Weekly Review -- Journey to the rescue

Olympus Has Fallen (2013) -- It has been a long time since we saw a truly entertaining, all-guns-blazing action film. Enter Antoine Fuqua's Olympus Has Fallen, a film that offers not only a dynamic story and an amazing cast, but also a realistic look at terrorism as an inevitable aspect of global existence.

After a car accident claims the life of the First Lady (Ashley Judd), Secret Service agent Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) is removed from the President's (Aaron Eckhart) security detail and reassigned to the Treasury Department. Soon afterward, Washington is the target of a merciless and well coordinated terrorist attack, one that ends with the North Korean terrorists taking over the White House and holding the President hostage. Incidentally finding himself inside the house as the attack rages on, Banning has to rely on his skills to rescue the President, his former employer and friend, as well as thwart the terrorists' other plans...  

Right off the bat, it needs to be said that the action scenes in Olympus Has Fallen are spectacular. The attack and the shoot-out sequences are incredible to watch, their intensity begging us to wonder about the rapid political changes occurring worldwide. Sure, the violence is brutal, but we have to remember that this type of hypothetical situation would never be unfolding smoothly in real life. I have to praise director Fuqua for not using Matrix-like novelty techniques to present manicured images of bombings and gun fights, particularly in light of the context. Bullets fly, bomber aircraft kill innocents, blood gushes out... this is not and was never meant to be Independence Day. By utilizing realism to the taut script's advantage, Fuqua creates a unique film that, however entertaining, also engages the audience as a debate piece. I also loved Trevor Morris's ominous, rhythmic score, which adds to the suspense and is one of the most effective scores that I have heard in years.

As I mentioned in the beginning, the cast is fantastic. One rarely sees so many popular, respected actors in one film, making every scene a gem. Butler is a terrific action hero, alternating between physicality and vulnerability to depict his character's desire for redemption. Eckhart is the perfect choice to play the President, rooting the character in quiet conviction and deep, human love for his administration and his country. Morgan Freeman radiates authority as the Speaker of the House, while Angela Bassett is a strong, unwavering presence as the Secret Service director. Rick Yune makes for a convincing, multidimensional psycho, and Dylan McDermott is excellent as someone's ally, participating in one of the film's best fights. Finally, as the beleaguered Secretary of Defense, Melissa Leo creates one of the most resilient characters; one of her scenes with Eckhart is especially poignant. The cast does justice to the script and, apart from Fuqua's precision, it is the acting that gives momentum to the story.

Olympus Has Fallen is one of the most exciting films that you will see this year. Far from a typical popcorn blockbuster, it is a new kind of action thriller for the wary, fragile post-9/11 world. Make sure you see it at the multiplex, since it is a true adrenaline ride that should not be experienced in any other way. 

9/10