Air Force One *** (1997, Harrison Ford, Gary Oldman, Glenn Close) – Classic Movie Review 754

In director Wolfgang Petersen’s 1997 action thriler, Harrison Ford stars as the US President, James Marshall, returning home from Moscow aboard his private plane Air Force One, when it is hijacked by Russian terrorists, led by Ivan Korshunov (Gary Oldman), demanding the release of a leading terrorist. By chance, President Marshall had just given a stirring speech outlining America’s new zero-tolerance policy to terrorism.

Ford is required to defy his middle age and dash around the plane to stop the baddies – luckily he’s an ex-soldier and in good shape still – while US Vice President, Kathryn Bennett (Glenn Close) does her best to save the day back home.

The idea, Ford’s credible performance and some tense action are the good things here. However, on the down side, a lot of the yarn is very cheesily unbelievable and some of the acting is uncharismatically over the top.

Petersen said: ‘ I read the script and thought it was such a bold American concept. They even turn the President into an action hero.’

Ford added: ‘I could relate to the emotional dimensions of the character and also to the moral questions raised. I also thought that it would be a blockbuster.’ And it was! On an $85 million cost, it grossed $172,650,000 in the US plus another $130 million in the rest of the world.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Film Review 754 derekwinnert.com