The Sum Of All Fears

Review by Clint Morris

If you’re planning on seeing The Sum Of All Fears – the latest in a line of films based on author Tom Clancy's renegade CIA agent Jack Ryan - be prepared for a few notable differences.

Firstly, the character of Ryan – previously played by Harrison Ford – is now the much-younger Ben Affleck.

To confuse followers even more, this film is set in modern times, as were the previous films. How does a man go from 28 to 48 in 5 years?

And secondly, and probably more significantly, Clancy's book has been tweaked quite considerably. In the novel, Ryan was well and truly a big man in the CIA; he was having a few marital problems and seeking solace in the bottle. The film's main terrorists were also Arabs, not Neo-Nazis and fascists as we have here.

So what the filmmakers would like you to do is forget that The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger ever existed, forget that both Alec Baldwin and Harrison Ford had played the role before Affleck and come in fresh, like many a guy's girlfriend might be (the Ben Affleck factor).

Jack (Affleck) is 'just another' desk jockey at the CIA: his job so unimpressive that his girlfriend, Cathy (Bridget Moynahan) believes he has a boring historian position. Because of Jack's insight into post-Cold War Russian leader Nemerov (Ciaran Hinds) though, his superiors recruit him for a hush-hush mission into Europe, scrambling around looking for a nuclear bomb the agency has discovered is on the loose.

Suddenly, he finds himself with a good excuse to cancel that evening's dinner plans with his flame. Unsurprisingly, it's not all black and white, as Jack discovers the likely culprits – the Russians – aren't the ones planning on the fireworks display. If he can get anyone to listen to him, he might just have a chance of saving the States before the big one drops...

Clancy has gone on the record, saying he loves Affleck as Jack Ryan. The total opposite of what he thought of Harrison Ford's portrayal. And, while I think that an executive producer credit and extra bags of money might have persuaded Clancy’s judgment a little – I do agree, Affleck is a great Jack Ryan.

He's funny, he's intelligent, he's gung-ho, he's romantic, and he's the kind of guy you'd want in charge of 'saving the world'. Not to say Harrison Ford or Alec Baldwin weren't great, too, in their own way, but if the character of Jack Ryan has to be a 28-year-old, wet-behind-the-ears analyst, they've picked the right man in Affleck.

And although sometimes you forget you're not watching him as Alex Cross, Morgan Freeman adds solid support as CIA agent Cabot. In lesser, but no less significant parts, Bridget Moynahan, James Cromwell, Ron Rifkin, Philip Baker Hall and Live Schrieber (as John Clark, the character played by Willem Dafoe in Clear and Present Danger) beef up what could have been second fiddle populace.

Director Phil Alden Robinson (Field of Dreams) has crafted a much different movie than the offerings Phil Noyce helmed. Robinson sees the story of Sum more of a 'popcorn thriller' obviously, and hence it's a faster, slicker and a more crowd-pleasing experience.

To Phil Noyce's merit, however, his films were a lot more detailed and significantly more dramatic and power-packed.

Looking at it as a 'sequel' to the previous Clancy adaptations, you'll be slightly disappointed and feel a bit robbed with all the cast, director and storyline changes – but as a film, judged on it's own merits, The Sum of All Fears is a boiling hot, tasty bowl of action-movie soup, and I look forward to Jack Ryan's next adventure.

3.5 out of 5

The Sum Of All Fears
Australian release: Thursday August 29
Cast: Ben Affleck, Morgan Freeman, James Cromwell, Live Schrieber, Alan Bates, Bridget Moynahan, Ron Rifkin, Philip Baker Hall, Bruce McGill.
Director: Phil Alden Robinson.
Website: Click here

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