“Firewall” (Warner Brothers)
Stonewall Jack Is More Like It
One of Harrison Ford’s biggest hits was “Air Force One” in which he played the President of the United States. He was in true heroic form as a man defending himself and his family against terrorists. In his latest film, “Firewall,” he is in full “Air Force One” mode and plays a security analyst protecting his family against unscrupulous men who need him to embezzle ten million dollars for them. The excitement, suspense and bravery are all there and Ford carries the day.
Jack Stanfield (Ford) has an idyllic life. He has a wife (Virginia Madsen) to whom he is totally devoted, and two children he adores. He also has a great job as a security officer for a bank that provides him with a good income. But one day all this comes to a crashing halt when his home is invaded by a thug named Bill Cox (Paul Bettany) who has brought along his entire gang.
Cox plans to hold Jack’s family hostage until Jack breaches the security system at his own bank and transfers ten million to an off shore account Cox has set up. He has thought out every move Jack might make in order to get help and can watch him and hear what he says at all times. But still Jack ponders every possible solution.
Ford is “the man” in this movie. Even in his sixties he projects the awesome physical presence of a man who doesn’t take kindly to being messed with. He has a nerve rattling stare and the toned bulk of a man in great physical shape. The fight scenes in the film are brutal and call for close contact action by the actors.
The “stars” of the film are perfect for their roles, including Madsen who came to this movie as her next project after “Sideways.” She doesn’t have a large role but she makes every scene she is in effective. Bettany is ice cold and dangerous as Cox. He is threatening even when he is not issuing threatening phrases. His looks say it all.
Adding to the flavor of the film is Mary Lynn Rajskub who plays Ford’s secretary. Most people know this actress from her role as “Chloe” on the Fox TV series “24.” She brings a lot of good will to this role from that one and makes the part more important than it would be in the hands of any other actress.
The film is rated PG-13 for profanity and violence.
If it were not for the presence of Ford the movie would not have the clout or the box office punch that it has. He is a “star” in the full Hollywood definition of that word. When he is in full action hero mode there is no one who can top him, and he goes at full throttle in this film.
“Firewall” marks the return of one of the last action heroes in Hollywood. Audiences should take the opportunity to see Ford turn up the action heat one more time.
I scored “Firewall” a computerized 7 out of 10.
