Since the end of the Cold War, just what exactly would be the Sum of All Fears? Well, the United States learned what their fears are, and it is not a nuclear war with Russia. Terrorists, that pretty much sums up all of our fears. This novel, written by Tom Clancy (Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger), hit the fear directly on the nuclear warhead with his latest, The Sum of All Fears, staring Ben Affleck (Changing Lanes) as Dr. Jack Ryan, CIA historian. This Phil Alden Robinson film presented flawless performances from veteran actors such as Morgan Freeman (High Crimes), James Cromwell (The Green Mile) as US President Fowler, and Alan Bates (The Mothman Prophecies). The chemistry and caliber performance from Affleck made this a remarkable movie. Despite a weak attempt to add a love story to the plot, the topic held its own.

This film begins with some background information dating back to 1973 when Syria attacked Israel and an Israeli plane carrying a nuclear bomb was shot down and the bomb lost. Cut 29 years in the future and the CIA is watching closely to the health of the Russian president, who just happens to drop dead. Within eight hours Russia has a new president, Alexander Nemerov (Ciaran Hinds), that the US is not familiar with. Dr. Ryan (Affleck) the historian wrote a paper the year before predicting this man would be the next president of Russia. So the head of the CIA, Bill Cabot (Freeman), brings in Ryan to fill in the blanks when all the president’s men need answers. In the meantime that lost bomb has been found, and sold to a terrorist, but not the terrorists we are accustomed to, this one is a Nazi, Richard Dressler (Bates). His views are that Hitler was stupid. Germany had the resources and the power to achieve their ideals, only instead of taking on both Russia and America they would be better served to put a ball into play and let Russia and America annihilate themselves. The ball would be an American nuclear bomb, the very one lost by an Israeli pilot, arriving from Russia and detonated in Baltimore at its stadium with a full house including the President. The US believes Russia did this, they know they didn’t, but have to defend themselves so as each are engaged in a pissing match, Ryan has to get to the truth and deliver it in time to save everyone from destruction.

The action was quick and delivered with precision. There were one-liners delivered with the punch of a stand-up and ironies that make you chuckle out loud. Also appearing in The Sum of All Fears was Bruce McGill, Jamie Harrold (The Score), Philip Baker Hall (Shallow Hal), and Liev Schreiber (Kate & Leopold). I especially love the irony of cigarettes in this film. They really can kill you. I give The Sum of All Fears a nine on the About-Movies.com scale.

Last updated: Thursday, March 20, 2008 02:48:27 AM

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