The Sum of All Fears *** (2002, Ben Affleck, Morgan Freeman, Ciarán Hinds, John Cromwell, Bridget Moynahan, Liev Schreiber, Alan Bates, Philip Baker Hall, Ron Rifkin, Bruce McGill, Colm Feore, Josef Sommer) – Classic Movie Review 725

In 2002 Ben Affleck takes over Harrison Ford’s old part of CIA man Jack Ryan in director Phil Alden Robinson’s ultra-tense, ambitious, nail-biting action blockbuster, adapted from the work of Tom Clancy.

The end of the world is nigh as neo-Nazis plot to explode a nuclear bomb at the Baltimore Superbowl and are blaming it all on the new Russian president (Ciarán Hinds). The CIA director DCI William Cabot (Morgan Freeman) recruits analyst Affleck to work it all out and save the US President (John Cromwell) and the world for democracy.

Compared to The West Wing that was running on TV at the time, this view of US politics lacks credibility, Freeman is suddenly wasted and the inevitable obligatory happy ending is a soppy letdown. But the disaster-movie scenario packs a gut-reeling punch, the story is a sweaty-palm spellbinder, and, no fears, Affleck is an awesome, rock-solid, world-saving hero.

Affleck’s romance with love interest Bridget Moynahan is one small weak link in the generally effective screenplay by Paul Attanasio and Daniel Pyne.

Liev Schreiber, Alan Bates, Philip Baker Hall (US Defense Secretary), Ron Rifkin, Bruce McGill, Colm Feore and Josef Sommer are also in the excellent cast.

It did well at the box office, taking $120 million at the US box office, but this proved Affleck’s only Ryan movie. After this, the Jack Ryan franchise expired, until it was unexpectedly resuscitated in 2014 with Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, starring Chris Pine.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Film Review 725 derekwinnert.com