Thanks for checking out our Forgotten Fridays feature. This is a feature to review some older films that maybe you have forgotten about or maybe never got around to seeing that we just want to share. They may not be old, maybe not forgotten, but they are not new. Just fun to share.
Today’s review is Peacemaker
Genre: Action Thriller
Directed by: Mimi Leder
Staring: George Clooney, Nicole Kidman
Released: September 26, 1997
THE GENERAL IDEA
Two trains crash somewhere in Russia, one carrying a nuclear payload. A nuclear explosion follows the crash and the world is on alert… However, White House nuclear expert Dr. Julia Kelly doesn’t think it was an accident… Special Forces Intelligence Officer Colonel Thomas Devoe doesn’t think so either… Together they must unravel a conspiracy that goes from Europe to New York, to stop a terrorist who has no demands.
THE GOOD
This film is filled with awesome suspense, great action and even better character interaction. It’s miliatary strategy, its interpersonal relationships, its intrigue and action. It has it all.
This started my love affair with the Clooney swagger. His cockiness is hard to argue with when he is always right, but its how he delivers it. And Nicole Kidman looks so uniquely beautiful in this that she almost doesn’t look like herself – in a good way. I have never seen Kidman look entirely unattractive (maybe the Hours) and this is one of my favourite films with her in it. Her character deals with the problem of being a woman in power but they don’t dwell on it long.
The real threat of the film is the terrorist, who despite having no demands DOES have a purpose. You sympathize with what he has endured, but still see the evil in his reaction. He presents a real threat and a real villain which makes the suspense that much more real.
What surprised me most is actually a spoiler, so dont read any more of this section if you don’t want to know. Kidman and Clooney build a close working relationship and learn to respect each other but they never cross into that cliche that insists this means they will be romanticly involved. I love this about the film. They do grow closer and learn to respect each other, but that doesn’t mean they have to date.
THE BAD
I have little bad to say about this movie. I love it.
The title didn’t make much sense to me. There was no “peacemaker” as all they did was stop a terrorist. They don’t stop a war, they don’t stop his entire cause. They stop one terrorist act. And the title implies there was A peacemaker, while the film clearly illustrates how the threat is stopped by the organization and co-operation of many departments and individuals. But that’s all I have to complain about, so its not a big deal.
OVERALL
A great action film with heart and smarts. It has it all. The characters are all well fleshed out and the story builds the suspense to a finale worth watching. An absolute must see for fans of political and military thrillers.
I am going to introduce a new rating system for my Forgotten Fridays picks.
Since all of these Forgotten Friday reviews are going to be what I would already give a high rating to, I had a Tv, Rent or Buy scale going on, but it would seem that an overwhelming majority of my picks get a BUY rating.
So with every Forgotten Friday you see from now on, you get to rate your anticipation for yourself!
TV – If you are at least a little curious, catch it if it comes on TV.
Rent – If it is something you have heard of and forgotten, or just remember enjoying this as much as I did once upon a time, go rent it.
Buy – But if you are like me, and you agree with my review you should go buy it. If its featured here, I already have.
