Absolute Power (1997)

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

Gene Hackman can play some of the most sophisticated bad guys. In this one, he plays the President of the United States. He is a power hungry guy who thinks anyone else is well below him. When he has some dalliance with a woman and she doesn't play by his rules, the Secret Service, to "protect" him, kills the woman. She is a threat physically, and, more importantly, to his image. He knows this will never go beyond the room. What he doesn't know is that Clint Eastwood, playing a successful burglar, is hiding in a secure room and witnesses the whole incident. The movie involves the moral compass of a thief who knows a secret that could upset the whole political world. What does he do? I know that there are plot holes, but when you have so many heavyweights involved, it works pretty well.

Disclaimer: If you are a viewer that mainly prefers art-house-type movies, then you might as well ignore this review. In addition, if you're not able to take a an action political thriller movies, ignore this review, as well. We'll both be better off.Absolute Power (1997) is one of my favorite underrated Clint Eastwood powerful political thriller. This movie is misunderstood from critics and fans and they just don't get it the movie is for Entertainment, fun and it is powerful performed from all the actors. I don't care what anyone says about this movie I think Is Clint Eastwood another masterful movie done. The man can make an action and Absolute Power it is his Direction awesomeness and I grew up watching this movie and It is my childhood movie. I rather watch this movie than Gran Torino. I love this movie to death than I would like Gran Torino overrated movie. Great movie and check out the cast, with Eastwood leading. I really enjoyed this movie Clint you've done it again. Absolute Power is a great thriller featuring the legendary Clint Eastwood and Gene Hackman. Supporting them are the equally great Ed Harris, Laura Linney and Scott Glenn. Each performance enhances the to close for comfort cat and mouse game that pertains to the plot and the overall outcome of the picture.This is what a movie should be, plot and character development come first and special effects come second. Clint Eastwood did direct and acted brilliantly. Gene Hackman as president did amazing job, this is the second time Gene Hackman played a villain along side with Clint Eastwood. 5. years earlier they played together in Clint Eastwood's masterpiece Unforgiven (1992) alongside with Morgan Freeman./: Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman reunite 12. years later in Million Dollar Baby my best favorite Clint Eastwood movie! Clint Eastwood's "Absolute Power'' is a tight, taut thriller with a twist: It's also about a father and daughter, estranged for years, who are finally able to become friends. Not many thrillers slow down to notice relationships, but this one does. What I don't understand is the hate for this movie? A comment from a hater: "Evidently the people who liked the movie never read the book! I have never watched a movie that so totally dismissed the plot laid out in the book. Why Mr. Baldacci would sign off on this movie is an even bigger question?" - -> My reply: Why would I care about a book? I don't care about the novel or a book if I can watch the movie! I have enjoyed this movie of Clint Eastwood's acting performance. The movie is entertaining and I have enjoy it so so so so much. I love this movie to death it is in my Blu-Ray collection! If you did not like it sucks for you! Read your book and leave my movie alone! This movie just doesn't deserve to bashed and criticized from haters the actors does all great job in this movie. I don't think this movie is the greatest movie, but it is a good movie and I love it! Clint Eastwood stars as Luther Whitney, a burglar who breaks into a mansion in the dead of night and penetrates a hidden room filled with diamonds and cash. He's interrupted in the middle of his work by visitors. Hiding behind a two-way mirror, he sees a man and woman having sex. The play turns rough, the man beats her, the woman stabs him, and two men burst in and shoot her dead. Eastwood watches, all but his eyes in shadow. He is about to intervene--risking discovery--when the gunshots ring out. He escapes from the mansion down a rope from a third-floor window, carrying with him the deadly knowledge that the woman was the younger wife of an 80-year-old millionaire, and the man was the president of the United States. What we have here is a setup that could be developed in a lot of ways. The recent and dreadful "Shadow Conspiracy" detailed a White House plot that was cheerfully absurd. "Absolute Power,'' based loosely on a best-selling novel by David Baldacci, could have been as silly, but it's not because Eastwood uses fine actors and a smart script by William Goldman to make it into something more. Ed Harris as Detective Seth Frank did a slick job and awesome performance acting his character. I love him in every way, everyone does a fine a job. Overall I am giving this movie 10/10 because the movie got me on a edge of my seat. Absolute Power is a 1997 American political thriller film produced by, directed by, and starring Clint Eastwood as a master jewel thief who witnesses the killing of a woman by Secret Service agents.10/10 Grade: A+ Studio: Castle Rock Entertainment Malpaso, Productions, Columbia Pictures Starring: Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Ed Harris, Laura Linney, Dennis Haysbert, Scott Glenn, Judy Davis, Melora Hardin, E. G. Marshall Director: Clint Eastwood Producers: Clint Eastwood, Karen S. Spiegel Screenplay: William Goldman Rated: R Running Time: 2 Hrs. 01 Mins. Budget: $50.000.000 Box Office: $50,068,310

