Olympus Has Fallen Review

16th Apr 2013

Good lord is this really what is passing for modern action cinema today?

This one might have fooled a few of the US critics into thinking that this is a high standard of thriller/action – but sadly this “Die hard in the White House” falls apart long before it’s sub-standard climax.

Gerard Butler is a secrect service agent who was once down and cushy with the US President (Aaron Eckhart) and his family, until disaster strikes in a very 90’s action movie kind of way. Now he’s relegated to the outer rim of the secret service, but his instincts are called upon when a group of terrorists take over the white house.

The film is set up well enough. A few no-name actors are bumped off just so we know the terrorists mean business, but do they really think they are fooling us into thinking that Melissa Leo is actually desperate enough in her career to take a role of “Hand Cannon fodder” after winning an Oscar. We doubt it, despite her game performance.

And this is the primary problem for any movie buff is the casting. Now you might think Leo, Morgan Freeman and Angela Bassett are all good actors. And you would be right. But what are they doing in stereotypical “safe” roles that aren’t going to challenge the audience with anything. Freeman has never sounded so “Freeman-esque” monotone. And Bassett, who can normally elevate the woman in power role, is lumbered with some shockingly trite dialogue. We aso expected more from the guy that directed Training Day, but then again he did also do Tears of the Sun.

It’s down then to Gerard butler to impress with a few (and we mean ONLY a few) wise cracks, a few nifty action moves, and that trapped jaw look of someone has who has a mouthful of spinach shoved to the side of their mouth save for later so they can still just about talk.

This is a step up from what the old 80’s action heroes have provided us with this year, but with this and G.I. Joe representing what is meant to be fresh, we’d advise waiting a while longer for more options.