A vast improvement over Harrison Ford's first outing as Jack Ryan, Clear and Present Danger is a tightly plotted and tension-filled thriller that exceeds all expectations. Unlike Patriot Games, this film relies on intrigue more than action. Much of the action involves bureaucratic decision-making, which sounds dull but is in this film quite riveting. The action, when it does come, is very powerful. The ambush of the FBI motorcade in Colombia is a remarkable action scene - there are few action scenes that come to mind that are this tense and affecting. Harrison Ford is good as Ryan, though Willem Dafoe and Henry Czerny steal the film. Czerny plays a cold-hearted bureaucrat better than anyone who comes to mind, and he's terrific in this film. Much credit much go to director Philip Noyce for his work here. Unfortunately the film falls apart in the end, and the villainous advisor to the Colombian drug dealer is a fairly weak adversary. But this film is still very worthwhile and better than almost any other action film you're likely to see come down the Hollywood conveyor belt. 8/10
Review of Clear and Present Danger
