Under the lens takes a deep look at films by focusing in on one or two particular areas of the picture that helped to define it for better or for worse. Spoilers will be included in this review.
Executive Decision: Is a 1996 thriller starring Kurt Russell, Steven Seagal, and Halle Berry, directed by Stuart Baird. It follows the story of an airliner that has been hijacked by terrorists who have turned the plane into a nerve gas bomb that could wipe out the eastern seaboard. Russell plays David Grant, who along with a spec ops team must use a high tech airplane to board the hijacked plane midair.
Under The Lens: Originality and Pacing
Originality: Executive Decision, takes a very basic plot of a highjacked airliner and puts a very original twist to it. Taking the warn story and turning it into a hide and seek adventure. There is little to no action aside from the beginning and end, yet the picture is a thrilling ride from first to the last scene, unlike other thrillers we get to know the characters over the course of the picture, for example, we see the relationship between two airline stewardesses. This relationship pays off when we see one of them murdered, we feel for them because we were introduced to them and got a few tidbits of their lives. Weirdly the only character we learn little about is David Grant himself, we know he is learning to be a pilot and runs a think tank. However that is about it, he is very much the mysterious stranger.
Pacing: This picture sought to bring realism to the script by making the shoot outs frantic and fast. In the climax, the terrorists are all dispatched rather quickly. While the picture is lite on the action, it is heavy on tension and never lets up. It is very much a hide and seek quest as the heroes must find a remote detonator before it can be set off. the pacing is one we don’t see that often in modern thrillers. It’s not wall to wall action, but slow-burn build-up.
Highlights
Kurt Russell was great as a very Jack Ryan like figure, I found myself curious about what a series of pictures starring him as Grant would have looked like.
It was also refreshing to see Halle Berry play a female character that was brave and existed for reasons besides being a love interest.
The practical modal effects were a lot of fun and make the picture age well.
Something to think about
Do you like practical modal effects in action pictures? Or do you prefer CGI?
Conclusion
Executive Decision is a mostly forgotten thriller, that is now available on streaming, it is a fun and well put together action picture that is well worth the time. It does suffer from some lack of character development, but more then makes up for it with its thrills and practical effects.