The Siege ** (1999, Denzel Washington, Bruce Willis, Annette Bening) – Classic Movie Review 1506

Something’s gone rather horribly wrong with producer-director Edward Zwick’s ambitious 1999 thriller.

Denzel Washington does his usual stalwart job as Anthony ‘Hub’ Hubbard, a special FBI agent in charge of the Counter-Terrorism Task Forcewho has to deal with an Arab campaign of terror on the streets of New York City. But Annette Bening struggles with an unsympathetic part as Elise Kraft aka Sharon Bridger, an undercover CIA operative forced to forge an uneasy alliance with Denzel.

However, it’s Bruce Willis who really gets the dregs of a part as Major General William Devereaux, an army general who must impose military rule in a city out of control. Tony Shalhoub is stalwart as Agent Frank Haddad.

Written by Lawrence Wright, this well-intentioned movie has a few tense scenes and impressive set pieces, but it’s not much fun, and often seems hollow and unconvincing. Roger Deakins’s smart and stylish cinematography is a big asset.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 1506

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