Dramatically and cinematically, the film is fabulous until the final third of its two hours, when everyone tries a tad too hard, from scriptwriter to director.
Comment
01/01/00
Absolute Power (1997)
44 %
Reviews Counted: 39 Fresh: 17 Rotten:22 Average Rating: 5.5/10
Runtime: 2 hrs 1 min
Synopsis: In this slick political thriller, an emotionally disconnected, aesthetically refined master thief is out for one final score before retiring to his treasure-lined hideaway. But during a robbery at a mansion near Washington, he witnesses a bizarre sex murder involving the President of the... [More]
Genre: Dramas
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Ed Harris, Scott Glenn, Judy Davis
Director: Clint Eastwood
Screenwriter: William Goldman
Story: David Baldacci
Composer: Clint Eastwood, Lennie Niehaus
Producer: Karen S. Spiegal, Clint Eastwood
Screenwriter: William Goldman
Story: David Baldacci
Composer: Clint Eastwood, Lennie Niehaus
Producer: Karen S. Spiegal, Clint Eastwood
Reviews
Top Critic
The plot is a doomsday version of Bill Clinton's Paula Jones problem, but the theme is impending mortality--settling scores before time's up.
08/22/08
Not one of Clint's best, but still better-than-average entertainment.
08/22/08
Doesn't rank with Eastwood's best work as actor/director, but it's nevertheless solidly enjoyable.
06/24/06
A pretty decent suspense movie, until its last half hour or so, which ends on a flaccid note and doesn't generate the needed resolution for the solid build-up that came before.
12/06/05
For all the suspense the film does generate, the fairly flat climax is a disappointing payoff.
09/17/05
Dunderheaded fantasy about noble thieves and corrupt commander-in-chiefs.
05/03/05
Good actors elevate this disappointing and lame effort by a respected filmmaker.
04/09/05
...suffers from the same pathology as Bridges of Madison County; a weakness of source material.
12/31/04
The plot and its resolution requires simply too much disbelief to be suspended by the audience...
08/29/03
Mr. Hackman languishes in the smallish role of a White House buffoon, with Judy Davis equally cartoonish as his witchy chief of staff.
05/20/03
Top Critic
You could waste your time in many worse ways than watching this ensemble of old pros shoot and scratch at each other.
05/20/03
The ending of the film is rather abrupt, but most of the time this film runs as slick as oil, thanks to impeccable production standards, a solid script and good performances...
03/16/03
Eastwood labors in a role that calls for someone far less forceful, while Hackman is positively embarassing. These were the same guys who made Unforgiven?
02/06/03
Can't believe William Goldman wrote this crap, or that Eastwood, Hackman, Harris, and Davis bothered to get involved with it either.
06/18/02
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by: joescannura 5/16
by: joescannura 5/16
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