As much as I like Clint Eastwood I have to say this was not his finest hour. This film was filled with way too many mistakes that also took one too many liberties with the facts. Clint Eastwood plays Frank Harrigan a Secret Service agent that at one time was assigned to protect President Kennedy. When President Kennedy was assassinated frank felt he did not do his duty by protecting the President and has carried the guilt ever since. Now 30 years have passed and Frank Harrigan is still a Secret Service agent again assigned to protect the President, and this time he will not make the same mistakes. Here is the first problem I have with this film. Frank had a lot of health problems being an old man now, and at one point while running along the President's Limo he can be seen coughing and gagging barely able to keep up. Now do you really think that such an old tired sick man would be allowed to protect the president? I don't think so. The second problem is Rene Russo's character as Special Agent Lilly Raines. She serves no useful purpose except to look sexy for the camera, and there is even an absurd scene where she is on duty in a tight dress (which the secret service would have never allowed) and Frank asked here where her gun is hidden and she replies, " Wouldn't you like to know." Give me a break. Of course we know there will be an attempt on the President life in which sick tired old man frank with redeem himself.
The only standout in this film was the performance of John Malkovich as the would be assassin. Other than that avoid this mess...
The only standout in this film was the performance of John Malkovich as the would be assassin. Other than that avoid this mess...