Executive
Decision (1996)
"Passenger 57" meets "Sneakers" meets "Airport." That's
the best way to describe "Executive Decision." Still,
don't take my glib attitude too seriously; It's a pretty
good movie. For the most part, it passes my two tests
for Action/Adventure films; It's fairly believable and
it never really slows down. It does, however, take a
bit of time to get off the ground.
The all-star cast is headed by Kurt Russell in his
first "action hero" role in a while. (Remember "Big
Trouble in Little China" and "Escape from New York")?
On his side is Steven Seagal, as a leader of an "elite
commando squad," with his sidekicks John Leguizamo,
Joe Morton (perhaps best known as "The Brother from
Another Planet"), Oliver Platt ("Flatliners"), B.D.
Wong and a few other good looking commando type guys.
Sitting in the political chairs are J.T. Walsh ("A Few
Good Men"), TV vet Eugene Roche and some other familiar
(yet elusively nameless) faces. Meanwhile, Halle Berry
plays the female/love interest role while all the terrorists
are interchangeable Middle-Eastern types. This later
casting, of course, aroused the ire of a few immigrants
in the states.
Russell is an intelligence man. He isn't a soldier;
He's the guy who leads the soldiers in the right direction.
In the beginning of the film, his intelligence information
sends Seagal's men on a mission that yields no result.
When the two stars finally meet on screen, it is the
source of a bit of tension. Still, Seagal goes into
battle with Russell, his team in tow, to retrieve a
plane from the terrorist hijackers who have some sort
of chemical weapon on board. They've apparently stolen
this weapon from the U.S. but it's unclear exactly how
they've accomplished this feat. The rest of the film
has the team attempting to gain control of the plane
after a daring mid-air link-up using a prototype plane
built (i.e. designed) by Platt. The drama and the action
that follows is pretty good stuff with plenty of suspenseful
moments and computer graphics to enhance the plot. The
mission is pretty easy to understand and the action
never really slows for romance, insight or anything
else like that.
Russell is still quite likable in this terrain. Decked
out in a tux during the entire film, thanks to a plot
contrivance, he comes across as an American James Bond,
which Leguizamo is happy to point out. Russell's David
Grant is informed enough to know who he's dealing with,
sly enough to handle himself in delicate situations,
and just strong enough to handle the physical elements
the job requires. We like his character and have no
trouble excepting Russell in this role. Leguizamo, Wong
and Morton, meanwhile, have fun in their roles as well.
Leguizamo reminds us that he can do more than just comedy
but confirms the fact that he should always be the second
banana. Morton, who spends much of the film immobilized,
seems to enjoy himself just the same since he is (finally)
appearing in a big budget action film. Walsh and Roche
do what they do best as does Berry in a small but likable
role. Platt, likewise, plays the same nervous egg he
did in "Flatliners" only a bit more grown up here. As
for Seagal, well, you'll just have to see for yourself.
First time Director Stuart Baird is aided by scripters
Jim and John Thomas (the "Predator" movies) who also
co- produced the film and mega-action-producer Joel
Silver (the cash behind many a Schwarzenegger film).
Baird does just fine here. He isn't perfect but his
film has lots of neat computer graphics, including the
many shots of graphics on computer screen in the film
(ala "Sneakers"), and plenty of cool special effects.
Everything looks like it should. Baird's only problems
are that he takes maybe just a little two much time
(2 hours and 20 minutes) and he allows the film to end
with a silly romantic coupling which is so tired in
this genre that Seagal reduced to a single kiss at the
end of "Under Siege." Baird, it must be conversely noted,
doesn't really do anything all that spectacular here.
The crash landing at the end of the film looks great
so one must, at least, credit Baird and the powers-that-be
for seeking out great model makers and photographers.
Baird should also be commended for ending the film with
one of the best end-credit jokes of all time. He uses
a Sinatra song over the final titles to get a well deserved
chuckle.
"Executive Decision" has a shot at being the stupidest
title for a movie in 1996 and the worst Action/Adventure
title of all time. Don't let it hold you back from seeing
it though. It's a film almost everyone will enjoy, whether
a fan of the genre or just an avid film-goer.
Note: The main Middle-Eastern terrorist is played
by David Suchet, an Englishman. Marla Maples Trump plays
one of the flight attendants.
Filmed partially in Puerto Rico. Another producer
(and the second unit director) is Steve Perry. (No,
not Journey's lead singer). Director of Photography
is Alex Thomas. Music by Jerry Goldsmith.
Prior to directing, Baird was an editor who worked
on many action films, such as "Lethal Weapon" and "Die
Hard 2." He acts as one of the editors here as well.
Review written in 1996
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