Review: Vantage Point


The assassination of the U.S. President (William Hurt) at a public event in Spain (something about signing a counterterrorism treaty), seen from the POV of several witnesses to the event (a bomb blast), the most prominent character being veteran secret service agent Dennis Quaid, who once took a bullet for the President years ago (sound familiar?). Other POV’s that each offer different bits of information include TV producer Sigourney Weaver who is covering the event, police officer Eduardo Noriega (whom is either the assassin or being set up), and ‘Average Joe’ American tourist Forest Whitaker, filming the event on his camcorder. Zoe Saldana plays Weaver’s on-site reporter, in one particularly affecting scene.

 

Clever 2008 gimmick thriller (think Kurosawa’s “Rashomon” meets TV’s “24”, but with Quaid instead of Donald Sutherland’s Brat Packer son) from first-time director Pete Travis and similarly inexperienced screenwriter Barry L. Levy is very well-acted and fun, but one ludicrous twist (concerning the President), and an obvious ‘surprise’ villain prevent it from being a bullseye. Some of the action towards the end is a little over-the-top too, but that’s par for the course these days, isn’t it?

 

At its best at the beginning, with vivid cameos by Weaver (I’m still waiting for that comeback we all know needs to happen!) and Saldana (really impressive in such a minor role), and a rock-solid lead turn by Quaid, despite the Clint Eastwood in “In the Line of Fire” nature of his role at times.

 

Rating: B-

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