By: debbie lynn elias
Fifth in the well known series of Jack Ryan novels written by Tom Clancy, The Sum of All Fears,” a concept only imagined at the time of its publication in 1991, now eerily mimics real life as we see our once hidden fears of terrorism and nuclear warfare played out on the big screen, further solidifying the worldwide turn of events since 9-11 in our hearts and minds. Although filming wrapped well before September 11, in light of those tragic events, the film takes on a prescience and as a result, is more insightful, impacting and frightening than it would have been had it been released even a year earlier.
For those unfamiliar with the novel, during the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, an Israeli airplane carrying a lone nuclear fission bomb, manufactured right here in the good old USA, crashes in the Golan Heights. Surviving the crash, the undetonated, unexploded bomb becomes buried in the desert where it remains for some 29 years until dug up by regional nomads and sold to a Black Market arms dealer named Olson for the exorbitant sum of $400.00. Olson, a devotee of money, then in turn sells the bomb to a neo-Nazi right wing fanatic named Dressler whose philosophy can be summed up with his immortal words: “Hitler was stupid. He fought America and Russia, instead of letting them fight one another.” Dressler’s plan is to now start a nuclear war between the US and Russia, following which the Aryans would come in, clean up and fulfill Hitler’s dream of taking over the world and of course, Dressler would be supreme ruler.
Enter Jack Ryan, CIA analyst and expert on Russian affairs, politics, people and especially, Alexander Nemerov, the new leader of Russia. Following bombing of Chechnya by an unknown party but whom the Americans believe to have been Nemerov, Ryan gets pulled into the game by ranking CIA official, Bill Cabot, a man with great love of country and the peace process, always maintaining “back channel” access to the Kremlin in the hopes of avoiding the type of misunderstanding which initially occurs. Travelling to Moscow for a nuclear decommissioning inspection, as well as to meet with Nemerov, Ryan and Cabot become increasingly suspicious of the situation at hand leading to Ryan’s discovery that there is a bomb, it’s in play and the USA is going down. But, as we all know, appearances can be deceiving.
With the bomb exploding in Baltimore during the Super Bowl, the clock starts ticking as America struggles to understand the horror, the President agonizes over war, and Jack Ryan fights to uncover the truth about who and what caused the catastrophe.
Sub-plots and parallel storylines keep the intrigue level high (none moreso than those involving CIA operative John Clark), while tension mounts for both U.S. President Fowler and Nemerov as they struggle with personal beliefs, political responsibility and increasingly frustrating arguments with cabinet members over cause and effect.
Ben Affleck steps into the well-worn Harrison Ford role of Jack Ryan with such a compelling, confident ease and dynamic that you don’t realize it’s not the beloved Ford standing before you. Pre-dating “Patriot Games” and “A Clear and Present Danger,” this Jack Ryan is 28, a former Marine, but still a babe in the woods in terms of his career with the CIA. Writers Paul Attanasio and Daniel Pyne, together with Tom Clancy, do an excellent job of “prequelling” Ryan, showing us where not only he, but his future wife Katherine, got their backbone. Their script is clean, crisp, tight and high on character development. Hopefully, more Jack Ryan novels will be turned into film, allowing us to further watch Ryan grow into the hero we already know, respect and admire.
You can’t get any better than Morgan Freeman as Bill Cabot and James Cromwell as President Fowler. Previously seen together in another apocalyptic situation in “Deep Impact,” their roles are now reversed with Freeman a supporting official to Cromwell’s president. A large portion of the film takes place on Air Force One after the explosion and Cromwell is riveting in his performance, expertly conveying his obvious distraught, frustration and angst between his desire for peace and personal need for vengeance (as he only escaped death in the stadium by seconds), and his humanness as he screams, shouts and battles with his advisors, themselves, some of the most talented character and supporting actors in the business. One of the finest performances thus far this year, don’t be surprised to see Cromwell’s name pop up at Oscar time. Morgan Freeman’s sure and steady calm once again carries the day, showing true grace under pressure, and supports newcomer to the Ryan role, Affleck, for the first half of the film before Affleck takes the reins as a dominating and formidable force.
As competent and expressive as Cromwell is as Fowler, Ciaran Hinds is equally so as Nemerov. But one of the key performances is that of Liev Schreiber as John Clark. Recently seen in “Kate & Leopold” but probably best known for his documentary narratives, Schrieber exudes a tacit strength and command one can only hope is present in our actual CIA operatives.
As for director Phil Alden Robinson, what can I say. From his screenplay of “Rhinestone” to his writing and directing of “Field of Dreams” and “Sneakers,” he has always been at the top of his game, but never moreso than with “Sum of All Fears.” Inserting silent, documentary-like war footage after the bombing into an otherwise explosive film, only enhanced the already intricate and spellbindingly realistic story before us. Never missing a beat with military exactness and precision, not to mention political beaurocracy, Robinson and his writers, give us a film that is brilliantly and at times, breathtakingly, executed.
Explosive, exciting and enthralling, “The Sum of All Fears” is a sure fire winner and screams for Oscar come March 2003.
