Clear and Present Danger (1994)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Phillip Noyce

Writers (WGA):

Tom Clancy (novel)
Donald Stewart (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

3 August 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Thriller

Tagline:

Truth needs a soldier.

Plot:

CIA Analyst Jack Ryan is drawn into an illegal war fought by the US government against a Colombian drug cartel.

Plot Keywords:

CIA | Drugs | Jack Ryan | Colombian Drug Cartel | Colombia

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Harrison Ford	...	Jack Ryan
Willem Dafoe	...	John Clark
Anne Archer	...	Cathy Muller Ryan
Joaquim de Almeida	...	Col. Felix Cortez
Henry Czerny	...	Robert Ritter
Harris Yulin	...	James Cutter
Donald Moffat	...	President Bennett
Miguel Sandoval	...	Ernesto Escobedo
Benjamin Bratt	...	Captain Ramirez
Raymond Cruz	...	Domingo Chavez
Dean Jones	...	Judge Moore
Thora Birch	...	Sally Ryan
Ann Magnuson	...	Moira Wolfson
Hope Lange	...	Senator Mayo
Tom Tammi	...	FBI Director Emile Jacobs

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some intense action/violence and language.

Runtime:

141 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Iceland:14 (original rating) | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Netherlands:12 | South Korea:15 | Brazil:12 | Philippines:PG-13 | USA:PG-13 (Certifitcate #32825) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-14 | Germany:12 | Ireland:15 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:12

Filming Locations:

Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, USA

Company:

Mace Neufeld Productions

Trivia:

A huge chunk of Anne Archer's part ended up on the cutting room floor

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When John Clark (Willem Dafoe) first meets Jack Ryan at the hotel in Bogata, her refers to Jack as Dr. Ryan. At the end of the conversation he asks "Do you like coffee Mr. Ryan?"

Quotes:

Clark: Hey, get out of my chopper!
Jack Ryan: No, no - *my* chopper.
[Hands Clark receipt]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Deadly Mantis (#9.4)" (1997)

Soundtrack:

America The Beautiful

A course of action, that he can suggest....he can't.

Harrison Ford. Willem Dafoe. Anne Archer. James Earl Jones. Benjamin Bratt. Henry Czerny, Harris Yulin as a 'heavy' (National Security Adviser : James Cutter ) and Dean Jones. They have a cast of old school heavies and new talent all together. I hadn't seen Dean Jones in a while and he was fantastic! There is a 'chilling weight', that scores the film visually from the onset. The director Phillip Noyce, uses broad scenery (from what I can tell) it brings out a feeling of grandness, vast and encompassing. It just sort of takes control of the mind and vision.

The story of a Cartel from Columbia taking 'Liberties' on a family that wound up unbeknown to Escabedo (the Cartel scumbag) being friends of the President of The United States of America. Violent liberties that have become deadly serious. A Cali Cartel. A decision, that the President discusses with his defense secretary. A course of action that he (The President) can't suggest, is exactly what he is suggesting, behind closed doors. Being inside the White House in a Tom Clancy /Phillip Noyce film always seems very real for me, as I watch the government employees walk and talk and what ever else.

This has to be one of the highest Clancy novel/ movies that I have seen, just above " Patriot Games ".

Czerny is so good at being maligned. He is the one you don't want to be in a face-off with in a CIA office. He truly brings out a roundly compelling performance as Deputy Director of the C.I.A. ' Robert Ritter' .

Deception, is all around. like a sort of wall-papering. Who can Jack trust when he must? This is a powerful story and a dramatic and strong ending that completes the story from start to middle and ending. I was very enthusiastic and impressed, by the directing performance, photography and music score. The film crew that worked on 'Patriot Games' (1992) was retained for this one too. I saw an inside interview about the production of 'Clear and present danger' and the Producer stated that Harrison Ford performed his driving stunt, during the ambush!! And in regard to that beautiful drug dealer home in the country, get this...it was not 'CGI' special effects, they actually blew the house to bits!!!! Yes, it was real too. Now thats how to make a top-end action adventure/ thriller, in my book. Can you believe this, of all the Ten and twenty million dollar salaries that Ford makes in his work, he barely got paid one-million for this body of work.

This is a keeper. Recommended again and again. (*****)