After taking a couple years off from directing, director Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, Tears of the Sun), makes his grand return with political-thriller Olympus Has Fallen. Antoine pulls out all the stops with an impressive cast that would rival one of those failed ensemble comedies. Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, Dylan McDermott, Rick Yune, Morgan Freeman, Angela Bassett, Radha Mitchell, Cole Hauser, and Ashley Judd compose an impressive cast which alone makes Olympus Has Fallen an appealing option for those planning the weekend.
Mike Banning (Butler) a former Secret Service agent is assigned to desk duty after a tragic accident involving the death of the President Asher’s (Eckhart) wife. After the White House is compromised and taken under control by terrorists, Banning is faced with the chance of redemption when he finds himself as the only one who can rescue the President and prevent an international disaster.
Olympus Has Fallen while not the most original picture does has a few standout characteristics that will allow the viewers to look past the flaws. My biggest gripe about Olympus, besides the overkill on CGI, was how unrealistically smooth and efficient the North Korean terrorists were able to takeover the White House, but after suspending belief there are quite a few positives that strengthen the film. Gerard Butler recovers from a few box-office slumps and delivers a tough and passionate performance as the roughed up protagonist that swells with American pride. Morgan Freeman continues to do no wrong as the acting President Allan Trumbull, who must make the difficult decisions when Olympus is taken hostage. Aaron Eckhart is the poster child for how a President should be depicted in film; bold, daring, and unwavering in the face of terrorism. It’s quite clear what the agenda is but for what its worth you’ll feel a sense of pride walking out of the theaters when the credits roll.
Olympus Has Fallen is now playing.
Ben Lester (bjams11)