When expert thief Luther Whitney (Clint Eastwood) breaks into the luxurious mansion of a politically influential billionaire (E.G. Marshall) , he is surprised by the arrival of a couple (Gene Hackman , Melora Hardin) . After their drunken shenanigans turn nasty that leads to crime and taking place a set-up in which everyone around him is involved . There is only one witness , an ultra-secretive master burglar . Luther is soon pursued by two cops (Ed Harris , Penny Johnson) , a hit man (Richard Jenkins) and the President security guards (Dennys Haysbert , Scott Glenn). This is a light thriller in Hitchcockian style including action , suspense , thrills , improbable events and twisted intrigue . It is about the ruthlessness of people in power but the plot lacks even a political analysis or comment . This Eastwood film is solid but nothing really stick out . It is hard to take against contemporary time , as portraying a coward , cynical , traitor President , being politically incorrect for Hollywood standards . In addition , it contains some unlikely scenes as when the silly dancing between President/Gene Hackman and his cabinet chief/Judy Davis who wears a robbed necklace . Based on the novel by David Baldacci , being screen-writer the notorious William Goldman , who wrote such important successes as Marathon man , Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid , All the President's Men , The princess bride , Misery , among others . This Absolute power (1997) was well-received as well as the subsequently shot Space Cowboys ; however , both of them don't rank with Clint's best jobs as actor/filmmaker . Adequate Clint Eastwood in his ordinary stoic acting as a professional burglar who witnesses both a crime and a cover-up . Nice acting by Gene Hackman as a philander President believes that everything he does is beyond reproach . Support cast is frankly well such as Laura Linney , Melora Hardin , Kenneth Welsh , Mark Margolis, Penny Johnson , Richard Jenkins and cameo of Alison Eastwood , Clint's daughter . Furthermore , the picture displays an atmospheric and sensitive musical score by means of piano composed and performed by Lennie Niehaus , Eastwood's usual . Colorful cinematography by Jack N. Green filmed on location in Washington and Los Angeles . The film was professionally performed and directed by Clint Eastwood . It has some flaws and gaps ; but it's nevertheless solidly agreeable . The picture is far from his other big hits such as his first directed western , Unforgiven (1992) also with Gene Hackman , which garnered him an Oscar for Best Director, and a nomination for Best Actor . Then he took on the secret service in Open fire (1993), which was a success , followed by the interesting but poorly received drama , A perfect world (1993), with Kevin Costner as a thief . Next up was a love story , Bridges of Madison (1995), which was yet again a hit . Subsequent pictures were enjoyable but nothing to do with previous works . Among them were the and the badly received True crime (1999) and Blood work (2002) . Then in 2004, Eastwood surprised yet again when he produced, directed and starred in Million Dollar Baby (2004). The movie earned Eastwood an Oscar for Best Director and a Best Actor nomination for the second time . He had other successes directing the multi-award-winning films Mystic River (2003), Flags of our fathers (2006), Letters from Iwo Jima (2006), and The changeling (2008) . After a four-year hiatus from acting, Eastwood's return to the screen in the successful Gran Torino (2008) .

In all my years of watching movies, I have come to respect Clint Eastwood as a very good, prolific director. Undoubtedly, the 2000's were his best decade in directing films. But in 1997, he directed this film, Absolute Power. It's not his best film, but it's still very good. It does everything a good thriller would do since it's tight, taut, tense, and will keep you on your toes. The ending seemed a bit abrupt, but the bulk of the movie is fantastic.Eastwood's film is about a master thief named Luther who becomes a national target when he witnesses a grave crime involving the President of the United States. With all local and federal agencies on his tail, what will Luther do? I love how Eastwood is able to get the most out of his actors in all his films and he has such a good cast to work with here. Eastwood himself is a very good actor and he is very good. Gene Hackman is in a smaller role that accustomed, but still does a great job. Same can be said for Ed Harris as the suspecting cop and Judy Davis as the slimeball Chief-In-Staff.Overall, this is a great thriller and one that raises an interesting scenario of real-life possibilities. I also like how Eastwood adds to the story. Unlike most thrillers, this takes a little time to develop characters and a father-daughter relationship that is plausible. That perhaps makes this movie even better. I was sold by this movie because it's tense and very thrilling. I rate this film 9/10.