Amazon.co.uk Reviews
Clint Eastwood may be a little too old (plus he kind of already did his own version of this movie in 1993's
In the Line of Fire), but Harrison Ford could have been
The Sentinel's lead and lent the same kind of top-flight Hollywood superstar craft that Michael Douglas brings as a superstar secret service agent fighting a frame-up in a panicky countdown to peril. That the marquee name could have belonged to anyone with the same chops as Douglas is no slam to him, Ford, Eastwood, or anyone else of their ilk.
The Sentinel is a crackling good thriller because everyone involved is working at the top of their game. Pete Garrison (Douglas) is on the presidential protection detail when another agent is murdered. A creepy informer tells Garrison about an elaborate assassination conspiracy that's related and well underway. Garrison also happens to be having an affair with the First Lady (Kim Basinger), the stress of which causes him to flunk a lie detector test when word of the plot to kill the president becomes more than just paranoia.
Garrison is soon on the run, being hunted by his protege David Breckinridge (Kiefer Sutherland, whose 24 experience gives his performance an extra edge). But Garrison is the best, using all his secret service wiles (and there are plenty, the details of which give added tension and authenticity to the taut script) to evade his former comrades as the clock ticks. You can often see the plot thickening a mile away, and as much as the movie wants to keep us guessing, the real bad guy is an easy mark for the audience. But the energy and kinetic skill which propel the action are always spot on and enough to keep us from caring about the giveaways. Co-star Eva Longoria is miles away from her Desperate Housewives role and miles away from any real import of character in the movie. But the rest of the cast and the whooshing forward momentum of style and anxiety are plenty to keep The Sentinel in full-tilt suspense mode from beginning to end. --Ted Fry
Synopsis
Based on the novel of the same name by Gerald Petievich, THE SENTINEL offers a rare look at the world of the Secret Service and questions what would happen if an insider were involved in a plot to kill the President of the United States. Agent Pete Garrison (Michael Douglas) has earned his stripes and is a fixture in the Secret Service. In 1981, he took a bullet during the assassination attempt on President Reagan. More than twenty years later, he is an essential element in the first line of defence for current first lady Sarah Ballentine (Kim Basinger). But Garrison has some secrets--secrets that could end his career if they were discovered. When a plot to assassinate President John Ballentine (David Rasche) is suspected, Garrison finds himself the primary suspect. Heading the investigation is Agent David Breckenridge (Kiefer Sutherland), who is convinced that Garrison--his former best friend and mentor--slept with his wife. With the help of rookie agent Jill Marin (Eva Longoria), who was trained by Garrison, Breckenridge is determined to crack the case and keep the president safe--even if it means taking Garrison down. When accused of treason, Garrison leads Breckenridge and the other agents on a wild chase and the truth becomes more and more twisted. Is Garrison running in order to escape, or is he trying to prove his innocence while protecting his secrets? Can Breckenridge put aside his old grudge and make decisions based strictly on the evidence presented? Will Marin's allegiance remain with her new supervisor, or with Garrison, the field instructor who recommended her for her new assignment? Most important, can the agents uncover the truth before more of their colleagues--and the president--die? Directed by Clark Johnson (S.W.A.T.), who appears as Agent Charlie Merriweather, the film also features Martin Donovan, Ritchie Coster and Blair Brown.
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