The Siege

Plot synopsis:
A U.S. military barracks in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, is bombed by terrorists. It is determined to be the work of Sheikh Ahmed bin Talal, a known extremist. A Black Ops team works to capture the Sheikh. Posing as shepherds herding goats, they stop the Sheikh's car, kill his drivers, and extract him, blowing up the car to destroy evidence. Then, they fly him to the United States to stand trial.The action shifts to New York City, where one day, a call comes in that an MTA bus in Brooklyn has been taken hostage, with NYPD officers and FDNY firefighters on the scene. When the NYPD sends in the bomb squad to disarm the device, it detonates. Much to everyone's relief, it's just a paint bomb, and the passengers are escorted to safety.The investigation into the incident is handled by Special Agent Anthony Hubbard (Denzel Washington) of the FBI's Counter-Terrorism Task Force and his partner Frank Haddad (Tony Shalhoub). As the investigation gets under way, Hubbard is told that someone is flashing a government badge at the warehouse where the bus is being processed. Hubbard drives out to the warehouse to investigate. The employee in question is a CIA officer named Elise Kraft (Annette Benning). Though she's cordial and asks to liaise with the FBI, Hubbard brushes her off. Thinking she's hiding something, Hubbard gives orders for Elise to be tailed.The next morning, Hubbard and Haddad are summoned to John F. Kennedy International Airport, where a man named Khalil Saleh (Assif Mandvi) has just arrived carrying a briefcase that's packed with $10,000 in small bills. Customs has detained him for further questioning in light of the heightened terror alert. In questioning, he claims that the money is dowry for a wedding. Nonetheless, Hubbard and Haddad tail him to a suburban street in Brooklyn. They follow Khalil as he has a meeting with another unidentified man on the street. Unfortunately, the stakeout is blown when another agent, Mike Johanssen (Mark Valley), inadvertently gives himself away, and Khalil flees on foot. Hubbard and Haddad attempt to give chase in their car, but lose him when he scales a fence and then hops into a passing red van.The van is eventually recovered, and is found to have been reported stolen and carrying bogus plates. While they're on scene, Hubbard and his team get word from another agent, Floyd Rose (Lance Reddick), about the whereabouts of their missing individual: he's shown up at a CIA safehouse in Staten Island, with Elise Kraft. The FBI team proceeds to raid the safehouse, capturing all of the CIA personnel, including Elise. Hubbard and Haddad personally take Elise, and put her into their car to be taken into custody.As Hubbard and Haddad drive Elise back to Manhattan for further questioning, they try asking her for more information about the bus that was paint-bombed. Elise, however, dodges the questions, instead, bringing up conversation about Haddad's background.While they're driving across the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, Hubbard's and Haddad's individual cell phones ring almost simultaneously. It's disturbing news: three men armed with rifles and wearing explosives have just taken an MTA bus hostage at Broadway and Bedford Avenues in Brooklyn. When Hubbard, Haddad and Elise arrive on scene, the NYPD and FDNY have already set up a perimeter and the NYPD Emergency Services Unit is getting snipers into position. Hubbard is patched through to the bus's driver, who agrees to hand the phone over to the hostage taker. Having learned from another officer that there are six children on the bus, Hubbard decides to use that to his advantage. He begins addressing the hostage takers (with Haddad supplying a running translation in Arabic), and makes a plea for them to release the children.Much to everyone's surprise, the hostage-takers acquiesce to Hubbard's requests and release a group of children from the bus. They are quickly escorted by police back behind the perimeter. Hubbard then resumes negotiations with the hostage-takers, trying to get as many hostages as possible released. It takes a while, but eventually, he convinces them to release the elderly passengers. After another tense moment, the bus doors slide open and some senior citizens begin to exit the bus. However, just moments later, the terrorists suddenly renege on their promise and detonate their explosives, causing the bus to explode in a huge fireball. The explosion instantly kills the 25 civilians and suicide bombers still on board and injures numbers of NYPD officers, FBI agents, and FDNY firefighters due to the shockwave and debris raining down everywhere within several hundred feet of the bus. Hubbard is among the FBI agents injured when the explosion throws him off his feet and temporarily deafens him during the process.An investigation is quickly launched by a somewhat agitated Hubbard into the bombing. In time, the FBI is able to identify one of the bombers as a young individual named Ali Wasiri. In a turn of events, Wasiri is revealed to have been