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

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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 Hunt for Red October (1990) - A stellar cast shines in the first and best Clancy adaptation

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Impressive silver fox Sean Connery painted red and black on this anticipation-building poster for John McTiernan's The Hunt for Red October

The Soviets have built a new submarine propulsion system, which makes their latest invention a silent threat. The technology is used on the mammoth submarine Red October, a vessel with a crew that either wants to defect or who are led by a doomsday-enamored maniac.

 

The Hunt for Red October is written by Larry Ferguson (Highlander (1986)), Donald E. Stewart (Missing (1982)) and David Shaber (The Warriors (1979)), adapting the same-titled 1984 novel by Tom Clancy (Without Remorse (1993)), and directed by New-Yorker master filmmaker John McTiernan (Nomads (1986)), whose 4th film it is.

To begin with it is a bit comical to see great Scotsman Sean Connery (You Only Live Twice (1967)) as a Russian captain, but he is terrific for the part, and he keeps us in a constant vice of paranoia, which keeps us guessing; is he really mad? - Or is it just a bluff?

The cast all-around makes this a deluxe Clancy adaptation - as well as the first of them: James Earl Jones (Law & Order (1993, TV-series)) as the CIA boss is perfect; Alec Baldwin (Along Came Polly (2004)) as protagonist Jack Ryan, and fellow talents such as Scott Glenn (Firestorm (1998)), Stellan Skarsgård (Melancholia (2011)), Sven-Ole Thorsen (The Viking Sagas (1995)), Sam Neill (Daybreakers (2009)) and Fred Thompson (Cape Fear (1991)). It is also a treat that this stern, male-dominated spy story is permitted to play out without a studio-mandated female tangent attached for sex value. The underwater scenes, which have early uses of CGI, work. Jan de Bont's (Kapsalon (1972)) cinematography is simple but precise. Basil Poledouris' (It's My Party (1996)) score is solid support. 

McTiernan cements himself as one of the best American filmmakers in the late part of the 20th century here.

 

Related posts:
 
John McTiernan: 1999 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess

The 13th Warrior (1999) - McTiernan and Co. sink with oversized Muslim hero adventure 

Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995) - McTiernan gives the third Die Hard a shot of New York-set adrenaline

Top 10: Best cop movies reviewed by Film Excess to date 

Top 10: The best adaptations reviewed by Film Excess to date 

Top 10: The best action movies reviewed by Film Excess to date

Die Hard (1988) - McTiernan's action masterpiece 

 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 30 mil. $

Box office: 200.5 mil. $

= Huge hit (returned 6.68 times its cost)

[The Hunt for Red October was released 2 March (USA) and runs 135 minutes. The US Navy were supportive of the film's creation and provided submarines for shooting, as well as advice on how to portray them positively. Connery was paid 4 mil. $ for his performance. Shooting took place from April 1989-? in England, North Carolina, Alaska, Connecticut, Washington and California, including in Los Angeles. The film opened #1 to a 17.1 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it stayed #1 for another 2 weekends and then remained in the top 5 for another 7 weekends, grossing 122 mil. $ (60.8 % of the total gross). It was the 6th highest-grossing film in North America of the year. Roger Ebert gave it a 3.5/4 star review, equal in rating to this one. It was nominated for 3 Oscars, winning for Best Sound Effects Editing. It lost Best Editing and Best Sound to Dances with Wolves. It was also nominated for 3 BAFTAs, among other honors. McTiernan returned with Medicine Man (1992). Connery returned in The Russia House (1990)); Baldwin in Miami Blues (1990). The Hunt for Red October is certified fresh at 88 % with a 7.70/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of The Hunt for Red October?