Chain Reaction (1996)

Two researchers in a green alternative energy project are put on the run when they are framed for murder and treason.

Director:

Andrew Davis

Writers:

Arne Schmidt (story) (as Arne L. Schmidt), Rick Seaman (story)

Stars:

Keanu Reeves, Morgan Freeman, Rachel Weisz

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Keanu Reeves	...	Eddie Kasalivich
Morgan Freeman	...	Paul Shannon
Rachel Weisz	...	Dr. Lily Sinclair
Fred Ward	...	FBI Agent Leon Ford
Kevin Dunn	...	FBI Agent Doyle
Brian Cox	...	Lyman Earl Collier
Joanna Cassidy	...	Maggie McDermott
Chelcie Ross	...	Ed Rafferty
Nicholas Rudall	...	Dr. Alistair Barkley
Tzi Ma	...	Lu Chen
Krzysztof Pieczynski	...	Lucasz Screbneski
Julie Pearl	...	Emily Pearl (as Julie R. Pearl)
Godfrey	...	Chidi Egbuna
Gene Barge	...	James Washington
Nathan Davis	...	Morris Grodsky

Storyline

Eddie Kasalivich, an undergraduate at the University of Chicago, works as a technician for a scientific team that discovers an alternative, low-cost, pollution-free fuel source. Eddie and Lilly were involved in the research that was done at this first lab. The first lab was sabotaged and it exploded. One of the chief scientists is murdered during the attack and the sabotage of the lab, Eddie and physicist Lily Sinclair are framed for it and have to flee for their lives, with the FBI, CIA and other involved parties in close pursuit. Paul Shannon, Eddies mentor, is the director of a secret CIA contractor which - unknown to Eddie - has commercial interests in the lab equipment. Eddie and Lily flee police, FBI and CIA secret contractors but Lily winds getting captured and is driven to the underground experimental lab. Eddie follows Lily to this not yet fully working lab and quickly gets it working since it needed two different frequencies for the energy to get produced and Eddie has kept ...

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Plot Keywords:

man wearing glasses | on the run | cold fusion | die hard scenario | outrunning explosion | 

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Taglines:

Reaction Time 8-4-96

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some intense action/violence

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 August 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dead Drop

Filming Locations:

53rd Street & Blackstone Avenue, Hyde Park, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$50,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$7,546,000, 4 August 1996, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$20,550,712, 29 September 1996

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$38,200,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

3 Arts Entertainment, Chicago Pacific Entertainment, The Zanuck Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The early scenes in the movie were filmed at the Inland Steel plant in East Chicago, Indiana.

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Goofs

When the cops (FBI Agents) are chasing Eddie in downtown, after he and Lily leave the Hyatt Hotel, Eddie runs toward a bridge. While he gets off the bridge, he slips under a truck. When he gets up to run away he is covered in oil and other gook. When he finally runs over to Lily in the cab he's completely clean.

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Quotes

[Last line]
Paul Shannon: Anita, take a memo, to the director of Central Intelligences. "C-Systems... no longer a viable entity. Will be in contact." That's it.

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Crazy Credits

As the end credits come to the end, the music fades out and a rumble gets louder and louder. This is the start of a shockwave resulting from the massive explosion at the end of the film. The viewpoint is of Keanu Reeves who by now is in a helicopter and comes straight on screen after the last of the credits has gone up. The ground implodes briefly and you hear Agent Ford say "Whoa!".

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Connections

Referenced in Fear Me (2016)

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Soundtracks

One Love
Written by Bob Marley
Performed by Bob Marley & The Wailers (as Bob Marley and The Wailers)
Courtesy of Island Records, Inc.

User Reviews

Moderately successful chase movie

Eddie (Keanu Reeves) works on a scientific team that is searching for low-cost energy sources that are good for the environment, too. One day, it seems that such a discovery has been made. Soon after, however, the chief scientist is murdered and the invention stolen. Eddie and fellow team member Dr. Lily Sinclair (Rachel Weisz) are suspects in the murder and are forced to go on the run. Naturally, the police and the FBI are in hot pursuit. Another team member Paul (Morgan Freeman) may have some secrets to hide as well. Will the truth come out and will the fleeing duo be captured?

This movie is mostly a chase picture and a moderately successful one. Much of the action is centered on the capture of Eddie and Lily. There is an impressive scene, for example, where Eddie is trying to avoid seizure by climbing a raised bridge. Unfortunately, not all of the scenes are as effective. The scientific elements are quickly rushed over, causing some confusion as to what has transpired. As for the romance between Reeves and Weisz, it is nicely subdued. It's there but only manifests itself in a few embraces. Although the ending is quite exciting, the overall effect of the movie as an action flick is only partly realized. There are some missing plot elements that would have raised it to a higher level. Recommended as a fairly good action motion picture; Reeves fans, certainly, will enjoy it.