People are voting emotionally.

Let's be realistic.

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

Luther Whitney (Clint Eastwood), does not have a social call in mind when he goes to Walter Sullivan's mansion late one fateful night.The mansion is desserted (the entire household having gone off to Barbados for the weekend), and the wealth is ripe for the picking.Luther, an experienced burglar, has made it his business to know about the vault in the master bedroom (storing about 5 million dollars of Mrs. Sullivan's diamond jewelry), and after disabling a billion dollar security system, makes his way eagerly up the stairs to plunder the invaluable loot.But as he's stuffing diamond necklaces and tiaras into a sack, a pair of unexpected visitors arrive...and he realizes the coast may not be as clear as he thought.The visitors are none other than Christy Sullivan (Walter Sullivan's trophy wife), and a gentleman caller who turns out to be none other than the President Of The United States, Allen Richmond (Gene Hackman).Both are drunk, both are in a romantic mood, and as Luther watches powerlessly (from behind a one way mirror in the vault), what at first appears to be a standard randevouz, unfolds into a horrifying series of events which reveal the President to be a woman beater.When Christy fights back, she gets shot dead by two Agents of the Secret Service, having stabbed Allen in the arm with a letter opener.The two Agents file into the room, along with Chief Of Staff Gloria Russell (Judy Davis), and an outrageous cover-up takes place.Bill Burton and Tim Collin (Scott Glenn and Dennis Haysbert respectively) "sanitize the place" while a half drunk Allen recovers, and Gloria comes up with a story involving "poor Christy coming home early, and interrupting a burglary."The importance of the letter opener is quickly assessed ("Blood... Fingerprints."), and after snatching out of Tim Collins hands, Gloria stuffs it in her purse.Their job over, they turn off the light switch, and exit Sullivan's mansion, leaving Luther in shock.Then we see Gloria rummaging through her purse, and Luther bending over to pick something up, and we see that she's dropped the letter opener... which is now in Luther's possession as he makes a successful get away... with the President's minions in hot pursuit.What ensues is an unpredictable tale of power, and murder, which Clint Eastwood directs (and stars in), with impeccable style and grace.Ed Harris is terrific as Seth Frank, the puzzled Detective investigating an interrupted burglary killing which is looking less and less like an interrupted burglary killing.Laura Linney is great as Luther Whitney's estranged daughter Kate, and the relationship between father and daughter is very well portrayed.Gene Hackman, Judy Davis, and Scott Glenn are also excellent, and some of their scenes allow for unexpected humor which makes the story richer, and really lightens things up.And finally, there's E.G. Marshal...E.G. Marshal's portrayal cameo role as Walter Sullivan really crowns the making of this movie.His portrayal of an obscenely rich man who made his all wealth from nothing, and still managed to keep his integrity, is inspiring, and very believable.Without him, the audience would not have been able to believe that Luther Whitney would have put his life on the line for a grieving old multimillionaire with a dead trophy wife, and a phony bond with the President.With him however, you buy the plot completely.And it's a good plot, filled with unexpected nobility in the face of the basest corruption.I read the book, and I must say, this is one of those occasions where I liked the movie a lot better.In the novel, Luther Whitney, and Walter Sullivan are both killed.I don't know about you but I like this movie's happy ending...(And it's a better one).Originally Review #33

One of the worst movies I ever saw. Makes no sense. Clint should be ashamed of himself for foisting this on the public. Some other reviewers have itemized a few of the plot holes, and I validate everything they said. No need to repeat the details.

This is a film I liked a lot. I don't watch politics. But, it is something you have to really follow. It took me 2 times to catch everything. I loved it when I caught everything. Luther is a very well trained thief.

Gene Hackman can play some of the most sophisticated bad guys. In this one, he plays the President of the United States. He is a power hungry guy who thinks anyone else is well below him. When he has some dalliance with a woman and she doesn't play by his rules, the Secret Service, to "protect" him, kills the woman. She is a threat physically, and, more importantly, to his image. He knows this will never go beyond the room. What he doesn't know is that Clint Eastwood, playing a successful burglar, is hiding in a secure room and witnesses the whole incident. The movie involves the moral compass of a thief who knows a secret that could upset the whole political world. What does he do? I know that there are plot holes, but when you have so many heavyweights involved, it works pretty well.