Absolute Power (1997)

A career thief witnesses a horrific crime involving the U.S. President.

Director:

Clint Eastwood

Writers:

David Baldacci (book), William Goldman (screenplay)

Stars:

Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Ed Harris

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Clint Eastwood	...	Luther Whitney
Gene Hackman	...	President Allen Richmond
Ed Harris	...	Seth Frank
Laura Linney	...	Kate Whitney
Scott Glenn	...	Bill Burton
Dennis Haysbert	...	Tim Collin
Judy Davis	...	Gloria Russell
E.G. Marshall	...	Walter Sullivan
Melora Hardin	...	Christy Sullivan
Kenneth Welsh	...	Sandy Lord (as Ken Welsh)
Penny Johnson	...	Laura Simon
Richard Jenkins	...	Michael McCarty
Mark Margolis	...	Red Brandsford
Elaine Kagan	...	Valerie
Alison Eastwood	...	Art Student

Storyline

Based on the novel by David Baldacci, Absolute Power is about the ruthlessness of people in power. The President believes that everything he does is beyond reproach, including an affair or two. That leads to murder and everyone around him is involved. There is only one witness, a thief named Luther Whitney. They are sure he'll talk, but when? The Secret Service is determined to keep him quiet, but catching a thief isn't always easy.

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Plot Keywords:

thief | power | secret service | murder | chase | 

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Taglines:

Corrupts Absolutely.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence, sexuality and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

14 February 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Poder absoluto

Filming Locations:

Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$50,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

ITL 2,426,607,000 (Italy) (30 May 1997)

Gross:

$50,007,168 (USA) (13 June 1997)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Castle Rock Entertainment, Malpaso Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The house in the beginning of the film is actually a real castle in Brooklandville, Maryland. It belongs to Maryvale Preparatory school. Classes are held inside, as well as some administration and offices. The carpet and the painting seen hanging were left in the Castle after filming was finished.

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Goofs

When Luther is in the airport bar watching the president and Mr. Sullivan on TV the cable TV jack can be seen to the left. The jack is empty, with no cable TV wire attached to it.

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Quotes

Allen Richmond: What do we know, so far?
Gloria Russell: Well, we've checked his license plates. He stole the car from a police impoundment lot.
Allen Richmond: We're not dealing with a fool here, are we? Has he initiated contact?
Gloria Russell: Burton doesn't think he will.
Allen Richmond: I agree. I apologize for my behavior. It won't happen again. Consider it a blip on the screen. As far as I'm concerned that's all he is, too.
Gloria Russell: Well, he could be a little more than that, Allen. He saw.
Allen Richmond: He saw nothing. He saw a drunk woman who liked rough sex too much. He's a burglar. ...

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Connections

Featured in Especial Cannes: 50 Anos de Festival (1997)

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Soundtracks

"Kate's Theme"
Composed by Clint Eastwood
Orchestrated and conducted by Lennie Niehaus

User Reviews

Running Scared...then a 180*

Here is a well-paced Clint film that is fit for a heart-attack! The cast that accompanies Eastwood is flawless. As 'Luther' the old 'cat' who has made a fine career out of stealing, is at a major moral crossroad...from what he had witnessed on 'the job' that never should have taken place, in front of him. This is a stunner, that keeps your pulse pounding in places and slows down to a normal pace in other spots, and it all works perfectly.

Eastwood's style is second to none, as he makes his way through this thrill-ride of an enthralling story. He is very thought-provoking as he works to figure his 'escape', then a moral dilemma of major proportions hits him like a ton of brick!! His whole mission, has changed at that point and he knows it. From then on, he is set on a new course of decisive action. Next to actors like Scott Glenn and Ed Harris, Laura Linney, Judy Davis Dennis Haybert, that is pretty solid for a cast, all the players pull their own weight. But then with the addition of Gene Hackman, this is a frantic paced unveiling of events.

This for sure, rounds out my top of the top great films... This is recommended as a Clint Eastwood fun, solid action, white knuckled thriller that is satisfying for most discreminating movie-mogals I would believe. (*****)