on a State Department watchlist, leading them to wonder how he got into the country. This is answered when they find a student visa in Wasiri's name, and this leads them to Samir Nazhde, a professor of Arab studies at Brooklyn College who sponsored the application. Hubbard wants to arrest Samir, but Elise insists that Samir is not a terrorist and that his continued freedom is vital to the investigation, even striking up a sexual relationship with him (while Hubbard and Haddad watch from afar). Hubbard also learns from Elise about the possibility that the terrorists behind these attacks might be followers of the Sheikh who are exacting revenge against the United States.A day or so later, Hubbard gets a surprise visit from General William Devereaux (Bruce Willis) of the 101st Airborne Division. While they converse, Hubbard asks Devereaux if he knows anything about the Sheikh. Devereaux claims that the Sheikh is old news, and the bombers' demands for the U.S. to release the Sheikh are impossible to meet because the Sheikh is dead (which we can see is false given the opening sequence).Acting on another lead, the FBI team eventually uncovers an apartment recently leased to three young Arab men. According to the landlord, they spend their days watching TV and eating pizza. This gives Hubbard an idea when they carry out the raid. He sends one of his agents, Danny Sussman (David Proval), up to the apartment disguised as a pizza deliveryman, and carrying a pizza box, in which they have planted a smoke grenade. Right behind Danny is a fully armed SWAT team. Danny drops the pizza box off and it is carried into the apartment. When it explodes in the face of one of the occupants, the SWAT team breaches the door and storms the apartment. Two of the men are killed when they try to shoot back with assault rifles, and the third (the guy who picked up the pizza box) is killed in the crossfire. Haddad finds bombmaking equipment under one windowsill that includes many of the elements used on the bus.Some time later, the FBI team is shown knocking off after work at a midtown Manhattan bar. Hubbard is coerced into slow-dancing with Elise. As they dance, Hubbard asks Elise if she thinks her friend Samir is in league with the terrorists. Elise doesn't seem to think so. The dance is interrupted though when the bar is suddenly rocked by a shockwave, which momentarily knocks out some of the lights and sets off the panic alarms on some cars outside. As it turns out, a bomb has been set off at the New Victory Theatre on 42nd Street. Hubbard, Haddad and Elise race to the scene, and are forced to abandon their car at the north end of Times Square due to emergency vehicles obstructing traffic. When they reach the theatre, they find FDNY firefighters and NYPD officers at work handling triage and evacuating injured or panicked civilians as smoke billows out from the theatre's façade. Numerous civilians have been killed, and many more critically wounded (at one point, Hubbard's attention momentarily falls upon a young woman coming down the staircase missing part of her left arm, before collapsing halfway down into the arms of a firefighter).The terrorist attacks on two buses and the New Victory Theatre has led to an increased sense of urgency and fear amongst New Yorkers. Hubbard holds a strategy meeting with senior law enforcement officials, but things don't go successfully. The meeting is furthermore interrupted when they get a call that a lone gunman has taken kids in an elementary school classroom hostage and planted what appears to be a radio-controlled bomb. While waiting behind the barricade, Hubbard sees the news helicopters hovering around outside. Not willing to let innocent lives be lost, he barges through the artificial police barricade of chairs and furniture, bursts into the classroom, and shoots the gunman.The events in New York City have drawn increased scrutiny from officials in Washington, D.C. Hubbard, General Devereaux and Elise, now going by the name Sharon Bridger, are among those summoned to a meeting of the top heads to discuss how to resolve the terrorist situation. During the conversation, Devereaux is asked about the feasibility of imposing martial law on Brooklyn until the terrorist cells are flushed out. He explains that it would be the worst possible decision to deploy the military as it would not help them find the cells. Furthermore, Hubbard argues that deploying the military will only drive the terrorists underground. However, what's clear, as Sharon explains, is that the terrorist cells aren't working like a traditional terrorist network. In most cells, cutting off the head of the network causes the other cells to die off. In the current situation, each terror cell seems to be operating independent of each other: the bus was the work of the first cell. Once that cell was taken out, the second cell carried out the attack on the theatre gala. There are possibly three or four cells at most in Brooklyn, but the timetable until they are found is impossible to determine without knowing who to look for.While this