Air Force One

While it might not be talked about in the same league as some of the best 1990s action flicks, Air Force One has always held a fairly solid reputation among fans of the genre. Directed by the late Wolfgang Petersen, I first saw this many many years ago and remember it being a fun high-concept action thriller and recently had chance to sit back and see how this holds-up today.

After a frosty visit to Russia where the US President goes against the grain during a speech, he soon finds his plane, Air Force One no less, hijacked by a group of communist radicals. The President manages to avoid capture during a violent shootout but soon finds himself all alone and now must use his wits to save the lives of all onboard, including his wife and daughter. 

Air Force One released in 1997 and runs for two hours, starring Harrison Ford as the President and Gary Oldman as the leader of hijackers. Much like the disaster films of the era, it runs along a well-worn formula complete with a room of greying US generals debating what to do to save the situation. This can often be a thankless subplot to make, as spoofed in Airplane!, but Glenn Close and Philip Baker Hall do their best to lend it some gravitas in what is an enjoyable thriller. I wouldn't call Air Force One an amazing film, it is very straight to the point but Petersen directs it all with precision and ease in his third English speaking feature film. Ford is perfect in the leading role too but it really is Oldman who takes the spotlight as the rising star he was back then who shines as the villain. 

This is very much Die Hard-lite in the best sense possible; it hits all the right notes and Petersen keeps pacing alive throughout the story before the end. It might not be the biggest of action films with effects that will stand the test of time or be cited as being the best for X but it will still satisfy for those in search of several hours of entertainment.