Safe House (1998)

A psychological thriller. Mace Sowell, an ex-intelligence operative whose past government activities catches up with him, faces his own mortality, in the shape of the on-set of Alzheimer's ... See full summary »

Director:

Eric Steven Stahl

Writers:

Eric Steven Stahl (story), John Schalter (story)

Stars:

Patrick Stewart, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Hector Elizondo

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Patrick Stewart	...	Mace Sowell
Kimberly Williams-Paisley	...	Andi Travers (as Kimberly Williams)
Hector Elizondo	...	Dr. Simon
Joy Kilpatrick	...	Michelle Sowell-Ross
Craig Shoemaker	...	Stuart Bittenbinder
James Harlow	...	Marc Ross
Richard Livingston	...	Admiral Thomas Michelmore
Julia Vera	...	Teresa
Brenda James	...	Asthma Girl Interviewee (as Brenda Klemme)
Robert Lee Barry	...	Rocket Scientist Interviewee
Scott Zacky	...	Wise Guy Interviewee
Wayne Demaline	...	'Butch' The Redneck Interviewee
Hank Garrett	...	Hitman / Postman

Storyline

A psychological thriller. Mace Sowell, an ex-intelligence operative whose past government activities catches up with him, faces his own mortality, in the shape of the on-set of Alzheimer's disease. Holding the electronic key to secret information which implicates a Presidential front-runner, Mace struggles for his life while battling the debilitating effects of the disease.

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Plot Keywords:

alzheimer's disease | die hard scenario | shot to death | death | hand to hand combat | 

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Taglines:

The less you know, the safer you are.

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Genres:

Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 January 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Az otthon biztonsága

Company Credits

Production Co:

Benjamin Productions, Filmquest Pictures, Showtime Networks

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Mace Sowell (Sir Patrick Stewart) is putting the dummy back in the closet, he straightens his clothes. During the shooting of Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987), Stewart did this so often, that it came to be called the "Picard Maneuver".

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Goofs

Mace refers to "Chateau Margaux Blanc De Blancs" when speaking of a wine. Chateau Margaux is from Bordeaux, and "Blanc De Blancs" would be from Champagne. Corrinne Menzenoupolos (owner of Margaux) does not make any sparkling wine.

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Quotes

Andi: Here's the deal: no clothes, no mail.
Mace: No, here's the deal. I'll get my own mail, you go fuck yourself!

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Connections

References Mary Poppins (1964)

User Reviews

Captain Picard it ain't

"Safe House" is a movie in some ways similar to "Conspiracy Theory," with the central figure of neurotic Mace Sowell. He's getting old, but keeps his skills sharp by constant physical exercise and target practice. He lives in a fortress house, endlessly watching the routines of the neighbors and the world around him; he's got enough surveillance to put the FBI to shame and enough firepower to take on an army. He also practises drills with his pool man.

All this is very trying for his daughter, especially as she goes through one maid after another who encounters the wrong end of the "drills" until she finds a finds a keeper for her father up to the task.

Stewart is not only fighting his "enemies" but the encroachment of alzheimer's disease. He may win the battle, but not know what happened. However, the movie knows when to add in comic relief, and several scenes were incredibly funny.

"Safe House" took several turns in the plot; just when you thought you knew what was about to happen something different happened. Is Stewart really just a paranoid old man?

I can't say I liked the ending, but true to the movie's form it was unexpected, and did fit in with the overall theme of the story.

Well worth seeing.