Regular readers of my blog (specifically the PAST BLOG APPEARANCES section) will know that early last year I reviewed a film called Olympus Has Fallen, starring Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart and Morgan Freeman, which essentially revolved around the idea of the White House being gutted and invaded by hostile forces. Now, again through the magic of Sky Movies, I have now gotten around to watching its sister film if you like; a film that was released only a few months after and revolves around a very similar basic premise - White House Down.
I described Olympus Has Fallen as Die Hard in the White House. Well then, this would have to be Die Hard in the White House on steroids; very much Die Hard with a Vengeance . Immediate and incredibly blunt differences include a lot more CGI induced effects and sequences, a lot more violent and exaggerated action, though also possibly a few more political thriller elements, and if possible a few more clichés. However I don't really want to get too bogged down with comparisons (however impossible that may seem) as I do feel that, like Olympus Has Fallen (OK, trying to stop now) this film is an all-out action packed popcorn blockbuster in its own right.
So to business - the stars of this show. I have never really been overly fond of Channing Tatum's work. Whilst I do not deny for a moment his ever-growing influence in Hollywood, I have yet to see a film where his performance really blows me away. That being said, White House Down allows him to fit the likable, tough-guy, action-hero persona with ease, and both his character and the film as a whole are still all the better for it.
If Aaron Eckhart was the unsung heroic president of Olympus Has Fallen (OK maybe comparisons are impossible here!) then so too is the incomparable Jamie Foxx in this case. His president may not have gravitated towards the action side of things that much, but in doing so he instead gives us a character of wit, trust, comedy, charisma and massive presence, showing that even in an all out action-er such as this, Foxx can still make heady use of his talent, and do so with apparent ease and fluidity.
Maggie Gyllenhaal, whilst undoubtedly being another star name in the cast rosta, was a bit of a stale dissapointment for me, as she seemed to be the one doing the most to try and attempt moments of hard drama, and falling a bit flat. Whilst not necessarily bad, hers for me was a performance that was distinctly OK at best. Solid performers throughout were still ever-present however, including the ever-dependable Richard Jenkins as a Speaker of the House with a difference, and a surprising yet welcome appearance from House M.D. star Peter Jacobson. A stand out performance by a mile for me came in the form of the film's villainous mastermind, played by the iconic James Woods. Whilst I, along with legions of others, have become accustomed to hearing his vocal talents over the years, it was a while since I had seen James Woods on screen, yet I was reassured and delighted to see that he's still got it, and got it in wonderful, devilish, highly watchable spades.
As I said, the action and indeed the whole plot was a lot more exaggerated I feel than it's White House-invasion predecessor. Though not necessarily a bad thing, this did detract slightly from any realism the film hoped to hint at; you knew from start to finish that this film was in no way based on much that is true to life. Having said that, I must give all credit to what was done, and indeed to what was turned up to 11. In maximizing a lot of elements of this film, such as action, CGI, music, pace, and plot, with not much thought to subtlety but it seems with a lot of thought to the overall effect, director Roland Emmerich has crafted, delivered and unleashed a truly kick-ass film.
Perhaps the timing and release date of White House Down could have been better, but watch it in its own right as I have done a year later and, despite the flaws and perhaps the lack of finesse, you can appreciate it for what it is. I think what it is is a complete thrill ride of a film, totally unapologetic like Olympus Has Fallen, and a guaranteed fun 2 hours watching if you're prepared to just sit back, without critical thought or skepticism, and enjoy the ride.