meeting is underway, another terrorist attack happens in Manhattan as a lone individual crashes a stolen van full of explosives into the lobby of One Federal Plaza, the location of the FBI's Counter-Terrorism Task Force. The blast partially demolishes the building, killing 600 people, including Hubbard's own agents, Johanssen and Tina Osu.In spite of objections, the President declares martial law and elements of the 101st Airborne Division, under Devereaux (Willis), occupies and seals off Brooklyn in an effort to find the remaining terrorist cells. Subsequently all young males of Arab descent, including Haddad's son Frank, Jr., are rounded up and detained in Yankee Stadium. Haddad resigns in protest, while civilians stage violent demonstrations against the Army and the racial profiling of the Arabs and the Army fights to maintain control. There are reports of Army killings.Hubbard and Sharon continue their investigation and capture a suspect, Tariq Husseini, although it isn't without incident as the Army is tipped off to the raid and decides to crash it. In the resulting confusion, the chop shop that Tariq runs is blown up. Husseini is tortured for information, but when he doesn't reveal anything, Devereaux has him shot. Afterward, Bridger tells Hubbard that Husseini knew nothing of value because of the principle of compartmentalized information and, sickened, she finally tells Hubbard what she knows. It is revealed that she herself provided training and support to militants opposed to Saddam Hussein's regime. After the funding was cut, she took pity on the few of them who had not yet been taken out by Hussein's forces, and arranged for them to escape to the United States, ultimately leading to the present situation. She and Hubbard compel Samir to arrange a meeting with the final terrorist cell. Hubbard convinces Haddad that he needs his help and Haddad returns to the FBI.A multi-ethnic peace march demonstrates against the occupation of Brooklyn. As the march is getting under way Hubbard and Haddad arrive at the meeting place, but Bridger and Samir have already left. Once inside a bathhouse, Samir reveals to Bridger that he is the final cell, and boasts that "there will never be a last cell." He straps a bomb to his body which he intends to detonate amongst the marchers. Hubbard and Haddad arrive in time to stop him leaving but just as they show up, Samir shoots Sharon in the stomach after a struggle. Hubbard shoots Samir but despite their best efforts he and Haddad can only watch as Bridger bleeds to death, saying the first half of the lords prayer and then in arabic "Inch Allah".Hubbard, Haddad, and other FBI agents, raid Devereaux's headquarters to arrest him for Husseini's death. Deveraux insists that under the War Powers Resolution the authority vested in him by the President supersedes that of the court which issued the arrest warrant. A Mexican standoff ensues, but it's broken when Hubbard reminds Devereaux that the civil liberties and human rights which he took from Husseini are what all his predecessors have fought and died for. Devereaux finally submits, and is detained. Martial law ends and the detainees are freed, including Haddad's son.

Tags: suspenseful, murder, violence

Review:
Roger Deacons adds his wonderful cinematography, and Bruce Willis turns in a fine performance as an over-zealous army general.The film delivers a cautionary tale about extreme reactions to terror and the loss of freedoms that can result from acting in anger, rather than with reason and law.
Movies that make people think and talk are valuable, and in that light the film is more successful than initially considered.Yes, there are gaping holes in the script and the plot and the concept, but as a little thriller it maintains our attention throughout and offers some fine moments from actors such as Denzel Washington, Annette Bening, Tony Shalhoub, Bruce Willis, Sami Bouajila, Ahmed Ben Larby, Aasif Mandvi among others.
The head of the FBI's Counter-Terrorism Task Force (Denzel Washington) teams up with a CIA operative (Annette Benning) to hunt down the terrorist cells responsible for the attacks.
There are numerous noble Arab-Americans, and the movie emphasizes this, but – let's be honest – there are also Islamic whack-jobs in our midst who enjoy blowing themselves up with as many innocents as possible so they can go home to Allah and 72 virgins (or whatever).I like the fact that General Devereaux (Willis) isn't a black or white character and viewers can have completely different views about whether or not he's actually a villain.
Read the spoiler commentary below for details.The film runs 116 minutes and was shot in New York City with a couple scenes in California.GRADE: B- ***SPOILER ALERT*** DON'T READ FURTHER IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE FILM One of the main points of the movie is that it's wrong to mistreat Muslim-Americans by profiling them, rounding them up and subjecting them to investigation outside normal procedures because it's equivalent to the internment of Japanese Americans during WW2.
