The Sentinel (2006)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Clark Johnson

Writers (WGA):

George Nolfi (screenplay)
Gerald Petievich (novel)

Release Date:

21 April 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

Let's do this

Plot:

A secret service agent is framed as the mole in an assassination attempt on the president. He must clear his name and foil another assassination attempt while on the run from a relentless FBI agent.

Plot Keywords:

Secret Service | President | Framed | Assassination | On The Run

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Michael Douglas	...	Pete Garrison
Kiefer Sutherland	...	David Breckinridge
Eva Longoria Parker	...	Jill Marin (as Eva Longoria)
Martin Donovan	...	William Montrose
Ritchie Coster	...	The Handler
Kim Basinger	...	1st Lady Sarah Ballentine
Blair Brown	...	National Security Advisor
David Rasche	...	President Ballentine
Kristin Lehman	...	Cindy Breckinridge
Raynor Scheine	...	Walter Xavier
Chuck Shamata	...	Director Overbrook
Paul Calderon	...	Deputy Director Cortes
Clark Johnson	...	Charlie Merriweather (as Clarque Johnson)
Raoul Bhaneja	...	Aziz Hassad
Yanna McIntosh	...	Teddy Vargas

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some intense action violence and a scene of sensuality.

Runtime:

108 min | Philippines:107 min (cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:PG | UK:12A | Malaysia:U | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Finland:K-11 | Germany:12 | Ireland:12A | South Korea:15 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Netherlands:MG6 | Argentina:13 | Sweden:11 | Romania:A.G. | USA:PG-13 (certificate #42418) | Australia:M | Denmark:11 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/Manitoba) | Norway:15 | Canada:PG (British Columbia/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | France:U

Filming Locations:

Chesapeake Bay Bridge, Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

In the behind-the-scenes featurette, the Secret Service consultant for the movie stated that 'Eva Longoria' far surpassed the other actors in "shooting school". In fact, he remarked that her score would beat about 90% of members of the Secret Service. Longoria mentioned that when she was younger she often accompanied her father to the gun range, so being around and handling guns wasn't new to her.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the first shot when the presidential helicopter "Marine One" gets hit by the missile, you see the missile and its smoke trail. In the following shot where the helicopter explodes, the smoke trail of the missile is gone.

Quotes:

1st Lady Sarah Ballentine: [to Agent Breckinridge] Pete Garrison and I are having an affair. Please, have a seat...and that's for you. You know, I don't know all the evidence you have against him, but I do know why he failed the lie detector test. And I know why he was in the coffee shop looking for someone.

Movie Connections:

References Flight of the Phoenix (2004)

Soundtrack:

Bullet and a Target

Great potential ruined by terrible screenplay

"The Sentinel" is an average-at-best action drama that does not come remotely close to reaching its potential. The entire movie feels rushed, with random details about each character's past thrown at you in a poorly-written screenplay. The revelation of the true bad guy in conspiracy films normally elicits at least some form of surprise or intrigue; instead, in "The Sentinel" the character is far too obvious and the scene reveals a tangential and unexplained back story that should instead be much more central to the plot.

The rush to cram details in every fleeting moment ruins this movie. For example, without spoiling the film, the culminating chase of the movie is ruined by a ridiculous proclamation of certain password to get by people; the ridiculousness of the situation takes away from what should be a tense finish.

This review is not meant to be overly disparaging; the film received 5/10 because it is a moderately entertaining summer movie and I did not regret going to see it. However, the skeleton plot seemed to be trying too hard and the characters were not well-utilized. Eva Longoria is very attractive though.