- Title: The Sentinel
- IMDb: link
Remember when it seemed like every other film was about the President of the United States? What happened to that trend? Oh yeah, Clinton left office. It’s telling when the only time Hollywood looks to the White House for material it’s either damning (see American Dreamz) or focusing on the underlings who make things run. One would think that In the Line of Fire closed the book on Secret Service films, but apparently that was not to be. Are we better off for having reopened the veiled windows of what goes on with the President’s bodyguards once more? Let’s find out, shall we?
Secret Service guard to the First Lady Pete Garrison (Douglas) is a well respected and admired agent who nonetheless has managed to alienate his pal David Breckinridge (Southerland), and keep himself from rising any higher in the organization.
When a colleague is murdered, Garrison crosses paths with Breckinridge and his newest investigator Jill Marin (Eva Longoria who has absolutely nothing do to in this film), as they all attempt to track down the details of a plot against President Ballentine (David Rasche, otherwise known as Sledgehammer).
When suspicious arises that the plot is being abetted by one of the Secret Service’s own, Garrison faces the possibility that his indulgence in a particular executive perk will be exposed, and he’s subsequently set up as a patsy by the unseen force behind the plot. Investigation and chasing ensue.
That’s it, really. The Sentinel is nearly indistinguishable from any number of ‘innocent man on the run’ films, including this year’s entry in the seemingly endless ‘Harrison Ford’s Family Is In Danger’ catalogue, Firewall. Cliched might be too kind a word to bestow upon this rather run of the mill thriller, as you’ve got the hot young gun with something to prove, two old pals torn apart by personal issues yet forced to work together (Will they make up? Oh noes!), the ‘this is your worst nightmare’ speech, and twists that could be figured out by the end of an extended trailer. Folks, this plot is older than cave painting.
Of course, there’s no shame in covering already well-paved roads, as long as you can bring something unique to the table, right? Well, yah, but don’t look to director Clark Johnson to deliver anything especially groundbreaking. Though his work in television has touched a lot of groundbreaking series, his efforts here result in nothing more ambitious than a particularly big budget TV movie. In fact, the only semi-unique touch this film offers is the ridiculous notion that a Secret Service agent (one of the toughest gigs to get EVER) would betray his President. Oh, and a long shot of Eva Longoria’s panted ass, but I’m pretty sure that happens every week on Desperate Housewives.
In the end, The Sentinel is a pretty non-taxing thriller that probably won’t elicit any strong feelings from you. It’s not quite gawdawful to be truly abhorrent, but neither is it remarkable enough to be more than yet another entry into this years so far lackluster film experience.