Collateral Damage Review
by Laura Clifford (laura AT reelingreviews DOT com)February 7th, 2002
COLLATERAL DAMAGE
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When L.A. firefighter Gordy Brewer (Arnold Schwarzenegger) loses his wife and child in a Columbian terrorist bombing, he's determined to receive justice. However, the official investigation bogs down and against the warnings of the FBI and CIA agent Brandt (Elias Koteas, "Novocaine"), Gordy takes matters into his own hands in "Collateral Damage."
Director Andrew Davis ("The Fugitive) borrows some stunts from previous films while screenwriters David and Peter Griffiths rip a page or two from terrorist thriller "Arlington Road" for this Arnold Schwarzenegger vehicle. On Hollywood hold since 9/11, "Collateral Damage" may seem slightly more relevant today, but in the end, an average action movie is an average action movie.
The U.S. Government calls Brandt's operation off, but he has a personal agenda
which doesn't include vengeance for Gordy's family. Gordy's firefighting buddy
Jack brings a Columbian specialist to visit, though, to give him advice like being wary of whom he asks for help. Once in Columbia, Gordy's involved in a harrowing road block which he escapes by jumping into a waterfall Richard Kimble-style. He protects a woman (Francesca Neri, "Hannibal") and her son from guerillas on motorbikes , does a stint in jail where
he procures a pass and an alibi before saving everyone from fire and hooks up with a jovial Columbian drug lord (John Leguizamo, "Moulin Rouge!") who leads him to his target, El Lobo (Cliff Curtis, "Blow"). Before you can say 'Collateral Damage,' that same woman and child arrive on the scene just as Gordy's bomb is set to blow. Turns out they're the wife and child of the target, and soon they've teamed up with Gordy and Brandt in a race with El Lobo
back to Washington DC.
Perhaps age has given some emotional weight to Schwarzenegger's acting, however. In the aftermath of his wife and child's death, the man appears truly shattered.
Production values are mediocre, with the fuzzy, bleached out looking cinematography of Oscar-nominated Adam Greenberg ("Terminator II") being particularly subpar.
"Collateral Damage" is the kind of action flick where the hero always has money
and new clothes on hand alone in the midst of the jungle. Character actors like Leguizamo and John Turturro pop up to punch out pulpy dialogue and young boys switch paternal allegiance at the sight of broader shoulders. Its worst transgression is that old chestnut - dead villains who don't stay dead.
C+
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