Days after the WTC Attack I saw this movie again and obviously (to my regret) I found many new things to meditate about, this movie makes an interesting remark about what almost every US government have done at least one time, the so called 'shift of policy', and this is the key to the whole mess (in the movie and in real life), US government can't pretend to look after some 'groups, organizations or people' when they are useful to their interest and when they no longer need them just dispose then like trash, remember, 'what goes around, comes around...', sure, I totally condemn terrorism, but as we can learn from the movie, this kind of behavior gives birth to extreme hate and enemies, and this is (or was) NO fiction.
Mr. Denzel Washington's (FBI Agent Anthony 'Hub' Hubbard) performance is powerful (as usual), the rest of the supporting cast did a good job too, Annette Bening's (Elise Kraft/Sharon Bridger) seems a little 'old' for the role but does an excellent job though..
The response from the people being attacked with me was enthusiastic, so that gives you some indication of what the film is like, if you haven't yet been subjected to it.My reaction had nothing to do with "racism," or lack of action, which non-Americans seem to assume is the only thing keeping the Yankees spending money on cinema.
Today was the day the terrorist attack on the PENTAGON and the WORLD TRADE CENTER and other places which was more sunbstancial and incredible compared to the attacks depicted in this movie which looks amateurish in comparison to the real attacks.A good wake up call to all who snickered and dismissed this film as UNLIKELY and HOLLYWOOD FANTASY.Nothing is impossible and I also would like to say that most media ART IS A REFLECTION of reality.The CIA and other world intelligence branches can only do so much.Most of their work comes AFTER the attack.Preventing an attack is next to impossible if freedom is to be had by the masses.See this film and learn.Great film although a ittle improvement with screenpay would have taken this movie to classic status.Only for people who are interested in spy films and politics.The fans of the lead actors will enjoy this film as well for their performances as adequate,particularly Washington........
But there is much worse to come; as the attacks keep happening, the United States military, under the command of the staunch general William Deveraux (Bruce Willis), takes charge and hunts down virtually anyone in NYC who just might look like a terrorist (i.e., anyone of Arab/Islamic extraction), even if that happens to include Washington's FBI partner (Tony Shaloub).
They've already won!" THE SIEGE was, at its time, a fairly controversial film, less for its depiction of terrorism and violence than for what many Americans of Muslim and Arabic origin saw as perpetrating a dangerous stereotype of them, a stereotype that they had every right to rail against then, and do even more so in the wake of Paris and San Bernardino.
That being said, however, the film does show what history should have told us: that overseas covert or military actions carried out years or decades in the past can result in the kind of nightmarish blowback seen here on screen, or for real in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania on 9/11.
And when martial law is declared in what we like to call our Land of the Free, as happens in this film, then terror can win out, as it almost does even after the attacks themselves stop.Zwick gets plenty of action and tension out of the situation in THE SIEGE, less of a Schwarzenneger free-for-all or even a DIE HARD-type thing (Willis' presence aside) than something more akin to the 1977 John Frankenheimer classic BLACK Sunday; and Washington's Everyman-type FBI agent and Willis' hard-assed general are perfect antagonists.
We then follow the FBI, the CIA and the military (portrayed basically by Denzel Washington and Tony Shalhoub, Annette Bening and Bruce Willis respectively) as they try to identify the various cells and regain control of the situation.
Again, from 911, we know that this portrayal turned out not to be that far off the mark.Third, in the movie the ultimate response of the US government is to declare martial law and to send troops on to the streets of New York City.
Movie Review: "The Siege" (1998)20th Century Fox presents this most daring thriller on the "war-on-terror" ever-conceived by Hollywood motion picture industries to this day directed by Edward Zwick, who makes full use of the an original script by journalist-turns-screenwriter Lawrence Wright, when "The Siege" fulminate cast by casting director Mary Colquhoun (1930-2000) in favors of any supporting role contracted in a twisting-and-turning suspense-striking plot, where FBI agent Anthony Hubbard, portrayed by high-octane driving Denzel Washington, must keep fast-tracks to unfold countless threads within the City of New York initiated by "Martial Law" executed U.S. military in shapes of death-sentence pushing character of General William Devereaux, given face by never-seen-before hostile beats of utmost disciplines by actor Bruce Willis, who could have earned his first Academy-Award-nomination for Best Supporting Role in a completely Award-season-snubbed highly-visceral motion picture of countless shading grey areas of controversy, when even the love affair between a U.S. governmental official, performed by full-engagement-showing actress Annette Bening, who must question ever aspect of her professional as personal character's life, including the relationship to her Oriental boy-friend character of Samir Nazhde, here portrayed by fully-directed actor Sami Bouajila, at moments of urban bomb explosions captured in utmost of elegance-striving cinematography by Roger Deakins and 1940s U.S. homeland security threatening Japanese habits after "Pearl Harbor" recalling concentration camp scenarios here placed below Brooklyn Bridge exterior production design, when any Oriental-looking and Muslim-religion indulging inhabitant in the five boroughs of New York gets gathered for interrogation under General Devereaux command to a motion picture historical highlighted reverse-cut close-up scene between Denzel Washington and Bruce Willis in a life-or-death stand-off situation under orders-following soldier-drawn machine guns.© 2018 Felix Alexander Dausend
If one believe the movie, then one accepts the premise, that Denzel Washington as a police officer could go up against a standing army led by Anthony Hubbard (Bruce Willis) as Major General William Devereaux.
