Siege plays it safe
The Siege A Film Review By Michael Redman Copyright 1998 By Michael Redman
** (Out of ****)
There's a siege mentality in the United States today. The federal government believes that militia groups are dedicated to bringing it down. The militia is convinced that Washington is a threat to their lives and freedom. Liberals see a rapid erosion of the Bill Of Rights under the guise of law and order.
They're all probably right.
FBI agent Anthony Hubbard (Denzel Washington) is under attack from all sides. Terrorists are blowing up New York. Hardened CIA operative Elise Kraft (Annette Bening) is attempting to take away his case. The US Army is invading the city. It's not a good day for our hero.
As the film opens, an unidentified US agency abducts Sheik Ahmed Bin Talal, the suspected head of a Palestinian terrorist organization. Soon bombs start going off in New York. Hubbard is called in to deal with the situation but butts heads with Kraft who has a hidden private agenda.
When the situation worsens, the President invokes the War Powers Act, declares martial law and sends in the Army to occupy Brooklyn. Although General William Devereaux (Bruce Willis) argues against the decision ("The Army is a broadsword, not a scalpel. You don't want us in an American city."), when the tanks roll across the Brooklyn Bridge, he's gung-ho.
All Arab men are rounded up and imprisoned in internment camps much like Japanese-Americans were during World War II. Military vehicles patrol the city streets. In order to prevent the terrorists from killing innocent people, the Army moves in and kills innocent people.
Washington turns in his usual excellent job as the admirable yet all-business G-Man. Bening's character is enticing but remains something of a mystery throughout the film. Willis is adequate although his role is a minor one. Tony Shalhoub as Hubbard's Arab-American partner is a stand-out and provides the brief touches of humanity and humor in the story.
Based on the previews, you might expect the movie to be either an intelligent examination of the dangers of military involvement in internal matters or a Bruce Willis action film. It is neither.
What could be an opportunity to examine the tricky issues of individual freedoms versus law enforcement is missed when director Edward Zwick ("Glory", "Courage Under Fire") plays it safe.
Which liberties are worth giving up in order to feel safe? In the real world, is the Department Of Justice's wish list for new powers as dangerous as it sounds? (They succeeded in allowing "roving" wiretaps.) Hubbard's assertion that the terrorists have won if "we throw out the Constitution" is a powerful statement but the film only gives us easy answers.
There are a few impressive dramatic scenes, but they don't hold the film together as either a shoot-em-up or a thoughtful suspense tale. The fight between the CIA, FBI and Army for control shows some promise but doesn't go much further than the simplistic. The story seems incomplete: there are too many loose ends unresolved. You'll leave wanting the rest of the story.
(Michael Redman has written this column for well over 23 years and sometimes believes that he is under siege by just about everyone. Email your paranoias to Redman@indepen.com.)
[This appeared in the 11/12/98 "Bloomington Independent", Bloomington, Indiana. Michael Redman can be contacted at Redman@indepen.com.]
-- mailto:redman@indepen.com This week's film review at http://www.indepen.com/ Film reviews archive at http://us.imdb.com/M/reviews_by?Michael%20Redman
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