Watch your back Jack! (Patriot Games (DVD))

Member Name: TheHenDog

Product:	Patriot Games (DVD)
Date:	08/09/09 (17 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good plot, tense political thriller, superior performances by lead actors....

Disadvantages: Might have seen this type of plot line before...

Patriot Games is the 1992 political thriller directed by Phillip Noyce and starring Harrison Ford as Jack Ryan, an ex-US army marine and CIA analyst who is forced back into the service of the CIA when he foils an IRA attempt to assasinate a member of the British Royal family whilst on holiday. In spoiling the terrorist attack, Ryan kills one of the perpetrators. The dead man's brother (Sean Miller played by Sean Bean), who is also a member of the IRA group responsible for the attack then targets Ryan's family, trailing them to the United States. This forces Ryan back into the service to try and track down the terrorist and thus save himself and his family...

Patriot Games is a superior tale of cat and mouse, although it's hard to decipher who is the hunter and who is the hunted. Ryan ruthlessly pursues Miller in retribution for the attack on his family, while Miller travels the globe to avenge the dead of his brother at the hands of Ryan. It's simply a tale of revenge which culminates with a terrific final sequence at Ryan's family home.

Harrison is solid as Jack Ryan, other actors before and after have failed to live up to his performances as the Tom Clancy created characted (see (or rather don't see) Ben Affleck in The Sum of All Fears or Alec Baldwin in The Hunt for Red October). Sean Bean is convincing as the IRA man consumed with rage and thirsty for revenge at the loss of his brother (although his Irish accent is a little dodgy!). The two work well together as they go toe to toe in this suspenseful drama. As for the supporting cast, Thora Birch convincingly plays the stereotypical annoying American child, Samuel L Jackson is great as Ryan's long time friend (but is perhaps a little underused). I was happiest however to see James Earl Jones in this movieand listen to his Imperious voice (he was the voice of Darth Vader in case you didn't know).

The political element of this movie must also be considered, as it highlights the difficult relationship between NI and Britain....

All in all this is a good quality thriller and an enjoyable way to spend a couple hours. Noyce knows how to produce a solid thriller: and in fact also directs Harrison as Jack Ryan in Clear and Present Danger (1994) which might be ever better that this film. It does follow a fairly standard formula used in many Hollywood thrillers, but the performances of the lead actors raises this above your standard 10 a penny drama. I do however hear that the author of the novel on which the film is based didn't like the script and so disassociated himself from the production. But don't let that put you off!

Summary: See it, then see Clear and Present Danger