Plot: What’s it about?
Frank Horrigan (Clint Eastwood) is a man haunted by a mistake in his past, when he failed to save President Kennedy from assassination. Although he is a good man and was a good agent, that ghost in his past has troubled him ever since, making it hard for him to move beyond that event. But he must face those inner demons when thirty years later, he is pulled into an assassination plan, but not by his own choice. A brilliant psychopath (John Malkovich) has chosen to knock off the president, but he wants to involve Horrigan in the process, so he taunts him over the phone and leaves all sorts of clues for Horrigan to follow. It seems this man knows all about Horrigan and his life, even outside of his stint in the Secret Service, reaching into Horrigan’s troubled private life as well. Whether the agency likes it or not, Horrigan returns to active duty and insists on protecting the president from this madman. But can Horrigan overcome his past failure and focus on the present, with enough time left to stop this insane man before another president is killed on his watch?
This title was release back in the wee days of the format, but that disc has little in terms of supplements, so hence we have a brand new special edition these days. I like how Columbia/Tristar has chosen to revisit these early titles and pack in value elements, even if it means a second purchase on the same movie. I especially love this new special edition because I like this movie a lot, so I was anxious to browse through the new extras. I think this movie features some nice suspense, action, and even some emotional content at times, which are played out to perfection by the film’s excellent cast. I think this is one of Clint Eastwood’s finest performances and with such supporting players as John Malkovich and Rene Russo, the rest of the cast holds up very well also. The tension mounts almost right from the start and never lets up, even as the terrific climax is played through. But this thriller never puts the suspense before the story or characters, as this is a rich and complex piece of material. I give this film and new special edition disc my highest recommendation, so if you’re at all interested here, don’t hesitate to pick this release up.
I know we’re used to seeing him as a rugged loner who has no fear, but even as a vulnerable loner, Clint Eastwood more than proves his worth. I don’t think this is a departure from his loner roles in the Man With No Name series or Dirty Harry movies, but more of those characters with some subtle tweaks instead. Eastwood remains an outsider of sorts in this movie, but seems broken down and accessible, which he is able to pull off without a hitch. Once again, Eastwood proves he is a gifted performer and can handle roles of all makes & models. Other films with Eastwood include Play Misty For Me, Dirty Harry, Pale Rider, Fistful of Dollars, Hang ‘Em High, and A Perfect World. The rest of the cast includes Rene Russo (Major League, The Thomas Crown Affair), John Malkovich (Con Air, Rounders), Fred Dalton Thompson (Cape Fear, Thunderheart), Gary Cole (Office Space, A Simple Plan), and Dylan McDermott (Steel Magnolias, Home For The Holidays).
Video: How does it look?
In The Line of Fire is presented in a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. As was the case with the first release, this transfer looks terrific and while not flawless, it comes pretty close in the end. I saw minimal wear on the print used here, while compression errors were limited to a few very minor issues. The colors come across in bold form here, with bright hues and natural flesh tones, but no signs of bleeds or smears here. No problems with the contrast either, as shadows seem well defined and black levels are balanced to perfection. The original transfer is used here and when something’s not broken, why fix it?
Audio: How does it sound?
The included Dolby Digital 5.1 track is a good one, although not as explosive as more action driven fare. The surrounds are used here to create an immersive atmosphere, which means the mix is usually more subtle than overwhelming, which works very well here. A few sequences do open up the surrounds though, which means some powerful use is present and that adds a lot to the experience. The music is also well presented here, with a rich texture and a very full presence at all times. I heard no flaws in terms of dialogue either, as the vocals come through in crisp and clean form at all times. This disc also includes 2.0 surround tracks in English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese, as well as subtitles in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Thai, Chinese, and Korean.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This is where this new edition surpasses the previous one, as it is loaded down with bonus materials. It all starts off with an audio commentary with director Wolfgang Petersen, who gives some insight into the production, as well as various memories and anecdotes. This is a track I’ve been looking forward to and in the end, it was well worth the wait. This disc also includes four featurettes, each of which focuses on a different aspect of something you see in the film. A five minute featurette on counterfeiting tactics, a twenty-two minute piece on the real Secret Service, a twenty minute featurette on how the Secret Service was played in the picture, and a five minute special effects piece have all been included on this release. The last of the extras include the film’s theatrical trailer, some talent files, and a wealth of television spots. A very nice selection of extras here and in the end, this disc is a welcome update for this title, as it deserves all these supplements.
