Haunting reminder (From Western Telegraph)

Haunting reminder

The Sum Of All Fears Directed by Phil Alden Robinson Starring Ben Affleck, Morgan Freeman, James Cromwell, Live Schreiber, Alan Bates. Cert. 15 Dur. 124 mins

The terrorist attacks of September 11th last year touched the entire world in so many extraordinary ways. And the movie business is no exception. A post September 11th financial panic made America suddenly very vulnerable. Film, which relies on investment, was badly hit and production all but came to a standstill for a while. By the time the dust settled (and threats of a separate actors and writers strike had been quelled), production was well down.

But the most immediate effect was to the films already shot and waiting to be released. Several films already in the can, had footage which the producers knew was not suitable for showing. Bad Company, Big Trouble and Arnies Collateral Damage, all paid the price of being released late with less fuss than they would have had, because of scenes that were too reminiscent of the Twin Towers attack. The recent Time Machine had to return to the editing room to have scenes, showing New York being destroyed by fragments of the moon, cut out. Spider-man also got an editing facelift to redesign the New York skyline where originally Spidey had swung between the twin towers. The recently released Men In Black II had its climactic scenes moved from the Twin Towers to the Chrysler Building.

But of all the films that have faced the scrutiny of those questioning films role in the recovery from September 11th, The Sum Of All Fears has made the most waves.

The Sum Of All Fears is the latest film adaptation from the novels of best-selling author Tom Clancey. Clanceys most famous character, CIA agent Jack Ryan, has been box office gold for Harrison Ford in Patriot Games and Clear And Present Danger (and even for Alec Baldwin in The Hunt For Red October). The Sum Of All Fears tells a story of a younger Jack Ryan, and so the veteran star has had to step aside for Ben Affleck to try on Ryans shoes.

A rogue lunatic terrorist buys a nuclear bomb from some Israelis. He takes it back to the USA where he uses it to trick the American Government into thinking they are being threatened by a fairly unknown Russian president. Ryan is a young agent whose specialist knowledge could save the day, if only the old school guys above him would wake up to the way the new world works.

It all works very well if you dont think of it as real life. The thriller plot is a bit silly really, but it unfolds very well and Affleck is more than equal to the demands of his character. His character, however, shares nothing with Fords portrayal. Im not sure I would have bothered to go to the effort of keeping the name (Jack Ryan) for this movie. Calling Affleck Ryan is too much baggage.

The climatic action is a little confined to mobile phone conversations, but at least this is a dose of reality. The dose of reality continues as we see the mayhem on the streets but as we all know now, the possibilities are far, far worse than anything youll see in The Sum Of All Fears. But regarding truth and relevance and taste, in what would have been an article about a silly spy-thriller pre September 11th, it is interesting to note that for many years now, so Im told, Tom Clancey has been helping to teach the CIA agents certain aspects of the trade. He was also very prominent in the post September 11th discussions on the dangers of terrorist attacks that may still face the USA and its allies in the future. So despite the hype surrounding him and this movie, someone takes him seriously.

Its also worth mentioning that the anti-American ideas suggested by the film didnt go down well with the American critics. (It is suggested that if you relentlessly sell arms around the world for profit, because if you dont someone else will, those sales may come right back to haunt you.) Yet, The Sum Of All Fears drew the US public in huge numbers. Perhaps this reflects a changing attitude among many formerly insular Americans. If you like high drama, Tom Clancey, Morgan Freeman, Ben Affleck or Alan Bates youd have really enjoyed The Sum Of All Fears if youd seen it before September 11th. Having witnessed that terrible day on your screens youll still enjoy this film but maybe youll be thinking about it differently.