Liberty Stands Still (2002)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Kari Skogland

Writer (WGA):

Kari Skogland (written by)

Release Date:

3 May 2002 (Italy)

Genre:

Thriller | Drama

Tagline:

In the game of life and death... you only lose once.

Plot:

The wife of a gun manufacturer is held hostage by a man seeking revenge for the death of his daughter in a high school shooting incident.

Plot Keywords:

Bomb | Hostage | Gunman | Sniper | Gun Control

Cast

Tanya Allen	...	May
Hart Bochner	...	Hank Wilford
Fulvio Cecere	...	Burt McGovern
Gregory Calpakis	...	Vince (as Greg Calpakis)
Terry Chen	...	Officer Tom
Garvin Cross	...	CIA Henchman #1
Roger R. Cross	...	Officer Miller
Martin Cummins	...	Russell Williams
Keith Dallas	...	Young Man
Linda Fiorentino	...	Liberty Wallace
Marrett Green	...	Gary P. Evans - Reporter #2
Darcy Laurie	...	Drunk Guy
David Lewis	...	Businessman
Robert Lewis	...	Fireman Frank
Brian Markinson	...	Rex Perry

Also Known As:

Liberty stands still - Im Visier des Mörders (Germany) (DVD title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and language.

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

Germany | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | Iceland:16 | Canada:14A (Canadian Home Video rating) | USA:R (No. 38558) | Netherlands:12 | Netherlands:16 (video rating) | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Germany:16 | Peru:14 | Canada:AA

Filming Locations:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Lions Gate Films

Goofs:

Continuity: Joe's computer occasionally displays images of Liberty taken by a camera he has set up somewhere, presumably in his sniper's nest. But almost every shot from this camera is panning or tracking, and most are also obviously from a much lower angle than Joe's position. Some are actually looking up at Liberty from below.

Quotes:

Joe: It's up to you now. Time to choose.

Soundtrack:

Creatures

Nice idea, but only works in parts

Linda Fiorentino (Liberty Wallace) an international arms dealer who sells to anyone...no questions asked. While out to meet her lover, she receives a phone-call; the sniper (Welsey Snipes) who she is talking to has her in his sights, and if she fails to do as she told, she will die; and if her phone goes dead she will detonate a bomb that will destroy a city block.

The idea is good, and a strong sense of tension is built up by the performances of Fiorentino and Snipes, but after a clever and intriguing build up the film does eventually fall flat. By the end you may feel that the film makers missed a good opportunity to both make a statement and make a cracking film.

6/10 If you like the concept - try phonebooth, it is better executed.