THE SIMPLEST THINGS ARE OFTEN OVERLOOKED. Review on The Sum of All Fears Movie

First of all, in my opinion, Ben Affleck makes it very easy to forget that the role of Jack Ryan was ever played by Harrison Ford and Alec Baldwin. Affleck plays a younger Ryan and obviously holds his own in this by-the-book adaptation of the novel by Tom Clancy. Now, on to the review!

* The opening scene takes us back to 1973. During the war between Israel and Syria and Egypt, one lone Israeli plane has taken off with one nuclear bomb in a final attempt to end the war. However, the plane crashes. The bomb proves to be ineffective – a dud! Since then, the plane and the bomb have been in the desert subjected to many wind and sand storms. 29 years later, during an excavation, a few men come upon the buried object (that they deem is too old to be effective) and decide to secretly sell it for scrap. However, the man who intends to make the purchase knows much more about bombs than the men who found it. Just how he plans to use it will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up on edge.

The CIA suspects that the Russian President is gravely ill and needs information about the man by whom he’ll be replaced. Jack Ryan, a Historian whose career path involves the studying of past, present and the possible future leaders of countries around the world, is the person who would have such information. His knowledge is well known by our CIA and that prompts a phone call from none other than CIA Director, William Cabot (excellently portrayed by Morgan Freeman – one of my favorite actors). Suspicions are correct and within days, the ailing Russian President is dead. Mr. Nemerov (Ciaren Hinds) is now declared the new President of Russia. The CIA wants their information NOW and because of his expertise, Ryan is officially requested to accompany CIA agents to Russia. Upon touring (and inspecting) a weapons plant, Ryan comments that three of the top Russian scientists are missing. President Nemerov makes what seems to be legitimate excuses, however, Ryan has his doubts that he voices secretly to Director Cabot. After the CIA makes further investigations, Ryan is proved correct. The scientists are currently working for a private individual in a secluded area and Ryan now believes they are making a bomb – but for whom and what purpose? And is he, in fact, correct? Ryan is now drawn into the CIA’s investigation and game of spying. But where does he begin to find the answers to his many questions: 1. where did the material to make the bomb come from 2. who has it now 3. how did the get the plutonium 4. where will they put the bomb 5. and why As he begins finding answers to these and more, he faces the greatest challenge of his young life – a challenge he never dreamed of – a challenge he never thought would fall upon the shoulders of a Historian. He must somehow, someway, convince the Presidents of The United States and Russia not to blow up each other’s countries. While tempers flare, Ryan must keep his under control and keep the channels of communication open between the two countries even when ordered by our President to back off.

What makes this picture so intense is that it could actually happen. There are so many possibilities and the simplest is the one most often overlooked. This is a fast paced, action-packed, frightening drama that will bring goose-bumps to your arms and tingles up and down your spine. This is a motion picture that shows you how easily disaster can and MIGHT happen. And after 9-11, I would not hesitate to call this a warning!