While some Arab-Americans may have felt offended by this I think the viewers understood that this was a tiny percentage of the Muslim community, and it was better for them to recognize this in order to distance themselves from the extremist.However, the real issue and prophetic warning of this movie was not about Muslim extremism at all, but about how our citizens were capable of going collectively insane over a tragedy and throwing away our freedoms in the name of safety, and the tragic consequences of such a short-sited decision.
Edward Zwick directed this film that stars Denzel Washington as FBI counter Terrorism Taskforce leader Anthony Hubbard, who enlists the help of a CIA agent(played by Annette Bening) to battle an escalating series of terrorist attacks in New York city after the U.S. abducted a radical Islamic religious leader.
When one attack in particular hits close to home for all, Martial Law is declared by Major General William Devereux(played by Bruce Willis) which greatly alarms Hubbard, as his fellow agent, an Arab American(played by Tony Shalhoub) is rounded up with other suspects in an internment camp, while the CIA agent knows more than she's willing to tell about the terrorist cells responsible...
The Siege is everything I knew it was for a decade without the unneeded benefit of proof.This is neither good nor bad, just the facts.In five years time I will walk past a DVD shelf with The Siege on it and think 'yep I've seen it, then without any specifics I will re-think the thoughts of the first paragraph.In this case Denzel is FBI Agent Anthony Hubbard, his second in command is played by Tony Shalhoub, who for the purpose of this review (and the film) I might point out is of 'middle eastern' descent.When a terrorist threat arrives in New York City (yes the film was unfortunately prescient) it is swiftly identified as being of middle Eastern descent.
Her name is Alyse Kraft (Annette Bening), and she tentatively teams up with Hubbard and co, providing advice and occasional hints, without ever really seeming to 'lock in' to the task.After a series of bombings the army is consulted, lead by General Bill (Bruce Willis), and the politicians run a merry dance trying to decide how to deal with this fiendish threat to the American view of freedom, and if armed intervention is necessary.The Siege presses every button that you think it will and shows all sides of the story – from the American side of the story that is – that means people from the middle East are neither all good or all bad (except the 'all bad' ones), and *GASP* Americans can be pricks and racists too, I would never have thought!
And it's a shame that this is the case, too, because this is acutally one of the best movies that was released this year.Filled with powerful drama and suspense, and some terrific performances (including a surprisingly good one by Bruce Willis, and Denzel Washington and Annette Bening are great as usual).
It's so sick and twisted.At least they did make the FBI guy look good in the film, which is a rarity, but that's only because Denzel Washington played the role.
With the military ready to strike anything they are told to and the Muslim community keen to help however they can, tensions are simmering and ready to boil, Hub tries to stop the terrorist cells before they can strike again.I noticed this film be released in the UK in 98/99 sort of time but never got round to seeing it despite it looking like a good action movie.
The action/thriller side is OK and it also throws in some very harrowing scenes of terrorism that (at the time) must have seemed impossible to many viewers in the US (sadly in Northern Ireland we are far too familiar with terrorist attacks to be shocked by the aftermath of a bombing in a film  we have seen it in reality for decades) but these moments are few are far between.
Willis is laughably bad in his character who suddenly becomes a big powerful distator of New York without any real reason  I wonder if, made in 2004, this film would be brave enough to have such a criticism of the military's role in fighting terrorism?
It is well acted, with the likes of Denzel Washington, Annette Bening, and Tony Shalhoub (who's a looong ways from Wings here) strutting their bad self, well directed by Edward Zwick (who's best film to date is Courage Under Fire), and at least tries to intertwine an action/thriller plot with a literate script.
