27,000 NUCLEAR WEAPONS. ONE IS MISSING.
Roughly a year after the terrorist attacks that pulverized the Twin Towers came the first movie that dared show a similar event, with a story that had European neo-fascists plotting to blow a nuclear bomb in Baltimore and make it look like the Russians did it. Not always credible, the fourth picture starring Jack Ryan is nevertheless horrifying and comes with a rejuvenation of the character that fits the story. Ben Affleck is adequate, but the supporting actors leave more lasting impressions. The visual effects are expertly used; they’re impressive without blowing up the entire movie.
2002-U.S. 125 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed by Phil Alden Robinson. Screenplay: Paul Attanasio, Daniel Pyne. Novel: Tom Clancy. Music: Jerry Goldsmith. Cast: Ben Affleck (Jack Ryan), Morgan Freeman (William Cabot), James Cromwell (Robert Fowler), Liev Schreiber, Alan Bates, Bridget Moynahan.
Trivia: In the novel the terrorists were Muslim fanatics, not neo-fascists. Jack Ryan next appeared in Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014).
