THE SUM OF ALL FEARS

US, 2002, 124 minutes, Colour.
Ben Affleck, Morgan Freeman, James Cromwell, Liev Schreiber, Bruce Mc Gill, Ciaran Hinds, Michael Byrne, Josef Sommer, Ron Rivkin.
Directed by Phil Alden Robinson.

Tom Clancy's novels have been very popular with their detailed descriptions of military technology as well as international political conspiracies. His hero, Jack Ryan, has had four screen outings: Alec Baldwin in The Hunt for Red October over ten years ago, followed by Harrison Ford in Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger and, now, Ben Affleck. Because Ben Affleck is thirty years or so younger than Harrison Ford, The Sum of All Fears enables the screenwriters to take Jack Ryan back to a youthful hero at the beginning of his career with the CIA. With his friend and co-writer Matt Damon being Ludlum's hero, Jason Bourne, Affleck and Damon are bring the espionage blockbuster back to young heroes at the beginning of the 21st century.

The release of the film suffered (though not at the box office) from public attitudes and feelings after September 11th, 2001. It is a shock in this film to find a nuclear bomb actually exploding in an American city.

Affleck, whose acting range is fairly limited, is comfortable as Ryan. He is supported by Morgan Freeman, always reliable, and a group of American character actors, especially James Cromwell as the beleaguered American president. In fact, while the heroics that Ryan goes through, especially with the help of Liev Schreiber as a particular sinister agent, are what the audiences are expecting, it is the drama focussing on the president and the Russian president which are both interesting and alarming. The president surrounded by hawks (who tend to shout at him) and doves (who try to use calm persuasion) has his finger on the trigger and has to make a life and death moral decision. As played by James Cromwell, one has more trust in him (though this is very scary) than some real life incumbents of the office.

Clancy's story has all the features of a Ludlum conspiracy, with Ciaran Hinds as an amenable Russian president who is being set up by a wealthy industrialist played by Alan Bates. With the Russians thinking they are being attacked by the US and vice versa, it is up to Jack Ryan to save the world. Naturally, he does. But it is a quite exciting drama as it builds up to this climax.

1. The popularity of Tom Clancy's novels? Military issues? The United States? Popularising these military issues? The impact of the film on the American audience after September 11? Worldwide audiences?

2. International terrorism, September 11, its aftermath in the United States? The possibilities of world terrorism? The response of government, of people? Of international espionage agencies?

3. The world of 2002, President George W. Bush, his advisers, Hawk and Doves, international relationships, with El Qaeda, with Iraq? The relevance of the fictional story?

4. The expectations? Terrorism and nuclear weapons for the world, nuclear blackmail, nuclear war? The plausibility of this plot?

5. The range of settings, authenticity: Washington, DC, the Pentagon, Moscow and the Kremlin, the desert of Israel, the Ukraine? Baltimore, the sports stadium? The White House? The special effects for the nuclear explosion?

6. Audience interest in the technology for bombs, computer, Internet communication, the use of phones? The success and failure of technology?

7. The dangers of world terrorism, the terrorists themselves, the buyers and sellers? Dressler and his history, Nazi affiliation, buying a parliamentary place, control, a Mr Big, murdering his associate, the international associates and their compliance? Olsen, the South African, and his doing the bomb-buying deals? The smaller members of the network, Mason receiving the bomb in Baltimore? Their being killed?

8. The work of the CIA, its staff, storing information, information gathering, observing, watching television and speeches, listening to the nuances, writing reports? The range of personnel and their responsibilities, interactions, advise for the authorities?

9. The CIA in the field, John Clark and his relationship to Cabot, gleaning information, taking photos, visiting the mother in the hospital, going to the Ukraine, meeting with Ryan, the entry into the fort, his being taken, bluffing his way out, overwhelming the soldiers, Ryan speaking Ukrainian? Going to Israel, interviewing the man dying of radiation? His finally being seen killing Olsen? The deadly aspect of this work of the CIA?

10. The premise of the story, the Israeli pilot crashing in 1973, the dropping and burying of the bomb in the desert? 2002 and its being found, sold, and the buyer's dying? The shrewdness of Olsen and his giving $400, contacting Dressler? Dressler and the dissidents and their setting up the bomb? Transporting it from Haifa, its going to Ukraine, to Baltimore? Its being put in place, the effect of the explosion, the special effects for the damage, the blast, the cloud, radiation going out to sea?

11. The American response, President Fowler and his style? The initial drill, the code numbers, the joke and the later reality? The persuasiveness of the Hawk and the Doves in his administration? His meetings and the discussions, tempers flaring? Cabot and the visit to Moscow, the meeting with the Russian President, his wanting to see his body language rather than just seeing his words? The later speeches, messages offering hidden signs, beliefs?

12. The old Russian President, alcohol, speeches, on the television, his collapse and death? The sudden election of the new President? Ryan with his paper and the information? Cabot, Ryan and the visit? The return to Russia to check the nuclear sites? The role of public statements? The Russian President having to be seen to be in control? The exercise of power, the military undermining the President? His reaction to the United States? The irony of Spinnaker and his being the US source of information in the Kremlin? The Russian President and his character, his wife, the domestic scenes, his serious attitudes? His chief adviser (and the irony of his being Spinnaker)?

13. The political blackmail, America and Russia escalating their weapons and readiness at each step? The importance of timing, of correct data? The clash of egos? Growing desperation?

14. Cabot and the CIA, his role as government adviser? His interest in Ryan, getting him into the briefing with the Senate, advising him for prudence? Taking him to Russia, advising him to ring Kathy? His laughing at Ryan and his difficulties? In Russia, the meeting with the President? The further meetings with Ryan, the secrecy? His not being able to go for the missile check? Yet the information, his going to the football game with the President, the phone ringing and his not hearing it? The bomb going off, his death after Ryan visiting him?

15. The character of Ryan, young, getting experience in the CIA, his past work in the Marines, the historian cover? Basic Russia-watching? His relationship with Kathy, together, not wanting to commit? His interpreting her as not wishing to commit, her interpretation of him with her friends at the hospital? Her work at the hospital? Not believing him, his going to Russia, interpreting, writing papers? His knowledge for the Senate hearing, his taking Kathy to the dinner at Cabot's invitation? Going to the Ukraine, working with John Clark, the dangers, using his language skills? Understanding the reality about the bomb, the flights, the phone calls, Cabot not hearing him, Cabot's death and his presence? Going to the docks, the clashes with the killers? His going to the White House, phoning the Russian President?

16. The tension and the build-up for the nuclear strikes, sending the stealth planes? The Russian reaction? The collapse of the hawk? The role of the Doves? The President and his weighing the situation, making tough decisions, adopting the hard line? Ryan and his interruptions? The Russian President believing him? Stopping the codes?

17. The visit to the United States by the Russian President, the signing of the treaty, the possibilities for world peace? Intercut with the murder of Olsen, the other agents, the blowing up of Dressler's car?

18. The happy ending, Kathy and Ryan on the White House lawn, the visit of Spinnaker and the prospects for the future? An exciting action thriller with topical reference?