The Sum of All Fears

Morgan Freeman (Bill Cabot)	Ben Affleck (Dr. Jack Ryan)
Bridget Moynahan (Dr. Muller)	Liev Schreiber (John clark)
James Cromwell (Fowler - President of USA)	Ciaran Hinds (Nemerov - Russian President)

Based on a novel by Tom Clancy (also co-produced by Tom Clancy), the movie uses the Israel-Arab conflict in 1973 as the backdrop. An Israeli plane carrying a nuclear bomb is shot down. The bomb is found 29 years later by some Arabs who sell it to an unscrupulous dealer for 400 dollars not realizing its worth. The dealer then sells to a group of European (Alan Bates and Colm Feore) terrorists (originally Muslim in Clancy's novel, changed to European after protests by Arab-Americans when "The Seige" was released).

Meanwhile, the Russian president dies and his place is taken by Nemerov, perceived as a hardliner. This opinion is further consolidated when, almost immediately the Russian army drops chemical weapons in chechenya. Bill Cabot, director of CIA, brings Dr. Ryan into a high-level meeting of the Senate Committee for his opinion, which incidentally is different from the rest of the people. In a meeting with the President and his advisors, Ryan insists that Nemerov could not have ordered the attack but of course no one listens to him.

The terrorists then detonate the bomb in Baltimore during a ball game that the President himself is attending. Their objective is to get the US to blame Russia and have the two nuclear-armed countries fighting. Luckily, Ryan manages to get through to Cabot just before that and Cabot whisks the President out with the help of the secret service. Cabot himself dies in the attack. Ryan and his loyal friends in Washington uncover the truth that the bomb was made out of Plutonium stolen in the US itself and sold to Israel quietly.

Meanwhile, however, the two countries exchange military hostilities and finally give the order for nuclear strikes on each other. In the end, however, peace prevails due to the efforts of Ben Affleck.

What a summer this is turning out to be for Hollywood. Yet another gripping screenplay that has you moving to the edge of your seat several times. Attanasio has done a marvellous job and it is this that saves the movie despite many flaws in the plot. The direction of Phil Alden Robinson is very effective as is the casting. The way he cuts back and forth between the White House, Air Force One, Pentagon and the Kremlin is remarkable. The contrast between the dark and dreary Kremlin as opposed to the bright atmosphere of the Pentagon and the White House is also strikingly brought out.

Morgan Freeman seems to be getting stuck in the role of the wise man now. He is good at it, but it is time he started doing something new. He should take a leaf out of Samuel Jackson or Denzel Washington's books. It is only his immense dignity that helps him tide over yet another similar role smoothly.

Ben Affleck seems to be on a roll this year. It's his second major movie after "Changing Lanes" and he has won critical acclaim in both already. He seems to have learned his lesson after his rather nondescript performance in "Pearl Harbour" last year. A great screenplay and fine direction have tapped his talent yet again and Affleck is bound to go places provided he chooses his roles carefully.

James Cromwell and Ciaran Hinds have delivered convincing performances as the Presidents of their two nations. Bridget Moyanahan as the Doctor girlfriend of Ryan has a small role, but she delivers it pretty slickly. In one scene Ryan breaks a dinner date from the air telling her that he is on a mission for the CIA and she hangs up the phone telling him that it is a very lame story. The surprise packet is Liev Schreiber as John Clark who appears for a very brief while, but leaves a tremendous impression.

The good thing about the movie is that it does not take the viewer for granted at any point. It is definitely one of the most gripping movies of all time to come out of Hollywood.