Retro Film Review: Absolute Power (1997)

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Some films are made before its time. In case of Absolute Power, 1997 thriller directed by Clint Eastwood, that time was one year in the future. The plot of the film, based on the bestseller by David Baldacci, had some intriguing similarities with the scandal that would rock American political establishment in 1998.

Its protagonist is rather unconventional for this sort of film. Luther Whitney (played by Clint Eastwood) is a Korean War veteran who has built reputation as one of the country's best burglars. Burdened by old age, he wants to retire and the last opportunity to use his criminal skills is state-of-the-art security system at the mansion owned by Walter Sullivan (played by E. G. Marshall), one of America's richest and most influential men. The burglary goes as planned until being interrupted by drunk woman (played by Melora Hardin) bringing her lover (played by Gene Hackman) to the mansion for some sex. Winfrey is forced to hide and witness the erotic game that quickly degenerates into perversion, violence and murder. Winfrey is suddenly faced with the problem - dead woman happens to be billionaire's wife and man responsible for her death happens to be Allen Richmond, President of USA. While Gloria Russell (played by Judy Davis), Richmond's chief of staff, organises cover-up, police detective Seth Frank (played by Ed Harris) suspects that Whitney had something to do with the murder. Whitney, pursued both by police and Russell's thugs, is aided by his estranged daughter Kate (played by Laura Linney), who works as a prosecutor.

In 1997 leftist American critics attacked Clint Eastwood, one of Hollywood's few Republicans, for putting his talent in service of right-wing conspiracy and aiding the character assassination campaign against President Clinton. Although Absolute Power could be interpreted that way only by media conspiracy theorists, some interesting similarities between Eastwood's fictional and America's real president exist; then again, character of Allen Richmond and some of his troubles are in many ways similar to the character Gene Hackman had played in No Way Out, film made during Republican administration. In any case, the screenplay by William Goldman had intriguing premise, many interesting characters and subplots. Eastwood as an old and experienced director deliberately chose slow pace, favouring atmosphere and character development over the action. This film, unburdened by explosions and special effects, more realistic than in other examples of political thriller genre. The film is also well-acted, with plenty of talented actors managing to bring sympathy to usually detestable characters (best example is Judy Davis whose character hides vulnerability under her tough exterior). However, all this hard work is wasted because the plot and its resolution requires simply too much disbelief to be suspended by the audience - characters are burdened with past histories more suitable to soap operas than political thrillers. The ending of the film is especially disappointing, making the audience aware that mere presence of talents like those assembled for Absolute Power can't rescue the film from mediocrity.

RATING: 4/10 (+)

(Note: The text in its original form was posted in Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.films.reviews on August 29th 2003)