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.

---

Plot Keywords:

thief | power | secret service | murder | chase | 

---

Taglines:

Corrupts Absolutely.

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

---

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

Dennis Haysbert and Penny Johnson would go on to play together in the first seasons of 24 as President Palmer and his wife.

---

Goofs

While Leland is making a telephone call the line is ringing, but he is still dialing numbers.

---

Quotes

[upon seeing Seth arrive]
Luther Whitney: So, do you want my signed confession now, or after coffee?

---

Connections

Featured in The Directors: The Films of Clint Eastwood

---

Soundtracks

"Power Waltz"
Composed by Clint Eastwood
Orchestrated and conducted by Lennie Niehaus

User Reviews

tense powerful crime and brilliance from Eastwood

The Narrative.

A consistent plot involving many different types of characters in the form of organised professional robber Whitney (Marvellously portrayed by Eastwood) who is involved in a huge conspiracy involving the very uncomfortable president Hackman.

Perhaps the story gets too involved at points with a lack of realism. However the film is always tense and engaging, especially the beginning which was definitely one of my all time favourite openings to a crime film. Tense, exciting and with a few twists it presents a realistic view of a robber caught up in what will surely be a huge case.

The story justifies the genre by being focused upon murders and robberies and adds sentimental value in the form of family and friendship values. Laura Linney (The Truman Show) is terrific as Eastwood's daughter and adds a great sentimental value to a heavy crime film. She is involved in a great twists towards the end which is a must watch.

The ending surprised me. Although there were great twists, the final few scenes and the way the narrative came to never felt quite justified in my opinion but then again I may have been expecting too much from a film that was consistent and engaging from the beginning. The film is always kept exciting through the tense robbery scenes, character actions and a plot about a man and his power.

Direction.

Eastwood's direction is simply breathtaking. The opening sequence where he explores the neatly kept mansion for his robbery is the best moment in the entire film; I was literally on the edge of my seat. Dark, quiet and with a grace that any director would be proud of I held my breathe from start to finish. Heavy critics may argue it conforms too much to an action styled genre with many shots appearing focusing in or around the main priority but I appreciated it for what it was, which was sheer brilliance.

Eastwood is outstanding in the whole of this film. Not only his ability to pull off a stern ageing character but this direction is also worthy of huge praise.

watch it if...you enjoy the crime genre and appreciate tense dramatic sequences.

but its simply just worth watching for the beginning.