Plot: What’s it about?
Clint Eastwood may be known for many things…overall toughguy, overall “badass” and basically one of our most highly regarded and popular American actors. He’s directed more movies than a lot of other pure directors out there, and can say that one of his has a “Best Picture” label attached to it for eternity (Unforgiven). While it’s hard to attach a label to Clint as the local roughneck from “Every Which Way But Loose” and “Any Which Way You Can”, to the Man with no name Trilogy (High Plains Drifer, The Good the Bad and the Ugly and Pale Rider if I’m not mistaken) to his later more “political” works (In the Line of Fire and Absoute Power). Clint is Clint, and while I realize that the quotation marks have already been overused here, it’s somewhat appropriate in the sense that this guy has literally done everything…and a little know fact: He and Burt Reynolds were both fired from the same studio (Universal) on the same day, and both went on to very prosperous movie careers after that. So upon the release of Warner’s “Clint Eastwood Collection”, we take a look at a disc that’s alreay been out for some three years by Columbia/Tristar…but just because in DVD time it’s old, doesn’t mean it’s down for the count.
Eastwood plays FBI agent, Frank Horagan. Horagan has been around, was John F. Kennedy’s favorite agent and still, in some way, feels responsible for the death of one of our more popular presidents (and a death that still has yet to be solved, though theories abound). On a routine call, Frank and partner Al (Dylan McDermott), come across an empty apartment with somewhat of a shrine of pictures depicting President Kennedy’s image. Upon contact by the would be killer, “Boothe” (John Malkovich), Frank starts to learn the plans that is in store for the current President. Horagan then requests to be assigned to Presidential detail, which is much too demanding for an agent of Frank’s age…but hey—it’s Clint Eastwood here! As the cat and mouse game starts to get more involved, several nerves are tapped. “Boothe” turns out to be a man named Mitch Leary, an ex-assassin for the CIA who has since been “terminated” by the organization. Added in the mix is Rene Russo’s character, and Frank’s love interst, Lily. Lily is the new breed of agent, and aside from being a woman, is pretty darn good at her job. It’s her constant wisdom and warnings that keep Frank in line, and also give him inspiration at the same time.
While being a “Clint Eastwood” movie, this movie is stolen by John Malkovich, who was nominated for an Academy Award for his role. Malkovich is just edgy and eerie enough that we legitametly belive that it’s he who wants to kill the president. We see him in rare form as a character and an actor both. While Eastwood does have his moments with his gravely voice and all, it’s fun to see the on screen chemistry between the two. Rene Russo provides her usual “female supporting role” like in so many other movies (Lethal Weapon 3 and 4, Ransom, Tin Cup, Thomas Crown Affair, Get Shorty…) and though good at her role, I feel the part could have been played by most any actress. Aside from the cast, Wolfgang Petersen delivers again with a political thriller (he also directed Air Force One, among others). Wheather it’s his obsession with The White House or just a great director who has a talent for assembling great casts, it works. In the Line of Fire may not be remembered 50 years from now, but it’s a top notch action movie. And if you’re a fan of Clint Eastwood and/or John Malkovich, then you’re in for a real treat. The lack of features is not a selling point for the movie, however, so if you’re a big fan I’d buy it, for the rest…it’s a renter. There have been rumors as to a re-release of this movie in Special Edition format like so many other early Columbia releases (Bad Boys, Little Women, The Craft, Sleepless in Seattle, Stand By Me and Jumanji come to mind). So there might be hope for a better version. As for this, it looks and sounds great!
Video: How does it look?
Probably one of the first 20 movies released in the US on the new DVD format, In the Line of Fire sports a spectacular 16:9 image. Now this being a reissue of the early disc, there was really nothing to improve on. This disc is in Warner packaging, but is, essentially, the Columbia disc from three years ago (Ugly blue menus and all). The image is presented in it’s 2.35:1 original aspect ratio and should make a believer out of anyone who doubts DVD. Edge enhancement is minimal, colors are a bit muted and some scenes seem a bit fuzzy, but I’m not sure if that’s the fault of the DVD or the transfer itself. Overall, though, this looks splendid and you won’t be disappointed in the visual presentation.
Audio: How does it sound?
Remastered in a Dolby Digital 5.1 format, In the Line of Fire sounds as good as it looks. It’s not reference quality by any means, but it does have it’s moments. Dialogue is clean and well centered and what is used of the surround speakers comes through nicely in the form of motorcycles (motorcade, they go from the front to the rear and sound nice). A few gunshots illuminate the room and sound nice as well, but on the whole it’s basically a nice soundtrack. Nothing reference quality, once again…but if more movies sounded like this–it would be a better world!
Supplements: What are the extras?
Nothing. Pray for the Special Edition!!!
