“Vantage Point”

   We needed to get out of the house yesterday, so on a whim checked out what was on at our local cinema.  The timing was such that “Vantage Point” was the next available movie, it looked interesting, so we saw it.

Wow.

The premise is that the President of the U. S. is attending a very public conference on terrorism in Spain, and gets shot.  In movie time, the story covers about 45 minutes of the event.  BUT, you see that time frame from the vantage point of eight different people: A Secret Service agent (Dennis Quaid), a news executive (Sigourney Weaver), the President (William Hurt), a U.S. tourist (Forest Whitaker), a Spanish police officer, and three terrorists.  And you see those vantage points one at a time (mostly), so there are repeats of events, but seen as the character sees them. 

While I don’t think there will be any Academy Awards out of this movie, for its type it is very well done.   Tension and plot builds quickly and continuously, and believe me when I tell you that you’d better not sneak out to the bathroom during this one.  Without spoiling the plot for you, I can say the President acts like I wish the President of the U.S. would act.  If you do go see it, give some thought afterward to who were heroes in this story.    I count three.

“Vantage Point” has a PG-13 rating (for things like violence and intense action) and runs 90 minutes.    I give it a 4. 

Tags: asassination, terrorism