Firewall (2006)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Richard Loncraine

Writer (WGA):

Joe Forte (written by)

Release Date:

10 February 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

They will make him steal, but he will make them pay

Plot:

A security specialist is forced into robbing the bank that he's protecting, as a bid to pay off his family's ransom.

Plot Keywords:

Bank | Murder | Cayman Islands | Architect | Meeting

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Harrison Ford	...	Jack Stanfield
Virginia Madsen	...	Beth Stanfield
Carly Schroeder	...	Sarah Stanfield
Jimmy Bennett	...	Andy Stanfield
Gail Ann Lewis	...	Bank Employee #1
Mary Lynn Rajskub	...	Janet Stone
Matthew Currie Holmes	...	Bobby
Candus Churchill	...	Betty
David Lewis	...	Rich
Zahf Paroo	...	Ravi
Robert Forster	...	Harry Romano
Robert Patrick	...	Gary Mitchell
Alan Arkin	...	Arlin Forester
Pat Jenkinson	...	Laurie
Eric Keenleyside	...	Alan Hughes

Also Known As:

The Wrong Element (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some intense sequences of violence, and for some language.

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA | Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Australia:M | Ireland:15A | Finland:K-15 | UK:12A | Netherlands:12 | South Korea:12 | USA:PG-13 (Approved No. 42379) | Malaysia:U | Argentina:13 | Brazil:16 | Singapore:PG | India:UA | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Sweden:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Germany:16 | Iceland:12 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/Manitoba) (Canadian Home Video rating) | Denmark:15 | Hong Kong:IIA | Canada:PG (British Columbia/Ontario) | France:U | Philippines:PG-13 | Hungary:16

Filming Locations:

Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Harrison Ford was so impressed with the beauty of Bowen Island in British Columbia that he purchased a $13-million waterfront property upon the request of girlfriend Calista Flockhart.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Jack is driving to the cabin before running over the robber with the gun, the drivers window is almost all the way down, but after he hits him, and the car is about to explode, the window is all the way up.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Bill Cox: [off-screen] Hello Jack.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Nancy Drew (2007)

Soundtrack:

Jack's Blues

Watch it for Harrison Ford, Watch it for Paul Bettany

Went to watch Firewall today. Honestly, inspite of having read a detailed description of the movie I didn't expect much. However, being a fan of Harrison Ford, I decided to give it a shot.

The storyline isn't spectacular or out of the ordinary, so that won't be something you would want to watch the movie for.

What initially interested me was the entire computer security angle. Turned out to be a disappointment as I found the movie to be less on computer security and more of action and drama.

Harrison Ford has been in the movie business for around twenty years (read grown old) and so he fit into the character of Jack Stanfield perfectly. He is well backed by Paul Bettany (who excels in this role) and Virginia Madsen (who plays his wife).

Besides these three, there isn't much acting by the other characters. Some do play substantial roles but being sidekicks don't gather much attention to them.

But, I will be honest to point out that the storyline turned out to be really interesting in the second half. Well, it didn't diverge from the existing theme but Paul's entire plan makes it interesting and makes you appreciate its ingenuity.

One spectacular scene was the fight in the end. I say spectacular because it didn't appear artificial as can be seen in a lot of fights in a lot of movies. This was a fight of a civilian fighting back in desperation.

Enough said. Watch it for Harrison Ford. Watch it for Paul Bettany.