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2.5 / 4
Fun for
what it is |
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By
Craig Younkin
There are two modes for
Arnold Schwarzennegger. One is the wise
cracking last action hero type from "The
Terminator" and "True Lies", and the other
is the corny and caring father figure
whose family is always in need of saving
or avenging. Not saying that the later
isn't at least watchable, it's just that
Arnie really needs to return to the former
very soon.With the way action movies
are today, computers and all kinds of
other special effects are taking the place
of simple stories; and being that even the
scripts for many of Schwarzenneger's last
works have been fairly mediocre, this puts
him at even more of a disadvantage. |
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This takes us to
"Collateral Damage", which is another
simplistic action film, but is also a
story that many people can identify
with now after going through the
events of September 11th. The film has
recently been held under fire by
activist groups claiming it exploits
those events, and from the way fear
and sadness suddenly creep up on you
in the film's opening scene, you begin
to see their point.
That scene would be a terrorist attack
on U.S soil where many are left dead,
including the wife and young son of
Fireman Gordon Brewer (Arnold
Schwarzenneger). They are known as
collateral damage, unintended targets
at the wrong place at the wrong time.
The real targets are a group of CIA
men who have counterparts down in
Colombia regulating Guerilla warfare.
Later we find that the bomb was
planted by a Guerilla named Claudio
Perrini (Cliff Curtis), a terrorist
looking to get those same American
soldiers off Colombian soil by
attacking the U.S. The bombing sends a
scare through Washington, forcing the
CIA's lead agent, Peter Brandt (Elias
Koteas), to pull his men out.
Only before he just gives in, he is
given a bit of luck when the vengeful
Gordon Brewer, told that avenging his
family was not a high priority for the
government, finds a back way into
Colombia to handle the terrorists
himself. It doesn't take long for his
presence there to spread and before he
knows it, the Guerrilas are trying to
track him down for ransom and the CIA
is waiting for him to get killed so
they have reason to attack.
The script, by David and Peter
Griffiths, sets up an interesting
premise, but then can't exercise it to
full potential. Arnold's stint in
Columbia feels like a rather needless
venture, first because the film's
really intense stuff happens later on
in Washington, and secondly because
the Griffiths end up just padding the
story with different cliches that mean
nothing, rather than focusing more on
the subjects of collateral damage and
revenge.
The right script is still out of his
reach, but this is a mild step up from
many of his other films, mainly
because he still is one of the most
rootable people in the movies today.
Director Andrew Davis also knows how
to litter a film with exciting chase
sequences and a high explosion count,
even though many of the action
sequences feel like they're being
taken out of other movies including
Davis' "The Fugitive" and "Predator".
Arnolds acting also seems better here,
capturing the monotonous, but equally
effective, grieving and vengeful
family man. Cliff Curtis matches him
with a sneering and over the top bad
guy impression. The film also features
two talented actors, John Turturro and
John Leguizamo, who could easily walk
through their roles in their sleep.
The only one who doesn't belong here
is Francesca Neri, who plays the
terrorist's wife, but looks to have
just stepped off the cover of Maxim
magazine.
"Collateral Damage" may not be the
script that saves Arnolds career, and
it will likely disappoint those
looking for a more in depth look on
terrorism, but there are portions to
this film that echo back to the
Arnold of old. At best, Collateral
Damage is nothing but a rainy day
movie, but it's fun for what it is and
it should give Arnold's career a stay
of execution.
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