This time Ryan is up against drug lords, and most importantly, abuse of government power. Through close to two and a half hours, director Phillip Noyce controls the pace of the film with consistent tension. The film falls short of perfection in its set piece finale, which lacks the weave of believability that has held the film together so well. The action sequence fails also to generate the excitement of the earlier, beautifully realized, attack on diplomatic convoy arriving in Columbia. Production values on Clear and Present Danger are impeccable.
Every detail feels right.
From the clothing to the furniture, the pieces of the production puzzle mess in harmoniously. From Washington, D.C. to Panama City to the South American jungles, the filmmakers create consistently realistic pictures. Add the splendid photography of Donald McAlpine and James Horner's active military score to an intelligent screenplay and the result is top-notch entertainment. One step ahead of the bullets. Paramount Harrison Ford may well be the perfect action hero.