An interesting but flawed film that best serves as a PRE 9-11 view of terrorism in the United States, 1998's THE SIEGE provides a glimpse of how we viewed potential terrorism at home three years before NYC was attacked.
After an extremist Muslim religious leader is kidnapped by US forces, New York City suffers increasing terrorist attacks in retaliation.
As the control of the city slips into military law and everyone's freedom is tested, the film depicts some new laws that make the real life freedom act look like a parking ticket.
Denzel Washington is Hub, the head of the FBI's counter-terrorism unit and Annette Bening is CIA operative Elise Kraft. They play off each other well and the politics of the rapidly changing landscape of NYC are well navigated by both.
Bruce Willis is one-note as the General who takes over control of Manhattan.
It's haunting to see the twin towers in the background as the terror attacks swirl around the city. The film has some important things to say about the curse of being politically correct as very bad people who don't play by the same rules try to kill you and your family.
Post 9-11, some of the film seems off target and overly dramatic. It wanders a bit in the last half. Anytime Denzel isn't on screen, the film is worse for it.
Director Edward Zwick has made much better films (Glory, The Last Samurai) but he manages to get some decent points across and keep you entertained amid the preachier bits.
We'll give this siege a C.
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