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Movies / Upcoming / The Sum of All Fears
The Sum of All Fears

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The Sum of All Fears (2002)

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Reviews Counted:166

Fresh:98

Rotten:68

Average Rating:6/10

Consensus: A slick and well-made thriller that takes on new weight due to the current political climate.

Runtime: 2 hrs 3 mins

Genre: Action/Adventure

US Box Office: $118,471,320

Synopsis: In this high-intensity drama, based on the novel by Tom Clancy, Ben Affleck stars as Jack Ryan, the CIA agent from Clancy's THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER, PATRIOT GAMES, and CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER.... In this high-intensity drama, based on the novel by Tom Clancy, Ben Affleck stars as Jack Ryan, the CIA agent from Clancy's THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER, PATRIOT GAMES, and CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER. Here, Ryan is dealing with a terrifying new problem: a nuclear weapon has fallen into the hands of foreign terrorists who are determined to create a war between Russia and the U.S. As the film begins, a South African arms dealer (Colm Feore) acquires a long-lost nuclear weapon and sells it, at great profit, to a resurgent group of fascists led by Dressler (Alan Bates), who plans to lure the U.S. and Russia into a war. Soon after, the Russian premiere dies and the relatively unknown Nemerov (Ciarán Hinds) replaces him. But U.S. president Fowler (James Cromwell) smells a rat, and calls CIA chief William Cabot (Morgan Freeman) and special agent Jack Ryan (Affleck), the junior analyst who has been researching Nemerov, into action. THE SUM OF ALL FEARS is a powerful addition to Tom Clancy's techno-thriller series. Affleck is effective, and there are notable supporting performances from Freeman, Cromwell, Feore, Hinds, Bates, and Liev Schreiber as a CIA operative. Director Phil Alden Robinson manages the action with great skill. Particularly notable are the terrifying nuclear attack and the sequence of final reckonings intercut with Puccini's beautiful aria "Nessun Dorma." [More]

Starring: Ben Affleck, Morgan Freeman, Liev Schreiber, James Cromwell

Starring: Ben Affleck, Morgan Freeman, Liev Schreiber, James Cromwell, Alan Bates, Ciaran Hinds, Colm Feore, Bridget Moynahan, Philip Baker Hall, Ron Rifkin, Bruce McGill, Marie Matiko

Director: Phil Alden Robinson

Director: Phil Alden Robinson
Screenwriter: Paul Attanasio, Daniel Pynee
Producer: Mace Neufeld
Composer: Jerry Goldsmith
Studio: Paramount Pictures

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Reviews for The Sum of All Fears

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
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The Sum of All Fears is remarkably fuddled about motives and context, which drains it of the dramatic substance that would shake us in our boots (or cinema seats).

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
08/23/02
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Now see why Harison Ford decided not to play Jack Ryan once again in this very flawed film.

Full Review Source: Dark Horizons | comment Comment
12/04/01
Garth Franklin
Garth Franklin
Dark Horizons
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment Comment
04/29/09
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed

Though this political adventure requires substantial suspension of disbelief, the witty script and mature approach keep the film on track. [Blu-Ray]

Full Review Source: Groucho Reviews | comment Comment
08/05/08
Peter Canavese
Peter Canavese
Groucho Reviews
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
07/22/08
Robert Koehler
Robert Koehler
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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Full Review Source: Big Picture Big Sound | comment Comment
07/14/07
Joe Lozito
Joe Lozito
Big Picture Big Sound

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
12/30/06
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

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Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Geoff Andrew
Geoff Andrew
Time Out

Click to read the article

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

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Full Review Source: Three Movie Buffs | comment Comment
09/30/05
Scott Nash
Scott Nash
Three Movie Buffs
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: FilmStew.com | comment Comment
02/01/04
FilmStew.com
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

... Entertaining and far more relevant than most other action/adventure movies.

Full Review Source: Star-Democrat (Easton, MD) | comment Comment
01/07/04
Greg Maki
Greg Maki
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)

So don’t worry, take in a matinee.

Full Review Source: Greenwich Village Gazette | comment Comment
11/07/03
Eric Lurio
Eric Lurio
Greenwich Village Gazette

Has enough clichés and cut-out characters to condemn it to mediocrity.

Full Review Source: RTE Interactive (Dublin, Ireland) | comment Comment
09/22/03
Harry Guerin
Harry Guerin
RTE Interactive (Dublin, Ireland)

Realizando um bom trabalho ao condensar o complexo livro de Clancy, o filme é tenso, inteligente e conta com fortes atuações de todo o elenco – inclusive de Affleck, que confere uma curiosa vulnerabilidade ao herói.

comment Comment
07/21/03
Pablo Villaca
Pablo Villaca
Cinema em Cena
N/R

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Full Review Source: BlackFilm.com | comment Comment
05/13/03
Wilson Morales
Wilson Morales
BlackFilm.com

It's a tired premise, and it's got its flaws, but the present talent makes it worthwhile.

Full Review Source: Film Quips Online | comment Comment
02/08/03
John R. McEwen
John R. McEwen
Film Quips Online

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/08/02
Film Threat
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

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Full Review Source: NPR's Fresh Air | comment Comment
11/16/02
Armond White
Armond White
NPR's Fresh Air

I didn't believe for a moment in these villains or their plot.

Full Review Source: Daily Mail [UK] | comment Comment
11/10/02
Christopher Tookey
Christopher Tookey
Daily Mail [UK]
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
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Latest News for The Sum of All Fears

October 16, 2009: Weekly Ketchup: Chris Pine May Play Jack Ryan
This week's Ketchup includes the expected franchise reboots - both involving espionage types Jack Ryan and Matt Helm - potentially starring Chris Pine and Bradley Cooper, as... More...

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January 23, 2008: Ryan Gosling Starring in Jack Ryan Franchise Reboot?
Romantics swooned over him in The Notebook, and critics loved his turn as the doll-toting lead character in last year's Lars and the Real Girl -- and if the latest rumors are... More...

January 18, 2008: Down but Not Out, HD DVD Soldiers On
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