The 2006 Clark Johnson movie “The Sentinel” plays out like a quintessential 90s style action flick with plenty of guns, chases, and running about but little else in the way of depth, character development, or overall plot. I guess that is what should be expected coming from the director who helmed such popular TV shows as “The Wire,” “The Shield,” and “NYPD Blue.”
“The Sentinel” does feature a star packed cast, complete with Academy Award winners Michael Douglas and Kim Basinger, and television superstars Kiefer Sutherland and the jaw-dropping Eva Longoria. Sutherland seems destined to eternal typecasting as the role of agent Jack Bauer, which her perfected in the groundbreaking “24.” Any rabid fan of the hit show will quickly point out and identify numerous elements borrowed on a somewhat liberal basis and littered throughout “The Sentinel.” Even specific areas, such as a helicopter being shot down via surface to air missile and the ever present fear of a dubious double agent working from within are included. One scene depicts a shootout in a shopping mall that is a mirror image of a scene in season 3 of “24.”
The movie follows the secret service as they attempt to uncover a plot to assassinate the President of the United States. Sutherland plays agent David Breckenridge, who is basically just a name change from Jack Bauer. Breckenridge carries an unbridled loyalty to the government and his job duties, and has a knack for always knowing the bad guys next moves, stopping at nothing to protect and serve his country in an almost obnoxious and unhealthy way. In his first scene he chastises his new apprentice Jill Marin (Longoria) for arriving on her first day one minute late and dressing inappropriately.
Agent Pete Garrison (Douglas) has a history with Breckenridge, his former friend. Garrison once had an affair with Breckenridge’s wife prompting the two to have a longstanding feud. Having not learned his lesson, Garrison is currently having an affair with none other than the first lady (Basinger) right under the nose of the president. The would-be assassins use this as blackmail to frame Garrison for the plot. Stripped of his credentials, and now a fugitive from the law, Garrison must work covertly to clear his name – and find the real culprits before its two late.
Like a 90s style film, “The Sentinel” is tightly bound with action but loosely wrapped with anything else. The character of Garrison is hardly sympathetic as he has been the driving force behind two marital affairs – one with his former best friend and the other with the man he was taken an oath to give his life for. The whole idea of the first lady being able to sneak around in an inconspicuous manner seems a bit of a stretch anyway, but that can be chalked up to suspension of belief. Tying the characters in further is the unnecessary addition of Garrison also being agent Marin’s mentor at the academy.
The entire reasoning behind the assassination attempt is confusing as well. A convoluted twist of lies and reasons are offered but come across as difficult at best to decipher. The primary antagonist (Ritchie Coster) seems to have been sloppily written in for no other reason than to create a villain. Unlike in “24,” where the bad guys are always well developed and unforgettable characters, “The Sentinel” muddies the waters and tries to be too clever when it doesn’t need to be. There are dozens of reasons someone would want to assassinate the President of the United States and piled on layers of nonsense aren’t’ needed to be added. The audience can gather pretty quickly that someone who orchestrates such a plot is evil.
“The Sentinel” isn’t bad; it’s just an unoriginal action movie. If you want to see Sutherland at his government-agent best, I implore you to watch “24” instead. You’ll never be the same.
by – Matt Christopher
1 Comment
It was boring.