The movie is a fantasy that explores the question of what might happen if Arab terrorists went wild in a major American city, in this case New York (obviously getting its inspiration from the Trade Center bombing).
Another warning the movie conveys is the evil of violating civil liberties, in this case the Gestapo-like roundup by the U.S. military of Arab-American citizens in New York under suspicion of being terrorists.When it first came out, "The Siege" was such a controversial film largely because it dealt with stereotypical issues associating Arabs with terrorism.
I wouldn't want any officer from the higher levels of U.S. bureaucracy to turn into reality what transpired in the movie, specifically the callous acts of Bruce Willis's military general against Arab-Americans residing in the Big Apple."The Siege" has an interesting gallery of quality actors.
What a disappointment!It starts out okay but just gets more silly and the plot flies up and disappears into the atmosphere after the first hour.Bruce Willis, who I usually like,is completely miscast and rather wooden.Denzel Washington is great but, with his talents, should be starring in better movies than this routine thriller.Not a disaster, but not reccomended either.However, the concept of New York under martial law is interesting.
But the plot, although good in the first 30 minutes of the movie, leaves us all confused and disappointed.Denzel Washington, Tony Shalhoub, and Annette Benning put in fine performances but I thought Bruce Willis was horrible in this movie.6.5/10.
In The Siege, Edward Zwick (Legends of the Fall, Glory, Courage Under Fire) follows the conventions of the genre fairly closely, but manages to throw in enough creative inventions to make the ride worthwhile.Denzel Washington plays FBI agent Hubbard, a dedicated law enforcement officer committed to tracking down the terrorists who are wreaking havoc in New York City.
The FBI is trying to track down Arab-American terrorists in the city, and along the way gets occasional assistance, and frequent interference, from representatives of the CIA (Annette Benning plays agent Bridger) and the US army (Bruce Willis plays General Deveraux).The plot follows a standard formula but has enough innovative twists to make it engaging.
However the attempt to make the audience contemplate international relations, Constitutional law, and government conspiracies falls short.The film is basically a cross between a mindless action film and a film that shocks us to reality such as Saving Private Ryan.Denzel Washington and Annette Benning turn in good performances, but Bruce Willis's screen time is uncharacteristically limited to a few scenes..
Lame and clichéd.All forgiven due to the psychic brilliance of the film.Bruce Willis and Denzel Washington play bad general and good federal agent, respectively, and the assortment of terrorists, protesters and media round out what could easily have been a TV movie, and what might have worked even better as one.
The film is especially engaging because of the manner in which it is clearly based on a number of real-life events - from the bombing of the US Army base at Dhahran which opens the movie, to the alleged terrorist networks run by Osama bin Laden, to the role of covert US activities in creating and perpetuating terrorism.Washington's character, FBI Agent Anthony Hubbard, considers himself to be a force for universal good.
And lots of people cried later in the movie.With this said here is my review:The Siege is by far one of the best action films out there.
Bruce Willis is an Army General, Denzel Washington is a FBI agent, Annette Bening and is a CIA agent.
It is interesting to see in the film how a city such as New York might respond to this kind of terrorism.Also, "The Siege" explores the kind of racial or ethnic implications that go along with such an enormous terrorist action.
Bruce Willis is the villain, in an open criticism of the American military's authoritarianism, but is a character so little explored and poorly developed that it looks like a caricature.The film was thought of as a thriller, and we actually feel the tension growing, but the ending is disappointing and predictable.
THE SIEGE ( rating, * * * ½ out of 5 )From writers Lawrence Wright, Menno Meyjes and Edward Zwick who also directs, comes this modern thriller that contains plenty of gloss and lashings of style.FBI Agent Anthony Hubbard, (Denzel Washington) CIA Officer Sharon Bridge, (Annette Bening) and Army General Devereax, (Bruce Willis) form a somewhat strained coalition as they combat a rash of terrorism in New York City.Each party has an agenda and the fight for power becomes ruthless and in the army's case, very un-American as Martial Law is declared.
Denzel Washington has never played a bad role in his life, Annette Bening is strong as a worn, slutty CIA agent, and Tony Shalhoub shows he's more than the jackass cabbie from "Wings."Taking all Arabs captive was going way too far, but I think the movie's producers were angling at the U.S. government's history of secretive, often brutal operations.
A CIA agent and terrorist trainer (Annette Benning) cries when she "realizes" all the evil she's made...(!!!) The best thing in this movie is still Denzel Washington.