Secret Service agent Frank Horrigan is haunted by his failure to save President Kennedy while protecting him in Dallas. Now, thirty years later, he must protect the current President from a crazed ex-CIA agent who is obsessed with the Kennedy assassination. Horrigan must confront his past mistakes and face his fears in order to save the President and redeem himself. The tension-filled cat-and-mouse game between the two men builds to a thrilling climax that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
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Review
In the Line of Fire: A Tale of Politics, Betrayal and Redemption
If you are looking for a movie that will keep you at the edge of your seat, then In the Line of Fire should be at the top of your list. Directed by Wolfgang Petersen, this political thriller is a story about redemption, betrayal and resilience.
Starring Clint Eastwood as the lead character, Frank Horrigan is a secret service agent assigned to protect the President of the United States. After failing to save John F. Kennedy, Frank has been plagued with guilt and anxiety about his duty to protect those in his care.
Years later, when a disturbed man by the name of Mitch Leary (John Malkovich) threatens to assassinate President James Foster (Jim Curley), Frank sees it as an opportunity to redeem himself and overcome his demons.
The storyline is captivating and keeps you on your toes from start to finish. The plot is intricate with twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end. The movie was released in 1993 but its themes are still relevant today.
In fact, In The Line Of Fire was inspired by true events that took place during Ronald Reagan’s presidency. It follows the journey of a dedicated secret service agent tasked with preventing an assassination attempt on the president.
The cast in this movie is exceptional with Clint Eastwood delivering one of his best performances as Agent Horrigan. He breathes life into his character with grit and determination that will stick with you long after watching the movie.
John Malkovich does an exceptional job featuring as Mitch Leary; he brings out Leary’s twisted psyche brilliantly, creating a compelling villain whose motives are both chilling and fascinating.
One standout quote from the movie goes like this: “You know why guys like you knock yourself out? It ain’t because they believe in presidents or democracy. It’s because they don’t like guys like me.” This quote perfectly captures the conflict between Horrigan and Leary.
The movie’s popularity is undeniable, with a gross of $176.9 million at the box office. It also received some well-deserved recognition with a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Editing in 1994.
The cinematography in In the Line of Fire is excellent, with the camera work highlighting both the beauty and horror of the story’s events through clever angles and lighting setups.
Filming this movie was not without its challenges. In particular, filming the scene where Malkovich fires his gun at Eastwood’s character was precarious since half of John Malkovich’s face was obscured by his character’s wig.
Overall, there is no shortage of opinions on In The Line Of Fire. Most viewers love it for its twists and thrilling plot, while others adore it for its performances by Clint Eastwood and John Malkovich.
In terms of special effects, the movie does not rely heavily on them since it focuses more on dialogue than action scenes. However, when used, they are done appropriately to add extra suspense to the plot.
What makes this movie exceptional is how it delves into Frank Horrigan’s character arc from being a guilt-ridden man to finding redemption in protecting a president. Also, Leary’s motives create a thought-provoking view into what drives some individuals to commit heinous crimes.
Additionally, there are some memorable scenes such as Agent Mosely (Dylan McDermott) exposing Horrigan’s lies about his involvement in JFK’s assassination while they were having drinks; this scene uncovers Horrigan’s vulnerability while also deepening our understanding of his character.
Despite receiving critical acclaim upon its release, some criticisms have been leveled against In The Line Of Fire over time; mainly that Clint Eastwood’s acting can be wooden at times. Still, most fans acknowledge that this does not detract from the movie’s overall value.
In conclusion, In The Line Of Fire is a must-watch if you are a fan of political thrillers. The grounded plot, exceptional performances, and captivating cinematography make it a classic that deserves to be watched and re-watched.
Technical Data
- Runtime : 128
- Release : 1993-07-08
- Genre : Action, Drama, Thriller, Crime, Mystery
- Cast : Clint Eastwood as Secret Service Agent Frank Horrigan, John Malkovich as Mitch Leary, Rene Russo as Secret Service Agent Lilly Raines, Dylan McDermott as Secret Service Agent Al D’Andrea, Gary Cole as Secret Service Presidential Detail Agent-In-Charge Bill Watts
- Crew : David Valdes as Executive Producer, Peter Kohn as Assistant Director, Peter Kohn as First Assistant Director, Ennio Morricone as Original Music Composer, John Bailey as Director of Photography
- Popularity 18.594
- Budget : $40,000,000
- Revenue : $176,997,168
- Company : Castle Rock Entertainment, Apple / Rose, Columbia Pictures
- Summary : Veteran Secret Service agent Frank Horrigan is a man haunted by his failure to save President Kennedy while serving protection detail in Dallas. Thirty years later, a man calling himself “Booth” threatens the life of the current President, forcing Horrigan to come back to protection detail to confront the ghosts from his past.
- Tagline : An assassin on the loose. A president in danger. Only one man stands between them…
