Patriot Games (1992)

When CIA analyst Jack Ryan interferes with an IRA assassination, a renegade faction targets him and his family for revenge.

Director:

Phillip Noyce

Writers:

Tom Clancy (novel), W. Peter Iliff (screenplay)

Stars:

Harrison Ford, Sean Bean, Anne Archer

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Harrison Ford	...	Jack Ryan
Anne Archer	...	Cathy Ryan
Patrick Bergin	...	Kevin O'Donnell
Sean Bean	...	Sean Miller
Thora Birch	...	Sally Ryan
James Fox	...	Lord Holmes
Samuel L. Jackson	...	Robby
Polly Walker	...	Annette
J.E. Freeman	...	Marty Cantor
James Earl Jones	...	Admiral Greer
Richard Harris	...	Paddy O'Neil
Alex Norton	...	Dennis Cooley
Hugh Fraser	...	Watkins
David Threlfall	...	Inspector Highland
Alun Armstrong	...	Owens

Storyline

Former CIA analyst, Jack Ryan is in England with his family on vacation when he suddenly witnesses an explosion outside Buckingham Palace. It is revealed that some people are trying to abduct a member of the Royal Family but Jack intervenes, killing one of them and capturing the other, and stops the plan in its tracks. Afterwards, he learns that they're Irish revolutionaries and the two men are brothers. During his court hearing the one that's still alive vows to get back at Jack but is sentenced and that seems to be the end of it. However, whilst the man is being transported, he is broken out. Jack learns of this but doesn't think there's anything to worry about. But, when he is at the Naval Academy someone tries to kill him. He learns that they are also going after his family and so he rushes to find them, safe but having also been the victims of a failed assassination. That's when Jack decides to rejoin the CIA, and they try to find the man before he makes another attempt.

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Plot Keywords:

jack ryan character | terrorist | cia | ira | analyst | 

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Taglines:

Let the Games Begin.

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Genres:

Action | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexuality, and for language and violence

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 June 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Juego de patriotas

Filming Locations:

USA

Box Office

Budget:

$45,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$18,511,191, 7 June 1992, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$83,287,363

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$94,700,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mace Neufeld Productions,Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) Dolby (35 mm prints)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Paramount yanked all their advertising out of Variety when one of the magazine's film critics, Joseph McBride, called the film "fascistic, blatantly anti-Irish... a right-wing cartoon". Variety's editor, Peter Bart, privately sided with Paramount's boycott, calling McBride "unprofessional". Bart was subsequently embarrassed when his letter criticizing one of his reviewers and supporting studio censorship was leaked to the press. The Los Angeles Film Critics' Association and the National Society of Film Critics then publicly lambasted Bart for his "dismaying treatment" of one of his members of staff, saying "the question is not whether any responsible critic is right or wrong, but whether any responsible critic must be muted, so as not to offend an advertiser or bruise a handful of tender egos."

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Goofs

The terrorists use night-vision goggles during a storm. As NVG's work by amplifying the ambient light, they would be blinded every time that the lightning flashed.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Jack Ryan: [answering machine answers] Sorry, we can't come to the phone right now. If you leave a message, we'll get back to you as soon as we can. Thanks.

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Connections

Referenced in Chris Stuckmann Movie Reviews: 500th Video - Blu-Ray Collection!! (2013)

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Soundtracks

Theme from Harry's Game
Performed by Clannad

User Reviews

Good action flick

If I were to make a quick summary of this movie, it would be "a good, but not great, action flick." I don't think this movie was intended to be innovative, to be great, to be memorable. What it was intended to be was entertaining, and it lived up to this expectation.

Harrison Ford is the master of remaining as low-key as possible. He has had so many films where he can over-emphasize, over-dramatize, and simply over-act. Ford has the maturity to keep this from happening, and he does so again in this film. Ford is supported quite well with such actors/actresses as James Earl Jones (reprising his role as Greer from The Hunt for Red October), Samuel L. Jackson, and Anne Archer. For an action flick, acting is much above average.

It was also suspenseful...thrilling. I thought the ending had a nice build-up and climax. I realize this is different from the book's ending...but remember, these are two different visions...not the same one. This brings up a big point in movie-watching: Comparing a movie to a book is the worst thing you can do. They are two completely different genres. More importantly, as I said before, they are two different visions.

I'm not a big action fan. I used to be, but anymore most stories are the same. To this end I would say Patriot Games is fairly mainstream. However, it was always fun to watch and sometimes thrilling to watch. I'm also not a big Tom Clancy fan, but I've given the movies based off his books a shot because again they are different visions. The result is (at least with Patriot Games) a good film to watch on a Saturday night with a bowl of popcorn. Don't expect great things, but don't expect to be disappointed, either.

Rating: 7/10