F-0237

Title:

The Peacemaker

Category:

S

Produced:

1997

Country:

USA

Released:

Film: Sep 1997 (USA)
DVD: Dec 1998; Jul 1999; Jul 2003 (2-DVD)
VHS: Sep 1998
Soundtrack: Sep 1997 (CD)

Director:

Mimi Leder

Writer:

Leslie Cockburn (article One Point Safe); Andrew Cockburn (article One Point Safe); Michael Schiffer (screenplay)

Actors:

George Clooney (Lt. Col. Thomas Devoe); Nicole Kidman (Dr. Julia Kelly); Marcel Iures (Dusan Gavrich); Aleksandr Baluyev (General Aleksandr Kodoroff - as Alexander Baluev); Rene Medvesek (Vlado Mirich); Gary Werntz (Terry Hamilton); Randall Batinkoff (Ken); Jim Haynie (General Garnett); Alexander Strobele (Dietrich Schuhmacher); Holt McCallany (Mark Appleton); Michael Boatman (CPN Beach); Joan Copeland (Senator Helen Bevens); Carlos Gómez (Santiago); Armin Mueller-Stahl (Dimitri Vertikoff); Slavko Juraga (Stevo)

Description:

Two trains crash somewhere in Russia, one carrying a nuclear payload. A nuclear explosion follows the crash and the world is on alert... However, White House nuclear expert Dr. Julia Kelly (Nicole Kidman) doesn't think it was an accident... Special Forces Intelligence Officer Colonel Thomas Devoe (George Clooney) doesn't think so either... Together they must unravel a conspiracy that goes from Europe to New York, to stop a terrorist who has no demands... (M. Belanger)

It seems that thrillers these days--even good ones--are all about scene-chewing bad guys, cute retorts fit for the Dennis Miller show, and one big special effect to end the movie. Well, something like The Peacemaker, the first feature film from DreamWorks, puts the record straight. Here is an expertly paced thriller with a sensible villain, smart instead of cute dialogue, and a focus on action instead of special effects. It's not original, just solid. It's the second of these energetic and effective thrillers that writer Michael Schiffer (Crimson Tide) has penned. The White House Nuclear Smuggling Group tracks down 10 stolen nuclear bombs after a suspicious train wreck in Russia. The acting head of the department (Nicole Kidman) and her military field officer (George Clooney) are off to Europe to track down the bombs. Instead of a Gary Oldman-Bruce Dern madman, The Peacemaker's heavy is an unknown Romanian actor (Marcul Iures) playing a Bosnian rebel who works passionately and quietly. This may be a popcorn movie, but it uses the ripe emotions of the Bosnian War to create tension. This is the best film vehicle yet for the overwhelming charisma of George Clooney as a quick witted, generally warm Oliver North type who will seek deadly vengeance without pause. He's matched very well by the professional polish of Nicole Kidman who is showing great flexibility in dividing her roles between serious and fun fare. (Doug Thomas, Amazon.com)

Language:

English, Russian, Serbo-Croatian

TT:

124 min (Film, DVD, VHS) / 258 min (2-DVD)

J.S. Bach's Music:

Fugue (Mvt. 2) from Sonata for solo violin No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001

Format:

Film: Color (Technicolor), DTS / Dolby Digital / SDDS
DVD: (Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Widescreen, NTSC, Region 1) | (Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Widescreen, NTSC, Region 1) | (PAL, Region 2)
2-DVD: (Closed-captioned, Color, Widescreen, NTSC, Region 1)
VHS: (Closed-captioned, Color, THX, NTSC) | (Closed-captioned, Color, Letterboxed, Widescreen, NTSC) | (PAL) | (NTSC)
Soundtrack: CD

Company:

Film: DreamWorks SKG
DVD: Dreamworks Video
VHS: Dreamworks Video Old; Dreamworks; Universal/4 Front Video
Soundtrack: Dreamworks

Comments:

2-DVD Set includes: The Last Castle / The Peacemaker

Watch selections:

Buy movie at:

DVD: Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com [Region 2]
2-DVD: Amazon.com
VHS: Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com [PAL] | Amazon.com
Soundtrack: Amazon.com [CD]

Source/Links: IMDB
Contributor: Aryeh Oron (November 2007)