Absolute Power

Over the years, I've come to expect more and more of Clint Eastwood's directoral efforts, and I've never been disappointed, until now. A stellar cast is wasted in this mess of a thriller. It's been said before, but it bears repeating: If you want to send a message, call Western Union.

There are two different kinds of Clint Eastwood's movies: those ones in which he really believes, stories he falls in love with (usually placed in the category of drama), such as "White hunter, black heart" or "Bridges of Madison County", and those other projects that are much more "mainstream" ("Space cowboys", "Blood Work")... Whatever, Clint Eastwood = quality. "Abolute power" is a great thriller filmed with tons of class (as usual) and with a wonderful cast. Maybe Eastwood is not a genius such as Picasso or Einstein, but he's a master, and there are no secrets for him in cinema. So, when it's time to choose a movie, choose a Clint Eastwood's, he'll always give you exactly what you want. *My rate: 7/10

This movie starts promising, but you will be raising your eyebrows as the unlikely plot unwinds. Near the end of the movie, you may wonder why everybody instantly believes every story that is told, however unlikely it may sound.

Absolute Power does engage, but accomplishes very little. A strong cast and well acted mostly, but the story's quite flimsy. Circumstance doesn't just turn him into the good guy, they're just worse. Plus he couldn't wait 5 more minutes for them to leave? Why'd Kate put him in danger calling him to meet up like that... and both the elite snipers miss, blah what a bad scene. Luther: Remember, tomorrow is promised to no one.

After reading David Baldacci's "Absolute Power", I was really looking forward to seeing the film. However it bears no resemblance whatsoever to the book. No Jack Graham AT ALL, in fact non of the legal team get a mention, which was one of the best bits of the book. The sex/rape/fight/murder scene at the beginning is pathetic! Luther doesn't get killed!!, central to the book story line! Typical American - Hollywood rubbish. If Hollywood feels the American audience cannot or will not take hard, gritty and sometimes not pleasant viewing/story lines, then stop making films, especially ones that ruin great books!! Absolute Power? ABSOLUTE RUBBISH!!

This ambitious movie begins to mix in its first scenes a burglary committed by a professional burglar (well acted by Clint Eastwood as the great actor he is) and a murder following a violent sex scene involving the President of the United States and the wife of a powerful millionaire to whom the President always confesses to owe his position. These two events have nothing to do with one another except for the fact that they happen simultaneously and the hidden burglar is an involuntary witness of the murder a fact which brings him a lot of trouble afterwards. The story is not badly filmed but it's rather weak in itself and have some incongruities and inconsistencies which become more numerous as the end approaches. It ends up in an unconvincing and somewhat forced outcome after a few entangled scenes. The only positive aspects of this movie are the great performance of Clint Eastwood and its good quality in formal and technical terms.

In the process of pulling his last job, a master thief witnesses a murder committed by the President of the United States. Based on David Balducci's best selling novel, Eastwood directs and stars as the master thief. While he is passable in the role, it's Hackman who seems disoriented as the fearful President. Ed Harris is wasted, but E.G. Marshall fares quite well in this mediocre thriller.