Taking over the role of Batman from Christian Bale wasn't the only time that Ben Affleck faced a lot of controversy in his film career. Back in 2002, Affleck assumed the role of Jack Ryan after a trilogy of films with Harrison Ford in the role.
Affleck is actually quite good as the re-booted young CIA analyst who is thrust into international action when his area of specialty suddenly becomes very topical.
When the President of Russia dies suddenly, a virtual unknown politician that low level Ryan was assigned to learn about, becomes the new Russian leader.
At the same time, terrorists plan to take advantage of the instability between the US and Russia to create all out war.
It's the type of geopolitical thriller that author Jack Clancy does better than anyone. He's upped the stakes this time as well, with a nuclear attack on an NFL game at the center of the plot and real consequences on screen.
Morgan Freeman is CIA Director Cabot, a great support and mentor for Affleck's Ryan.
James Cromwell (The Green Mile, LA Confidential) is the American President, a terrific Philip Baker Hall (Magnolia, Boogie Nights) is a vocal Defense Secretary and Bruce McGill (Lincoln, Animal House) is a National Security Advisor that always escalates the war room.
Like other Clancy thrillers such as "Patriot Games" and "Clear and Present Danger", this edition somehow makes the strategy meetings and political fights as exciting as the massive attacks and military forces.
Director Phil Alden Robinson (Field of Dreams, Band of Brothers) brings a sure hand to the story and brings a writer's eye to the plot, which serves Clancy well.
Listen for another terrific film score by the legendary Jerry Goldsmith, who brings regional flavor to the opening discovery of a lost nuclear weapon in the middle east, while blasting suspense with a full orchestra as the terrorists are tracked down. Goldsmith is fantastic.
Affleck is surprisingly good taking Ryan back to his early career. It's a shame that the just-OK box office of this film derailed further installments with him in the role. The next Ryan flick was the below average "Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit" 12 years later, wasting Chris Pine in an underwritten film that ended up killing the big screen version of Ryan.
I have high hopes for the upcoming new PRIME Series "Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan" with Jon Krasinski in the role.
Until that premieres, I'll put THE SUM OF ALL FEARS near the same league as the earlier Baldwin & Ford incarnations and give it an explosive A-.
I don't know about you, but I never saw that plot point coming in the final act. Explosive indeed.
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