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By CityFirewall
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FirewallHarrison Ford is back!
2006-02-24
Article Written by: Sami Jo
Ladies and Gentlemen, Harrison Ford is back! He’s even playing the Indiana Jones type character we all like, not another Dr. Norman Spencer (What Lies Beneath). Ford is famous for meaningful one-liners that all basically mean, “I don’t think so!” In Firewall he plays the VP of Security at bank which he is forced to rob to keep is family from being killed by an extremely intelligent, money hungry murderer (played by Paul Bettany).
Firewall perfectly follows a basic story-telling format. It hooks the audience in the beginning, keeps the audience interested, hits the climax, and ends with a resolution to the conflict. This suspenseful crime-drama is directed by Richard Loncraine (Wimbledon), who successfully keeps his audience at the edge of their seats throughout the film. Loncraine directs the film with such success that it would be good no matter who the actors were; however, the cast members take the film from being great to flawless.
Firewall reunites Bettany with Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, both of whom starred in Wimbledon. While Coster-Waldau once again plays a small, supporting role, Bettany remarkably plays a bad guy. His other well-known roles to date are playing more comedic characters such as Geoffrey Chaucer in A Knight’s Tale and Peter, Peter Colt in Wimbledon. With his ability to master different character types, Bettany is a sure bet for a future Oscar!
Virginia Madsen (Sideways) plays Ford’s wife with all the care and concern any mother would have. Firewall, unlike many similar films, doesn’t give the wife/ mother character a screaming rant and rave. This lack of intense female emotion doesn’t go unnoticed, but the film works without it. Jimmy Bennett play’s Ford’s son, who almost dies of an allergic reaction. Bennett has an impressive resume, but in this role he doesn’t match the performances of other child stars such as Haley Joel Osment (The Sixth Sense) or Jonathan Lipnicki (Jerry McGuire). Carly Schroeder, a teen actor definitely deserving of meatier roles, plays Ford’s daughter.
Joe Forte’s script translated into an unspoiled film that is easy to enjoy. With superb acting and direction, Firewall should be seen and appreciated by many.
