history of American anxiety through the bad guys Harrison Ford has had to fight to protect his on-screen family: industrialization in The Mosquito Coast(1987), the IRA in Patriot Games(1992), Russian terrorists in Air Force One (1997), himself in What Lies Beneath (2000). In Firewall he’s down to computer hackers, and this rehash is about as exciting as it sounds. Ford’s Jack Stanfield is a security wiz with a fabulous home, two spoiled children, and a trophy wife (Virginia Madsen). Then Paul Bettany’s slick thug takes them hostage and forces Jack to break into his own bank’s system. Ford looks annoyed that someone woke him up to act out this nonsense, though he does perform his own stunts, adding sweaty authenticity. Plus the film boasts Alan Arkin, Robert Forster, and Robert Patrick, who have maybe 10 lines among them. And what of the history of director Robert Loncraine, a decade after the brilliant Richard III?

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Topics: Reviews , Harrison Ford , Irish Republican Army , Security Software , More

Comments

Firewall

Firewall is just another indistinguishable film on a long and still growing list of Harrison Ford thrillers. Very close to an earlier vehicle (Air Force One), the movie is overwritten, crammed full of cliched plot twists, and top-heavy with electronic gadgets and yuppie bling. (There is so much product placement here, the film could be identified as a series of commercial advertisements.) The actors breeze through their scenes, scarcely taking notice of their surroundings, the inanity of the script, or the incongruencies in plot. Mostly, it feels like they are running through one more performance to collect a bonus check on the way to the union hall to look for a real job. Firewall is clearly intended to be a bit of mindless entertainment, to tug a few Sally Field-style heartstrings along the way, and to make lots and lots of quick money for Harrison Ford, the Brothers Warner, and their advertising sponsors. Taken as such, it will kill a couple of hours and probably cause no physical harm to the viewer. All others may wish to check their brain at the concession stand.

By wise intelligent on 02/10/2006 at 8:51:59

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