Okay, it's a Bruce Willis vehicle. But after "Fifth Element," I had come to expect something more -- well, competent.
It isn't giving anything away to tell you that this is yet another film in which the Eeeevil Government Spooks (they're always US Government, aren't they...?) have no ethical qualms about killing innocent citizens to protect their secrets.
The secret in question is the USA's latest crypto method, and is endangered because a couple of idiots stuck it into a puzzle magazine to test it.
Riiight.
Simon (Miko Hughes), an autistic child, solves the puzzle.
Apparently the writers don't understand the difference between "autistic" and "idiot savant." A subtle distinction, true, and made more difficult for Hollywood success-think by the stereotypes engendered by "Rain Man." -- yes, some autists can perform prodigies of calculation and so on, largely because of intense concentration. But they're not generally idiots, and there's essentially no chance that this kid would be the only person in the world to solve that particular puzzle, even granting it was soluble in the first place, which, given what is shown, seems quite unlikely.
In the mind of NSA bigwig Kudrow (portrayed by Alec Baldwin), this justifies killing the kid. Well, maybe, though taking him into custody until they'd assessed the risk would seem more appropriate -- not to mention more in line with real security thinking; the kid may be useful. But it's not enough to kill him, the agent whacks his parents. First. Which gives the kid the ability to get away, right into the arms of Art (Bruce Willis) Jeffries.
The rest of the movie is taken up with violence, escalating and recurring frequently enough to keep most viewers from noticing that there is essentially no story here.
It isn't giving anything away to tell you that this is yet another film in which the Eeeevil Government Spooks (they're always US Government, aren't they...?) have no ethical qualms about killing innocent citizens to protect their secrets.
The secret in question is the USA's latest crypto method, and is endangered because a couple of idiots stuck it into a puzzle magazine to test it.
Riiight.
Simon (Miko Hughes), an autistic child, solves the puzzle.
Apparently the writers don't understand the difference between "autistic" and "idiot savant." A subtle distinction, true, and made more difficult for Hollywood success-think by the stereotypes engendered by "Rain Man." -- yes, some autists can perform prodigies of calculation and so on, largely because of intense concentration. But they're not generally idiots, and there's essentially no chance that this kid would be the only person in the world to solve that particular puzzle, even granting it was soluble in the first place, which, given what is shown, seems quite unlikely.
In the mind of NSA bigwig Kudrow (portrayed by Alec Baldwin), this justifies killing the kid. Well, maybe, though taking him into custody until they'd assessed the risk would seem more appropriate -- not to mention more in line with real security thinking; the kid may be useful. But it's not enough to kill him, the agent whacks his parents. First. Which gives the kid the ability to get away, right into the arms of Art (Bruce Willis) Jeffries.
The rest of the movie is taken up with violence, escalating and recurring frequently enough to keep most viewers from noticing that there is essentially no story here.