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Amazon.co.uk Review
Harrison Ford, bluntly, has seen better days. While once again he gives a tough, gruff performance in the leading role of a Hollywood thriller, the material around him in the case of Firewall is a far cry from what we used to expect of one of Hollywood's most enduring leading men.
It's still fun in its own way, though. Ford is the leader of the technical security team at his local bank, and finds his life is turned upside down when firstly his identity is compromised, and then his family are kidnapped. The kidnappers, led by Paul Bettany (A Beautiful Mind, Wimbledon) swiftly demand his help to extract $100m, only for Ford to gradually become more and more reluctant to play ball, with predictably fractious results.
It's a fairly by-the-numbers plot at work here, temporarily livened by some interesting set pieces and decent performances by the cast. Yet an unfocused script and an overblown running time mean the film amounts to being little more than a throwaway thriller, ideal fodder for an easy night-in, assuming you've no wish to remember much about it the morning after. By Ford's own standards, that's not great, but it's the best that's on offer here. --Simon Brew
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
In ancient times, kings would have everyone who constructed their primary defenses killed, and that was undeniably a pretty effective way of keeping anyone from discovering a backdoor entry into the castle. Obviously, things have changed a great deal since then, but it's still a fact that the biggest potential threat to any leader, company, or business is the guy who designed the security system. Crooks are well aware of this very thing, which brings us to the movie Firewall.
Harrison Ford plays Jack Stanfield, the network security chief at a medium-sized bank. After spending many years doing everything he can to protect his customers' data, he suddenly finds himself on the other side of the firewall when crooks take his wife and children hostage and demand he help them steal the bank blind by transferring a cool hundred million out of the accounts of its wealthiest customers. With his loved ones' lives on the line, he has little choice but to comply with their demands. Kept under constant surveillance and oftentimes accompanied by one of the conspirators, he has to go about his daily business, acting as if everything is fine, while trying to figure out the best way of bypassing his own security setup. Eventually, of course, he fights back, setting the stage for a rather action-packed ending.
The whole robbery plan is pretty darned elaborate. These guys would have needed to rob another bank just to be able to afford all of the equipment they put to use on this job. I definitely would have asked for more than 100 million dollars if I was the one who put the whole plan together.
Say what you will about the film's lack of originality, but I found Firewall to be a pretty exhilarating thriller. There's a lot of detail to the story, especially in terms of the way the crooks set Jack up for the fall, and the pace of the movie works well (the nagging questions I had about the plot didn't really hit me until after the film was over). As usual, Harrison Ford makes this film more successful than it would have been otherwise, but Paul Bettany does his part as well. Bettany plays Bill Cox, the brains and muscle behind the robbery plot and the only half-way interesting or well-developed character among the motley crew of criminals. Whenever Cox got frustrated or angry, he seemed to start channeling Christopher Walken, which I found rather amusing. Other than that, though, it's a serious, suspenseful film that I would rank higher than a lot of similar action films.
Harrison Ford plays Jack Stanfield, the network security chief at a medium-sized bank. After spending many years doing everything he can to protect his customers' data, he suddenly finds himself on the other side of the firewall when crooks take his wife and children hostage and demand he help them steal the bank blind by transferring a cool hundred million out of the accounts of its wealthiest customers. With his loved ones' lives on the line, he has little choice but to comply with their demands. Kept under constant surveillance and oftentimes accompanied by one of the conspirators, he has to go about his daily business, acting as if everything is fine, while trying to figure out the best way of bypassing his own security setup. Eventually, of course, he fights back, setting the stage for a rather action-packed ending.
The whole robbery plan is pretty darned elaborate. These guys would have needed to rob another bank just to be able to afford all of the equipment they put to use on this job. I definitely would have asked for more than 100 million dollars if I was the one who put the whole plan together.
Say what you will about the film's lack of originality, but I found Firewall to be a pretty exhilarating thriller. There's a lot of detail to the story, especially in terms of the way the crooks set Jack up for the fall, and the pace of the movie works well (the nagging questions I had about the plot didn't really hit me until after the film was over). As usual, Harrison Ford makes this film more successful than it would have been otherwise, but Paul Bettany does his part as well. Bettany plays Bill Cox, the brains and muscle behind the robbery plot and the only half-way interesting or well-developed character among the motley crew of criminals. Whenever Cox got frustrated or angry, he seemed to start channeling Christopher Walken, which I found rather amusing. Other than that, though, it's a serious, suspenseful film that I would rank higher than a lot of similar action films.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I enjoyed watching this movie simply because I am a Harrison Ford fan, although I agree to certain extent with the other reviewers, concerning the pridictability of the story line, and the weak plot, but just imagine; you are watching this movie some years ago being acted by the then younger "Ford"...I am sure every one would have gone mad about it! Though I wish if "Ford" would now move to act his age. Having said that I still feel this was a very watchable movie and deserves four stars
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I am fed up with films showing unnecessary levels of violence and excessive bad language. This is an action thriller worth watching, well acted and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Watch it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
excellent film
Another great Harrison ford film. The plot is realistic, as far as I know, there was loads of tension, but sometimes the film was borderline on creepy. Read more
Published 3 months ago by dave from next door
Overlooked hostage/heist movie
This is my second viewing of this movie having previously watched the DVD and it was just as good the second time around. Read more
Published 5 months ago by BPR
You designed the software, you find me a way in.
Firewall is directed by Richard Loncraine and written by Joe Forte. It stars Harrison Ford, Virginia Madsen, Carly Schroeder, Jimmy Bennett, Paul Bettany, Robert Patrick and Mary... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Spike Owen
PLEASE READ THIS!
I really don't understand the bad reviews of this film, sure it isn't going to go down in movie history but it is certainly a very entertaining and gripping story. Read more
Published 14 months ago by R. Lawrence
bad boys together
If you love Harrison Ford and Paul Bettany this is a great movie! Harrison as the vaunarable father with Paul playing the hard faced ( jack dee ) villian, . Read more
Published 16 months ago by zombielove
poor
poor film it looked like it was filmed in one room. Did Harrison Ford really need the money so badly to have taken part in this awful dvd. Read more
Published 16 months ago by woolls
Excellent Film
I first saw this film on BBC late at night about a year ago and thought it brilliant. Anybody who is interested in computers would enjoy this film. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Robert Adam
Firewall
A good film, plenty of action, the right about of violence for the story line and a good twist.
Published 21 months ago by Nanny Ce
Harrison Ford's Firewall
An excellent fast paced thriller film. Ordered the DVD and it arrived two days later. Great service.
Published on 29 April 2009 by N. Patterson
On the edge of your seat !
A techno thriller that is actually beleivable !
Worth a watch !
Worth a watch !
Published on 19 Feb 2009 by P. Griffiths
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