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Although Dennis Quaid never quite became the megastar some had predicted after his incredible portrayal of Jerry Lee Lewis in "Great Balls of Fire" almost 20 years ago, he has aged gracefully and, at 53, continues to work steadily. Although Quaid is not the only star in "Vantage Point," his presence adds a certain glamour, for lack of a better word.
"Vantage Point" moves fast, involves the audience and continuously entertains with unexpected plot twists and genuinely touching moments. It is framed "Rashomon-style," in which we see the attempted assassination of the president from a number of different viewpoints. Although the approach is intriguing, it comes close to bogging down the movie more than helping. However, the film is so deliriously entertaining, it offsets any discomfort caused by motion sickness when the clock rewinds, again, to examine another viewpoint.
Quaid plays Thomas Barnes, a Secret Service agent who has just returned to active duty after taking a bullet for the president (William Hurt). The president is attending a summit in Salamanca, Spain, on global terrorism when another assassination attempt occurs, as well as an explosion. Chaos erupts as the various players cross paths in unexpected ways.
The movie successfully combines different sensibilities to make an entertaining, thoughtful thriller. At various times it is reminiscent of "Crash," "Babel" and other movies exploring multiple, intertwining narratives. At other times, it reminded me of the "Bourne" trilogy in that it provides unforgettable thrills that may show violence while not relying on it.
Although "Vantage Point" is primarily an ensemble piece, Quaid still manages to impose his quiet authority as a decent man who wants to make things right. The acting is superb, but last year’s Best Actor Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker stands out as a videotaping tourist who gets more than a T-shirt souvenir.
Watching "Vantage Point" I felt like I was having my cinematic cake and eating it, too. It entertains on all levels — viscerally, emotionally and intellectually. "Vantage Point" is a smart, exciting thriller worth the price of admission and then some.
Vantage Point
PG-13
Three reels out of four
In area theaters tomorrow
The Darjeeling Limited
R
Available Tuesday
Wes Anderson has made one movie every three years since his breakthrough "Rushmore" in 1998. In "The Darjeeling Limited," Anderson explores territory similar to his touching, loopy "The Royal Tenenbaums." Adrien Brody, Jason Schwartzman and Owen Wilson (Anderson’s frequent writing partner) play brothers who travel to India to find their estranged mom, but end up finding themselves.
