The Sum of All Fears Review
by Laura Clifford (laura AT reelingreviews DOT com)June 5th, 2002
THE SUM OF ALL FEARS
--------------------
A South African arms dealer (Colm Feore, "Final Jeopardy") procures an Israeli nuke at the behest of industrialist Dressler (Alan Bates, "The Mothman Prophecies"), a Nazi ideologist who believes Hitler was stupid in trying to defeat Russia and the U.S. when he could get them to destroy each other instead. When the bomb detonates during a Baltimore football game, U.S. President Fowler (James Cromwell, "Babe") barely makes it out alive, thanks to the advance warning of CIA neophyte Jack Ryan (Ben Affleck, "Changing Lanes"). Now it's up to Ryan to prevent nuclear war between the U.S. and Russia in the fourth Tom Clancy adaptation, "The Sum of All Fears."
Novelist Tom Clancy gave his seal of approval to Ben Affleck as the new, younger Jack Ryan and it's not just because he executive produced this film. Affleck, following in the footsteps of prior Ryans William Baldwin and Harrison Ford, is on a winning streak with this "Changing Lanes" successor. Another fine surprise comes with the direction of Phil Alden Robinson ("Field of Dreams"), proving himself in a new genre with this, the best Clancy screen adaptation to date.
Affleck has a large, seasoned ensemble to work with and everyone clicks. Ryan's introduced as a greenhorn whose paper on politician Nemerov (Ciaran Hinds, "Persuasion") brings him to prominence with CIA director William Cabot (Morgan Freeman) when his subject rather suddenly becomes the Russian President. While Cabot's equally amused and annoyed as Ryan acts like a puppy whose feet are too big, Ryan's strongly held views on Nemerov
continually fly in the face of the man's actions. Yet Ryan makes an all important impression on Nemerov when he accompanies Cabot on an arms
inspection.
Ryan also notices that three prominent Russian nuclear scientists are not on site, but Nemerov's advisor Grushkov (Michael Byrne, "Apt Pupil") provides unconvincing alibis.
Ryan's thrown into the field, protesting all the way, with experienced agent Clark (Liev Schrieber, "Kate and Leopold"). The two discover the scientists' secret location, but too late as the men have been murdered. Ryan pieces the puzzle together just as the bomb goes into play.
This "Fail Safe"-like story hits uncomfortably close to home post 9/11, but to the filmmakers' and actors' credit, "The Sum of All Fears," while never treating its subject lightly, occasionally siphons off tension with character driven humor. The adaptation by Paul Attanasio ("Quiz Show") and Daniel Pyne ("Any Given Sunday") accounts for Affleck's youth by modernizing events. A subplot traces his courtship of future wife Dr. Cathy Muller (Bridget Moynahan, "Serendipity").
Affleck is nicely paired with Freeman. The elder actor lets his impish nature poke through as he tweaks his protege about his new girlfriend. Freeman's made some poor role choices of late, making this one an affirmation of the man's talent. Affleck's all shaggy charm, his determined nature free of arrogance. Liev Schreiber is a great addition, his Clark bemusedly getting the nastier CIA jobs done. The presidential team of Cromwell's Chief Executive, Ron Rifkin's ("Boiler Room") Secretary of State,
Philip Baker Hall's ("The Contender") Defense Secretary and Bruce McGill's ("The Legend of Bagger Vance") National Security Advisor are allowed a fun fakeout in the film's initial scene, only to reprise it in horror aboard an Air
Force One buffeted by turbulence. They're well matched by the more one-manned focus in Russia. Ciaran Hinds is convincing as both a Russian and a man who must give the appearance of control when he doesn't know who is pulling the strings. Byrne's shadowy advisor keeps you guessing until the last.
Visual Effects Supervisor Glenn Neufeld ("Bless the Child") excels with scenes of a nuclear blast and its effects which are all the more powerful by the restraint in which they're captured by Director of Photography John Lindley ("Field of Dreams"). The elements are expertly put together by Clancy regular Neil Travis ("Clear and Present Danger," "Patriot Games"), who wraps up loose ends with a tip of the hat to "The Godfather's" baptismal scene.
"The Sum of All Fears" is a crack espionage thriller writ on a grand scale.
B+
For more Reeling reviews visit www.reelingreviews.com
[email protected]
[email protected]
More on 'The Sum of All Fears'...
Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
