Linbeymusol Wonderful character development!

BlazeLime Strong and Moving!

RyothChatty ridiculous rating

Matrixiole Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

seeingbystarlight Luther Whitney (Clint Eastwood), does not have a social call in mind when he goes to Walter Sullivan's mansion late one fateful night.The mansion is desserted (the entire household having gone off to Barbados for the weekend), and the wealth is ripe for the picking.Luther, an experienced burglar, has made it his business to know about the vault in the master bedroom (storing about 5 million dollars of Mrs. Sullivan's diamond jewelry), and after disabling a billion dollar security system, makes his way eagerly up the stairs to plunder the invaluable loot.But as he's stuffing diamond necklaces and tiaras into a sack, a pair of unexpected visitors arrive...and he realizes the coast may not be as clear as he thought.The visitors are none other than Christy Sullivan (Walter Sullivan's trophy wife), and a gentleman caller who turns out to be none other than the President Of The United States, Allen Richmond (Gene Hackman).Both are drunk, both are in a romantic mood, and as Luther watches powerlessly (from behind a one way mirror in the vault), what at first appears to be a standard randevouz, unfolds into a horrifying series of events which reveal the President to be a woman beater.When Christy fights back, she gets shot dead by two Agents of the Secret Service, having stabbed Allen in the arm with a letter opener.The two Agents file into the room, along with Chief Of Staff Gloria Russell (Judy Davis), and an outrageous cover-up takes place.Bill Burton and Tim Collin (Scott Glenn and Dennis Haysbert respectively) "sanitize the place" while a half drunk Allen recovers, and Gloria comes up with a story involving "poor Christy coming home early, and interrupting a burglary."The importance of the letter opener is quickly assessed ("Blood... Fingerprints."), and after snatching out of Tim Collins hands, Gloria stuffs it in her purse.Their job over, they turn off the light switch, and exit Sullivan's mansion, leaving Luther in shock.Then we see Gloria rummaging through her purse, and Luther bending over to pick something up, and we see that she's dropped the letter opener... which is now in Luther's possession as he makes a successful get away... with the President's minions in hot pursuit.What ensues is an unpredictable tale of power, and murder, which Clint Eastwood directs (and stars in), with impeccable style and grace.Ed Harris is terrific as Seth Frank, the puzzled Detective investigating an interrupted burglary killing which is looking less and less like an interrupted burglary killing.Laura Linney is great as Luther Whitney's estranged daughter Kate, and the relationship between father and daughter is very well portrayed.Gene Hackman, Judy Davis, and Scott Glenn are also excellent, and some of their scenes allow for unexpected humor which makes the story richer, and really lightens things up.And finally, there's E.G. Marshal...E.G. Marshal's portrayal cameo role as Walter Sullivan really crowns the making of this movie.His portrayal of an obscenely rich man who made his all wealth from nothing, and still managed to keep his integrity, is inspiring, and very believable.Without him, the audience would not have been able to believe that Luther Whitney would have put his life on the line for a grieving old multimillionaire with a dead trophy wife, and a phony bond with the President.With him however, you buy the plot completely.And it's a good plot, filled with unexpected nobility in the face of the basest corruption.I read the book, and I must say, this is one of those occasions where I liked the movie a lot better.In the novel, Luther Whitney, and Walter Sullivan are both killed.I don't know about you but I like this movie's happy ending...(And it's a better one).Originally Review #33

richard-90509 One of the worst movies I ever saw. Makes no sense. Clint should be ashamed of himself for foisting this on the public. Some other reviewers have itemized a few of the plot holes, and I validate everything they said. No need to repeat the details.

ma-cortes 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) .

g-bodyl 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.