Firewall
is a new thriller starring Harrison Ford, an actor who once owned Hollywood -
particularly when it came to the genre of film that Firewall belongs to. His empathetic
quality in films like The Fugitive as well as his iconic stature (thanks to legendary
cinematic staples such as the Star Wars and Indiana Jones trilogies) solidified
his lofty and elite status as bonafide Tinsel Town’s royalty. But you know
what they say – “what goes up must come down,” and following a
string of forgettable fare (i.e. Random Hearts, Six Days, Seven Nights, and Hollywood
Homicide), Ford’s career has been about as stable as Anne Heche with a pocketful
of peyote buttons. So, it comes as no surprise that Ford has returned to the action
genre, slipping back into the comfort shoes of a character we’ve seen him
play a dozen times – that of the everyman out to save his family from really
bad men.
In
Firewall, Harrison Ford is bank security specialist Jack Stanfield. Late one evening,
Jack’s loving family is, without warning, taken hostage by the sinister Bill
Cox and his evil henchman. Cox (Paul Bettany) threatens to terminate Jack’s
terrified loved-ones if the security software programmer doesn’t agree to
hack into the system that he helped create, and withdraw funds from rich clients.
Firewall
is a simplistic thriller. I have no problem with that. It’s well shot, crisply
edited and briskly paced. Sadly though, there is virtually no element of surprise.
This is a generic, paint-by-numbers thriller in every sense. Not once did I feel
that Jack or his family were in any sort of real danger. At one point in the picture,
Cox pulls a bit of nasty business with one of Jack’s children, but it’s
a ridiculously unrealistic moment and not once did I feel any real harm would
be inflicted. And even though the film moves along sprightly, it isn’t without
repetition. A big portion of the film features Jack trying Cox’s patience
by deviating from the master plan, and he never really seems to show anyone that
he means business. At least not with the Stanfields. Hell, even the family dog
is all but safe. It’s no wonder that Jack doesn’t really show any fear.
I never bought into the idea that something bad might happen to his family, so
why the hell should he?
I’m
a huge Harrison Ford fan. I’ve always treasured the Indiana Jones and Star
Wars films. In fact, those particular movies made me into the crazed film fan
I am today. But Ford’s list of worthwhile credits doesn’t end with those
memorable gems. His turn in Witness was unforgettable, but of his entire resume,
his most underrated (and compelling) performance was in Peter Weir’s Mosquito
Coast. His portrayal of Allie Fox in that fascinating picture was, perhaps, the
biggest leap he’s ever taken as an actor. Yes, I use the term actor and not
movie star. Ford was really beginning to prove that he was much more than a big
screen personality. He actually had the ability to become other characters (another
perfect example of this is his exceptional work in Regarding Henry). Then, in
the 90's, Ford got into a comfort zone playing empathetic characters out to prove
their innocence (The Fugitive) as well as family men protecting their families
from baddies (Patriot Games, Air Force One). Not that there’s anything wrong
with that. And in fact, he’s damn good at it. With a mere glance, Ford could
convey the idea that the touching of a single hair on one of his family members’
heads meant almost certain death to the bad guys. This brings us to Jack Stanfield
in Firewall. This is simply a variation of a man we’ve seen Ford play countless
times which would be fine, only here, it isn’t really a character. It’s
Harrison Ford going through the motions. This turn is so familiar and phoned-in
that I never really felt engaged by it. Just because it’s Harrison Ford,
isn’t enough. Patriot Games generated real tension. I feared for Ford and
his family in that film. There was something at stake. Firewall by comparison
is a predictable popcorn actioneer, and while it never aspires to be anything
more, I wanted it to be more. I love watching Ford get pissed off and take down
the enemy, but in this picture I didn’t really find any sort of emotional
attachment to what was going on. Firewall is more about action film clichés
than it is people.
Now
that I’ve rambled endlessly about Harrison Ford, you’re probably wondering
if anyone else is even in the movie. Actually there other actors in Firewall.
The token bad guy is played by Paul Bettany, a wonderful actor who usually plays
the sweet natured supporting character (see A Beautiful Mind, A Knight’s
Tale, or Master and Commander). In Firewall, he collaborates with his Wimbledon
director Richard Loncraine, and the end result is one of those bad guys that you
can’t help but like. Bettany is amusing here, but there is no real spark
to his character, and in the end this suave villain can’t hold a candle to
Alan Rickman’s equally charming baddie in the vastly superior Die Hard. What
Bettany is really lacking, is the sort of playful vibe that made Rickman’s
Hans so memorable.
There
are other notable names in Firewall, but most of the parts are sorely underwritten.
The sarcastic Mary Lynn Rajskub (so great on Fox’s 24) is unnecessary here
as a secretary at the bank. This is very much like the role she plays on TV only
far less edgy. The gorgeous and talented Virginia Madsen (who gave a virtuoso
turn in Sideways) appears in a completely thankless role as Jack’s wife.
Seriously, couldn’t they give this incredibly gifted actress something more
to do? There’s been talk recently that Ford is lobbying for Madsen to play
the female lead in the next Indiana Jones picture. If that does happen (I’d
love it if it did), I can only hope that she’ll play a more vital character.
Director
Richard Loncraine and screenwriter Joe Forte take all the usual devices a film
like this requires and pushes them to their utmost limits. If I had to compare
this flick to another picture to give you a frame of reference, it wouldn’t
be that hard because you can see elements of dozens of better movies in Firewall,
but the two that it most reminded me of were Ransom (right down to the moment
in which a grizzled Ford turns the tables on the bad guys) and the underrated
pot boiler Breakdown.
Firewall
lacks surprise. It’s that simple. It is well shot and there are a couple
of fun action pieces (including a scene in which a flustered Ford must make his
way through the office while his every move is monitored by a tiny camera hidden
in a pen in his shirt pocket), but overall, this movie is just too damn predictable.
There is one unexpected moment involving one of Jack’s co-workers, but it’s
handled in such a lackluster fashion, that it isn’t as interesting as it
could’ve been. And don’t get me started on the uber lame climax. Seriously,
the final moments of this movie feel like they were tagged on to punch up the
excitement factor, and they feel completely out of place. In fact, it kind of
reminded me of that misplaced final show down in Patriot Games, an infinitely
more exciting movie that would have also benefited from a stronger ending.
I
don’t want to give the impression that Firewall is garbage. It’s not
like this is in the same league as a movie like When a Stranger Calls. Still,
I couldn’t help but wish that there was something more to this film. If this
much-buzzed-about Indiana Jones installment does eventually materialize, I can
only hope that the real Mr. Ford returns to show us that he can still access his
A game.
