This movie was awful. That's all I can say about it. It killed the book, which happens to be one of my favorites. When I got this movie after reading the book, I excitedly stuck it in my VCR (yes, VCR-- no affordable DVD Players at the time), I was expecting so much more than what I received. I know movies have to cut out a lot from the books to fit them into 2-hours, but I've never before seen a movie cut out the main hero before! Now, that's just ridiculous! If I were the author, David Baldacci, I would be furious that my story had been so badly butchered. Clint Eastwood had to be the star, so he twisted the whole plot around to make Luther Whitney the hero, when in the book Luther Whitney is gunned down half-way though. In the movie, the book's hero Jack Graham is totally non-existent.
My advice to you if you're looking to buy a good movie: look someplace else. Read the book. If only the movie would've followed the book a little more closely... It might have been a blockbuster hit. Too bad.

This movie is directed by Clint Eastwood, written by William Goldman and stars Eastwood and Gene Hackman. So one expects to be kept entertained and one is. The plot is not dissimilar to `Murder at 1600' released the same year but this movie is a bit less preposterous if still a bit incredible. Eastwood is Luther Whitney, a likeable old housebreaker who is robbing a posh big house when he is interrupted. Hiding in a closet he witnesses a murder in which the Secret Service shoot dead a woman trying to defend herself against being raped by the US President no less. Though Whitney is obviously not the most honest man alive he's keen to blow the whistle but how? Surely nobody will believe him against the President and the Secret Service who are soon hard at work trying to wipe him out.

This is very watchable, well-made thriller much as was Eastwood's `In the Line of Fire' a few years earlier. The suspense is nicely done and the acting generally pretty good. It's nothing very deep, just a popcorn movie - sadly nowhere near scaling the heights Eastwood reached with 'Unforgiven' - but a pretty decent effort. Its biggest flaw on the credibility front is probably that highlighted when Whitney is interviewed by Ed Harris's cop who thinks he is the burglar if possibly not the killer. 'I'm way too old for that sort of thing' is the line Whitney tries to sell him to avert suspicion and, for the audience, it's maybe hard to avoid the thought that, Yes, Clint, old fellow, maybe you are...

Fantastic film ; memticulous and carefully built ,loaded of the highest suspense you may expect . In this clever film noir , Eastwood is an outsider . He is not a detective , but a jewel thief who watchs something he never had to see .
This brutal murderer will reach the highest governement levels in which a very well planned chase will be made behind the traces of Eastwood .
A great script . Hackman is absolute convincing in the best role which he has represented more than any one else ; the immoral, corrupt , decadent and perverse villain .
Intelligent puzzle and artistic film prove once more than industry and craft may join .
One of the best films in his career .

Despite the plot's dainty pablum (morality plus blackmail in high quarters) and somewhat farfetched setup (even if Clinton and a certain intern may have made it very credible for recent generations), the strength of Absolute Power lies in its character interactions. It is simply captivating to watch stalwarts exchange fairly taut dialogue.

The denouement comes a bit hot-footed and wraps up loose ends a bit too neatly, making you think "Why didn't they just do that earlier?" and leaving you with an after-taste that the film lacked consistence or even any real depth. E.g., couldn't we have done without the subplot involving the daughter? Why not use Ed Harris a bit more? etc.

Nonetheless, while watching it is riveting in its buildup of suspense, and to its credit the pace doesn't dilly-dally. Certainly a very worthy rental.

"Absolute Power" had me thinking that somebody read my screenplay, "A Murderous Campaign", used my idea but gave me no credit. Maybe. "Absolute" is a Clint Eastwood picture, playing on the public perception that Bill Clinton might just be a murderer. However, the President bears no resemblance to Clinton.

STEVEN TRAVERS
AUTHOR OF "BARRY BONDS: BASEBALL'S SUPERMAN"
STWRITES@AOL.COM