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The Rock 1996 |
Review by Jonathan Cornwell |
Directed by Michael Bay
R, 135 min. (violence, language, sexuality) |
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Starring: Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage, Ed Harris, Michael Biehn, William Forsythe, David Morse, John Spencer, John C. McGinley, Bokeem Woodbine, Vanessa Marcil
Producers: Jerry Bruckheimer, Don Simpson
Screenplay: David Weisberg, Donald S. Cook, Mark Rosner
Cinematography: John Schwartzman
Distributor: Hollywood Pictures
Released: 6/7/96 (Wide) |
Rating:
 (out of ) |
The Rock is the typical Hollywood action film, complete with a hero (in this case two) and insurmountable odds that eventually
will be overcome in a big, dramatic conclusion. Many times, this scenario steers a film quickly into a fiery oblivion, leaving you with
only the ashes of a once promising story. In this case, however, The Rock wins - it has a clever script, decent acting, and
most importantly, a tension-filled climax. At the end of the film, it feels as though you've stepped off a rollercoaster, complete
with post-ride jitters.
A group of Navy SEALS are sent by the U.S. government to retrieve nerve-gas rockets that have been stolen by a renegade
group of soldiers led by General Frank Hummel (Ed Harris), who is holed up in the famed Alcratraz prison. Hummel is outraged that soldiers who have died defending their
country have been ignored by the government or covered up. He threatens to employ the rockets, rendering instant death to
thousands of people, if the government does not pay up (a reimbursement to the soldiers' families). However, he underestimates
the resolve of his band of now mercenaries, and must decide how far he is really willing to go. Meanwhile, Stanley Goodspeed
(Nicholas Cage), a chemical weapons expert, and John Mason (Sean Connery), a military prisoner who once escaped from
Alcratraz, lead the team of SEALS onto the island. The impending chaos and fighting ensues, which culminates in a showdown
between both groups of soldiers, ironically representing the same country.
Much of the fun of the movie is the dialogue and give and take between Connery and Cage, and they do it well. One a battle-tested
spy, the other an office-bound expert, clash before realizing they must work together in order to succeed. Connery's
performance has eerie similarities to his James Bond character, but with a shady background. Cage is noteworthy, but is
outshined by Connery. Ed Harris gives the film's best performance, however, as the angry General who wants redemption
for his fallen soldiers. You see his sympathy and inner strength to make his bluff (releasing the rockets into greater San
Francisco) seem real. Only at the end does he realize his mistake of trusting renegade soldiers, who now work for money and
not a cause.
There are some parts of the film that seem improbable and contrived, but that's to be expected of such a movie. The Rock
delivers on almost every front - plenty of action and fireworks for any guy in the audience, and Sean
Connery still has enough pull to bring along the gals. Not many action films work anymore, but this movie is definitely one
that rewards its audience with exactly what they expect to find in it. It makes for a fun evening at the movies.
© 2000 Jonathan Cornwell
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 | Masterpiece - Film perfection |
 | Excellent - A Must See |
| Good - Highly Recommended |
| Fair - Worth seeing |
| Average - Viewable, but not recommended |
| Below average - View at own risk |
| Poor - Avoid at all costs |
| Very poor - An embarassment to the film industry |
| Zero | Awful - One of the worst films ever made |
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