Reel Critics

Ray Buffer

Tom Clancy’s political statement from 1991 probably would have been

better adapted to film in 1992 rather than 2002.

Why not just change the lead character’s name from Jack Ryan to

something else? That was my first question as I watched the first 10

minutes of “Sum of All Fears.” I mean, we had Harrison Ford in the role

for two films as Jack Ryan (who I tend to always identify the character

with), prior to that Alec Baldwin, and now Ben Affleck. I was at least

hoping that this film would be a period piece. Meaning, since Affleck is

obviously 30 years younger than Ford, and this plot portrays Ryan as a

junior CIA analyst, rather than a seasoned veteran, it would make sense

that the story take place in, say, 1965 or 1970. But no, while the story

does begin in the 70s it flashes forward to 2000 where we first meet Ryan

as a green and shallow, sophomoric desk jockey. While Ryan was married to

a doctor in the previous films, here he’s dating one. I realized that I

was starting to get tired of prequels, especially quasi-prequels. What

ever happened to linear sequels with continuity?

While I am not thrilled with Affleck as Ryan, the supporting cast are

all well grounded. Morgan Freeman would have to be my pick as the

standout performer, leaving James Cromwell, Liev Schreiber, Alan Bates,

Bridget Moynahan, Ciaran Hinds, Ron Rifkin, Philip Baker Hall and Bruce

McGill all in his shadow. Freeman plays the sagely and soulful CIA

Director who sees potential in Ryan. At least someone does.

The overall plot consists of a modern day Nazi, who unites all radical

terrorists into one cohesive unit spanning Europe and America. The plan

is to get the U.S. and Russia to destroy each other leaving the rest of

the world for the new Nazi Union to rule. The idea of how this Nazi Union

would work is never fully explained or developed to where we can

visualize it. Instead, it is quickly swept under the rug and we are

supposedly distracted with other plot points.

Director Phil Alden Robinson and writers, Paul Attanasio and Daniel

Pyne are probably the ones to blame for this shiny but rehashed version

of all those “Defcon” anti-nuclear movies of the 1970s. While the point

of showing how conflict can grow from escalating behavior is an

interesting point to make, it has already been made by many other films.

This movie is only a good excuse to eat popcorn.

* RAY BUFFER, 32, is a professional singer, actor and voice-over

artist.