Patriot Games (1992) - Lacking story fundamentals mar Ford's first Ryan performance

♥♥

 

A crisp and suspense-driven design collects this enticing poster for Phillip Noyce's Patriot Games

CIA agent Jack Ryan intervenes at a London terrorist attack and kills the brother of an IRA terrorist, who later swears revenge.

 

Patriot Games is written by W. Peter Iliff (Varsity Blues (1999)) and Donald E. Stewart (Deathsport (1978)), adapting the same-titled 1987 novel by Tom Clancy (The Sum of All Fears (1991)), and directed by Phillip Noyce (God Knows Why, But It Works (1976)). It is the 2nd adaptation of a Clancy novel, coming after John McTiernan's successful The Hunt for Red October (1990), which starred Sean Connery and Alec Baldwin.

Handsome action here, and Harrison Ford (The Devil's Own (1997)) doing well in the Ryan part taken over from Baldwin, as well as the ideal James Earl Jones (The Big Bang Theory (2014, TV-series)) back as his CIA boss. But despite these qualities, Patriot Games falls through the floor with its unlikely plot about the CIA seriously being threatened by the IRA.

The story is fundamentally unsexy and lacking in credibility, and the premise is light on suspense. Later world famous villain actor Sean Bean's (The Storyteller (1988, TV-series)) participation as a crook here doesn't work against the yawns.

 

Related posts:

 

Jack Ryan franchise: The Hunt for Red October (1990) - A stellar cast shines in the first and best Clancy adaptation

Phillip Noyce: Salt (2010) - Engaged Jolie in Noyce's lacking actioner

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 42-45 mil. $ (different reports)

Box office: 178 mil. $

= Big hit (returned 4.09 times its cost)

[Patriot Games was released 5 June (North America) and runs 117 minutes. Clancy was paid 2.5 mil. $ for the rights to Patriot Games and the following novel, Clear and Present Danger. Despite this high sum, Clancy uttered disapproval of the script and other aspects of the film in the time up until its release, at which point a studio head was able to break peace with the influential author. Ford was paid 9 mil. $ for his performance in the film. Shooting took place from November 1991 - February 1992 in Virginia, Maryland, California and in London, UK. The budget ballooned from 28 mil. $ during production, and the ending was reshot to the tune of millions of dollars. Another approximately 20 mil. $ was used to market the film. It opened #1 to a 18.5 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it spent another weekend at #1 and then another 2 in the top 5 (#3-#5), grossing 83.3 mil. $ (46.8 % of the total gross). Roger Ebert gave it a 2.5/4 star review, translating to a notch over this one. Jack Ryan returned in Ford's guise with Noyce back at the helm in Clear and Present Danger (1994). Noyce first returned with Sliver (1993). Ford first returned in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (1993, TV-series) and theatrically in The Fugitive (1993). Patriot Games is fresh at 72 % with a 6.80/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Patriot Games?

The Boxer (1997) - Excellent film of boxing and love in grim Ireland

♥♥♥♥♥

+ Best Boxing Movie of the Year + Best Irish Movie of the Year

Two of the best UK actors of their time make up most of this dark poster for Jim Sheridan's The Boxer

Set in the Belfast area in the 1990s Irish civil war between Protestant and Catholic Christians, The Boxer tells the story of Danny, an former IRA terrorist, who is released from prison after a long stint and wants to turn things around by opening up a boxing club. He falls for another prisoner's wife in the mix.

 

The Boxer is written by Terry George (In the Name of the Father (1993)) and great Irish filmmaker, co-writer/co-producer/director Jim Sheridan (My Left Foot (1989)).
The boxing and the love are the strong elements that lift up this very dark period piece of Irish and British history out of a gutter of utter despair. Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood (2007)) delivers one of his best performances ever, accomplishing total credibility as the low-down boxer Danny. In other big parts, Emily Watson (Breaking the Waves (1996)) and Brian Cox (L.I.E. (2001)) excel.

Sheridan achieves a great portrayal of the division between the societal groups in The Boxer, which elevates it historically. It is an excellent story about a grim chapter in Irish history.

Related posts:

 

Jim Sheridan: Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2005) - Sheridan's hiphop biopic riddled with weak spots 

2005 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I]

1997 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess

In the Name of the Father (1993) or, The Scapegoats 

 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

Cost: 4.7 mil. $
Box office: 16.5 mil. $
= Big hit (returned 3.51 times its cost)

[The Boxer opened 31 December (North America, Philippines) and runs 114 minutes. Day-Lewis reportedly prepared by boxing for 3 years for the performance. Shooting took place from April - July 1997 in Ireland, including in Dublin. The film opened #19 to an 86k $ first weekend in 3 theaters in North America, where it peaked at #13 and grossed 5.9 mil. $ (35.8 % of the total gross). In the UK, including Ireland, it made 2.2 mil. $ (13.3 %). It was nominated for 3 Golden Globes, among other honors. Roger Ebert gave it a 3/4 star review, translating to a notch under this one. Sheridan returned with In America (2002). Day-Lewis returned in Gangs of New York (2002); Watson in Hilary and Jackie (1998). The Boxer is certified fresh at 81 % with a 7.20/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

 

What do you think of The Boxer?