Matcollis This Movie Can Only Be Described With One Word.

Tedfoldol everything you have heard about this movie is true.

Ketrivie It isn't all that great, actually. Really cheesy and very predicable of how certain scenes are gonna turn play out. However, I guess that's the charm of it all, because I would consider this one of my guilty pleasures.

Staci Frederick Blistering performances.

hdhale I'd like to say there is something redeeming about the film...I'd like to but...Discovered this film in the middle of the afternoon one Tuesday on a movie channel that will go nameless. Badly acted, badly scripted, too many factual and other errors to count, with a political message that thinks a baseball is too subtle. I found myself rooting for Kevin Pollack's character to grab two pistols from the Secret Service agents and start executing everyone who decided to make a "heartfelt" speech starting with Timothy Hutton's character and working through the rest of the cast.Do yourself a favor. Watch "Fail-Safe" with Henry Fonda. Yes, it too has a political message that thinks a baseball bat is too subtle, has some factual errors, but it at least has the virtue of being well acted and at least semi-plausible for its day.

Maryann King Okay. I saw this listed on the Scream network last night (Thursday Thriller) and the plot sounded pretty good, so I checked it out. The cast was great. I thought maybe this was a play originally, because the whole movie takes place in the diner. The plot is basically that the V.P. has been acting president for several months after the death of the president. He is on the campaign trail, and he has won an important primary. A debilitating snowstorm lands him in a little isolated country greasy spoon diner, where several otherlocals and customers are stranded. All hell breaks loose when the TV announces that Saddam Hussain's son Uday has invaded Kuwait. This one has actually held up fairly well as a post 9/11 alternate history. Shawn Astin plays a local redneck. There is a couple in the diner waiting out the storm by squabbling and playing chess; the president offers an opinion on the board setup. I suspect that most world leaders are pretty good at chess or they don't last long in office.The cast of characters was pretty representative of the American sentiments. The part I disbelieve the most is the fact that a nuclear bomb blasting away a whole city of innocents could be taken so lightly by a president. In real life, I doubt if he would get away with his decision in these times... since we are now all too painfully aware of how united the Arabs can be; the movie would have an epilogue entitled 'Retaliation'.Ask me now if I mind that Uday is not around to follow in his father's footsteps... not likely.

thomasmoore-1 One day a United States President will have to make this choice. This movie has the potential of fiction turning reality of any movie before its time. While the idea of using a nuclear device is something that no one wants, with the evil that plagues this world, this decision will be made. My only hope is that if this happens, it is for the right reason, (Such as facilitating the end of World War II.) Kevin pollack is very believable as a president, Timothy Hutton and and Sheryl Lee Ralph make for convincing advisers. And as a side note, the opening of the movie in black and white was a very nice touch, graphically. As far as the drawbacks, Sean Astin is usually very good, but his character was atrocious. This is a must watch for anyone to see how the world can change in the matter of hours. This has quickly become one of my favorite movies of all time. Watch this movie!

t-mieczkowski Today, this film feels incredibly untimely due to 9/11. This movie was however made in the Lewinsky-stained days of the 90's. Regardless of the filmmaker's original intent, this film can be viewed as a pseudo-Bradburyian peek into the psyche of the Presidency. A hard-line political drama, few films compare to what it attempts (but largely fails at). It at times seems overwhelmingly unbelievable, but one needs to remember that these are events that even today would have taken place in an alternate dimension -- an alternate future. With that in mind, I recommend all those following US foreign policy to take a look at this film. It is by no means fantastic, but it at least provides those with some knowledge of the American political system some entertainment on slow news days.