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Movies / Upcoming / The Siege
The Siege

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The Siege (1998)

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43 %
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Reviews Counted:58

Fresh:25

Rotten:33

Average Rating:5.8/10

Consensus: An exciting, well-paced action film.

Runtime: 1 hr 56 mins

Genre: Action/Adventure

US Box Office: $0

Synopsis: When the U.S. military abducts a Muslim leader, New York City becomes the target of several terrorist attacks in this gripping political thriller ripped from newspaper headlines. Denzel Washington... When the U.S. military abducts a Muslim leader, New York City becomes the target of several terrorist attacks in this gripping political thriller ripped from newspaper headlines. Denzel Washington stars as Anthony "Hub" Hubbard, the head of the FBI terrorism task force who is charge of investigating the bombings. Ironically, Hub's partner, Frank Haddad (Tony Shalhoub), is Arab-American and must fight for his family's rights as the citizens of New York become increasingly paranoid about the Arab-American population. Elise Kraft (Annette Bening) is an undercover CIA official and Middle East expert who is also investigating the terrorist attacks and joins Hub and Frank as they search for the terrorists. As Hub, Elise, and Frank work to uncover the source of the terrorism, the city erupts in escalating madness, spiraling out of control until the government sends in General William Devereaux (Bruce Willis), who takes over the city and declares martial law. Ultimately, the government seizes the male Arab-American population of New York in makeshift internment camps in this incredibly relevant and cautionary thriller that examines the real dilemma of how a democratic society can uphold the rights of its citizens while under military protection. Director Edward Zwick's film features excellent performances from an all-star cast and includes real footage of President Clinton addressing the problem of terrorism. [More]

Starring: Denzel Washington, Annette Bening, Bruce Willis, Tony Shalhoub

Starring: Denzel Washington, Annette Bening, Bruce Willis, Tony Shalhoub, Sami Bouajila, Liana Pai

Director: Edward Zwick

Director: Edward Zwick
Screenwriter: Edward Zwick, Menno Meyjes, Lawrence Wright
Producer: Lynda Obst, Edward Zwick
Composer: Graeme Revell

[See More Credits]

Reviews for The Siege

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1 - 20 (sorted by rotten rating; Australian critics are listed first)
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
01/01/00
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | comment Comment
03/24/02
Boston Phoenix
N/R

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Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | comment Comment
07/21/05
Houston Chronicle
N/R

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Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/03/06
Derek Adams
Derek Adams
Time Out
N/R

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Full Review Source: Film Blather | comment Comment
05/22/03
Eugene Novikov
Eugene Novikov
Film Blather
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Village Voice | comment Comment
10/10/02
Gary Dauphin
Gary Dauphin
Village Voice
N/R

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Full Review Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune | comment Comment
11/06/02
Jeff Strickler
Jeff Strickler
Minneapolis Star Tribune
N/R

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Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
10/10/02
Mac Verstandig
Mac Verstandig
rec.arts.movies.reviews
N/R

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Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
06/30/07
Todd McCarthy
Todd McCarthy
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Film Threat

A flawed melodrama that gives itself a self-important weight it cannot sustain throughout.

Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
01/01/00
Bob Bloom
Bob Bloom
rec.arts.movies.reviews

In all, quite a disappointment.

Full Review Source: Bryant Frazer's Deep Focus | comment Comment
01/01/00
Bryant Frazer
Bryant Frazer
Bryant Frazer's Deep Focus

The Siege is clumsily put together. Zwick is careless about plot details, so the movie is often needlessly confusing.

Full Review Source: Salon.com | comment Comment
01/01/00
Charles Taylor
Charles Taylor
Salon.com

If you like political thrillers with lots of explosions, domestic terrorism, and vein-popping army Generals, this movie's for you.

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/08/02
Chris Gore
Chris Gore
Film Threat

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
05/26/04
Dragan Antulov
Dragan Antulov
rec.arts.movies.reviews

The Siege is constantly heavy-handed, not entertaining or insightful, and just goes to prove that not even the best actors can save a film that lacks a satisfactory screenplay.

Full Review Source: DustinPutman.com | comment Comment
01/01/00
Dustin Putman
Dustin Putman
DustinPutman.com

A cartoonish open-air version of Crimson Tide.

Full Review Source: NUVO Newsweekly | comment Comment
01/01/00
Edward Johnson-Ott
Edward Johnson-Ott
NUVO Newsweekly

The Siege is a good idea that is never quite executed as it should be.

Full Review Source: Q Network Film Desk | comment Comment
02/27/01
James Kendrick
James Kendrick
Q Network Film Desk

The movie is more successful at creating tension than in building credible characters.

Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
01/01/00
James Sanford
James Sanford
rec.arts.movies.reviews

Washington and Ms. Bening play smart, interesting characters who never quite connect, while Willis turns himself into the loosest military cannon this side of Dr. Strangelove.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
01/01/00
Janet Maslin
Janet Maslin
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by rotten rating; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 >> >|
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