As the first of two appropriately dubbed “Die Hard In The White House” films scheduled for this year, I found Olympus Has Fallen overall to be a tight ultra violent action thriller. Are there a few bumps along the way? That is for certain. Tests of logic? Undoubtedly. But the film certainly delivers as an above average shoot ’em up thriller you can enjoy at the edge of your seat.
Directed by Antione Fuqua, whose previous work also showcased his penchant for darker takes on tried ideas (Training Day, King Arthur, Shooter, Tears of the Sun), Olympus finds ex-CIA op Gerard Butler as the sole opposition up against a regime of North Korean extremists, led by a cold as ice Rick Yune as Kang, who have kicked down the doors of the Whte House and taken the President of the United States hostage.
Your deeper enjoyment of the film may rely predominantly on whether you are either frightened or insulted by Olympus‘ scenario of terrorist commandoes who quickly and effectively infiltrate the White House in a strategic show of calculated brute force and make hostages out of the President Benjamin Asher (Aaron Eckhart), the Vice President (Phil Austin) and the Secretary of Defense (Melissa Leo).
Throw in for good measure the “there is only one man who can save the day” formula, a “child in jeopardy” subplot and the ‘Why God why?’ irony of turning America’s “foolproof” failsafe security measure into the ultimate tool of its own destruction, what you have before you are a few things that require you to take the ‘check your brain at the door’ option for full viewing pleasure.
Gerard Butler, perhaps still best known for his ab-tastic star turn in the swords and sandals epic 300, and following a dismal string of failed romantic comedies, is back where he belongs as Mike Banning, an ex-CIA agent with a serious asterisk on his résumé: he failed to save the first lady’s (Ashley Judd) life in an icy road mishap years earlier.
When fate knights him the John McClane of Olympus (the code name for the White House), Banning must singlehandedly get Asher’s son to safely as well as locate and free the President all the while maintaining a (very bloody) high terrorist body count. Butler brings the welcome necessary presence and physical brawn here to anchor the film as a character to root for. He’s likable with scattered traces of humor. Thankfully the script holds him to a minimum snarky catchphrases. But that’s not to say the script is immune from a few real misplaced roll your eyes zingers.
The assembled supporting cast is solid, with a right balance achieved by Eckhart, Leo, and Yune in addition to Angela Bassett as the Secret Service Director, Morgan Freeman as the Speaker of the House and acting President, Dylan McDermott and Robert Forster.
Fuqua packs more than enough tension and adrenaline to perch you at the edge if your seat at times, even though some sequences follow an all too familiar action formula.
The CGI effects leave something to be desired. If there was one actual shot of the real White House used in the film, I would be surprised. The visual shock value exists regarding the attack of the National Mall, but the technical presentation is lacking in numerous shots. Olympus does risk some 9/11 imagery backlash with its big screen mass destruction wrought on our nation’s capital, and the overt non-stop bloody shoot ’em up violence is certainly not going to sit well with everyone since the Newtown tragedy. I don’t think you should be surprised by any of the content, but the extent the film pulls no punches with its well earned R-rated violence is at times eye opening.
For a Friday or Saturday night action fix, Olympus successfully pulls off a solid riff on the Die Hard model (ironically even better that this year’s A Good Day To Die Hard). Butler delivers big in this kick ass role as the fallen soldier who has the ultimate opportunity to reprove his worth.
Director Fuqua definitely knows his way around an action film, but a story further off the beaten path would have opened it up to more. Overall I thought Olympus Has Fallen delivered as a gritty violent nail biter that maintained a high tensioned pace from beginning to end, and will rank as one of the best action films of the year in my book.
But if this isn’t enough for you, fret not, Hollywood has returned to its ‘everything in two’s’ mindset. Set your calendars for White House Down from Independence Day director Roland Emmerich. This version of the same plot hits theaters in June and stars Channing Tatum subbing for Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx in for Eckhart.
Olympus Has Fallen opens on March 22nd.
REVIEW RATING: ★★★☆☆
Directed By: Antione Fuqua
Starring: Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman, Aaron Eckhart, Angela Bassett, Melissa Leo, Rick Yune
Studio: Film District
Rated: R
Running Time: 119 minutes
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