Action packed thriller falls flat
One thing learned from “Vantage Point,” is that in the case of a terrorist attack, Dennis Quaid should be called immediately.
In the new Columbia Pictures thriller, a global summit on the war on terror in Spain goes awry when there is an attempted assassination on the President of the United States. With an all-star cast and an action packed plotline, “Vantage Point” sets the stage for an unpredictable joy ride but ends up stumbling over itself and falling short.
The story is told from eight different points of view and sets out to engage the audience by creating an interactive investigation-like premise. However, the film is simply poorly executed. The first 45 minutes are dedicated to portraying the various perspectives of the assassination by showing, with little disparity, the same scene over and over again. By the time the audience has an idea of what is going on, everyone is tired of seeing the president shot and the Plaza Major in Salmanca, Spain blown-up.
Finally, the truth starts to unravel and the rapid twists and turns keep the audience on the edge of their seats. However, where the film falls flat is in its tidy, happily-ever-after ending. Somehow, amid all the chaos, Dennis Quaid’s character always manages to be in the right place at the right time.
While no one wants to see the terrorists win in any story, especially in today’s international political climate, “Vantage Point” is just a little too cheesy. Sure, some minor characters are killed here and there, but the unrealistic nature of the film’s ending leaves something to be desired.
With a cast including Forrest Whitaker, Matthew Fox, Dennis Quaid and Sigourney Weaver, one would expect a lot more from this film. It sets out to take risks but never actually ends up taking them, and leaves the world with no greater message or meaning.
You can contact Campus Press Staff Writer Emma Dessau at emma.dessau@colorado.edu
