AIR FORCE ONE
A film review by Chuck Dowling
Copyright 1997 Chuck Dowling
Air Force One (1997) **1/2 out of ***** - Cast: Harrison Ford, Gary Oldman, Wendy Crewson, Glenn Close, Dean Stockwell, William H. Macy, Xander Berkeley, Jurgen Prochnow. Written by: Andrew W. Marlowe. Directed by: Wolfgang Petersen. Running Time: 118 minutes.
Have you seen a film from 1988 called "Die Hard"? If you did, then you've seen "Air Force One". Surely first time screenwriter Andrew W. Marlowe saw it, as this movie seems to follow that film's formula to the letter, sadly without adding anything really new to the concept.
In "Air Force One", career good guy Harrison Ford is President James Marshall. After giving a passionate speech in Russia about how terrorism will no longer be tolerated (a speech which oddly causes his staff to cringe, as they actually believe it can be used AGAINST him in the next election), he boards Air Force One and heads for home. Unfortunately, a small group of Russian terrorists "disguised" as journalists (led by career bad guy Gary Oldman) hijacks the plane and threatens to kill a hostage every half hour unless a communist General (a cameo by Jurgen Prochnow of Petersen's "Das Boot") is released from captivity.
I've yet to understand Hollywood's fascination with the President of the United States as a main movie character. Furthermore, I've yet to understand the paradox in which Hollywood presents such a character to us. In films where the audience is required to love the character of the president, the filmmakers go above and beyond to make him someone who we will all like. For example, look at movies like "The American President", "Independence Day", and now "Air Force One", in which the president is played by an actor almost beloved by all, Harrison Ford. His character of the president makes passionate speeches which actually say something, he clearly loves his family, likes to relax by watching football, he's a decorated Vietnam veteran, and most importantly, he fights and kills numerous terrorists when they take over his airplane. What I don't understand is why movie presidents have such strong character, yet whenever there's an election all we hear is how character doesn't matter, many times coming from those in Hollywood. Now this observation is not intended as any sort of political opinion (as I have no interest in politics or in any political party), just as a curious observation into why things are.
Ford again is in fine form, but do you think he's got this role down pat yet? Also, I don't believe I've ever seen the man cry on film before, as he does here. It's a very convincing performance sadly lost in a bunch of cliches. William H. Macy is absolutely wasted in his role as one of the staff members aboard Air Force One. This is the kind of role I'd see him in years ago and think, "Wow, he's interesting. I can't wait to see him in larger roles." Come on Hollywood, stop wasting this man.
Numerous logic problems plague the script. For example, in order for the terrorists plans to work, they are dependent on one of the president's own staff to initiate the takeover. This person's connection with the terrorists is never revealed, why is he helping them? Also, to pull this off, you'd think these terrorists need to be pretty sharp. Yet when the attack is about to begin, moments after takeoff, Oldman has to wake them up! They were napping! Later, when the pilots are killed (never seen that before), the terrorists seem completely unprepared for that possibility. Even though Oldman himself is blowing the pilots away, he's then shocked that they're dead and has no idea what to do next.
A note to filmmakers using computers for special effects: Please, until you can make a computer effect not look like a computer effect, stick with using models. The computer created effect showing the final fate of Air Force One is bad, bad, 1000 times bad. Look at movies from ten to fifteen years ago which used models. They STILL look better than most of today's computer generated effects.
"Air Force One" certainly isn't awful like most recent airplane disaster flicks ("Con Air", "Turbulence"), but I certainly expected something better considering the cast and director. As an action film using a hopelessly overused theme, "Air Force One" is simply a standard entry into the genre and doesn't improve on the "Die Hard" formula as it should have. [R]
-- Chuck Dowling --
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