Film Review: The Sum of All Fears (2002)
These days, when Russophobia appears to be the substitute for official state religion in the West, it is increasingly difficult to imagine times when Russia and United States used to be allies. It is even more difficult to imagine major Hollywood production that would portray such state of affairs in positive light. But, you don’t have venture too much into the past to find such films, at least judging by The Sum of All Fears, 2002 action thriller directed by Phil Alden Robinson.
The film is based on the eponymous 1991 novel by Tom Clancy, part of the cycle about veteran CIA analyst Jack Ryan. It was made after three previous films about same character, played by Alec Baldwin and Harrison Ford, but it also represented a reboot, with Ryan, instead of being veteran, being portrayed as young and relatively newly recruited agent and played by Ben Affleck. The film begins with a prologue set in 1973, during Yom Kippur War, when Israel, during the most critical moment, launches nuclear-armed plane that would disappear with its deadly cargo over the Golan Heights. Many decades later, young Ryan, who is having a relationship with young doctor Cathy Muller (played by Bridget Moynahan), leaves such good impression on CIA director William Cabot (played by Morgan Freeman) that becomes his asssistant. His analytical skills will be used in the right time, because tensions between two nuclear powers are escalating. US administration of President Fowler (played by James Crowell) is appalled by Russian military campaign against rebellious Chechnya, which became increasingly brutal after hardliner Nemerov (played by Ciaran Hinds) became new Russian president. In the meantime, Israeli nuclear bomb is being discovered by Syrian shepherds and sold to South African arms dealer Olson (played by Colm Feore). He sells it to Austrian neo-Nazi leader Dressler (played by Alan Bates), who devised devious plan to camouflage device as Russian, smuggle it into Baltimore and detonate in order to cause nuclear war between Russia and USA that would Nazis to rebuild their empire on the ruins of the world.
The Sum of All Fears was released less than a year since 9/11 attacks and its reception was under the shadow of that traumatic real life event, which both helped and harmed the film. The script by Paul Attanasio and Daniel Pyne had some major alterations to the novel’s plot, mainly by having the neo-Nazis replacing Arab nationalists as main villains (and later leading to accusations of producers’ pandering to “political correctness”). Despite that, the film looked relatively realistic in light of real life events, mainly by portraying well-organised conspiracy able to bring world’s greatest power to their knees through previously unimaginable terrorist atrocity. Despite conspiracy being rather complex and at times confusing to the audience, it was presented in satisfactory fashion and Phil Alden Robinson, director best known for Field of Dreams, did more than decent job in keeping the tight pace, while allowing that the film’s large budget become apparent through number of spectacular scenes.
While some parts of The Sum of All Fears actually had some basis in what was actually going on, namely the co-operation between Russia and USA in the early stages of War on Terror, its final parts turned it into just another Hollywood fantasy. Protagonist was transformed from nerdy analyst into superhero able, while in the devastated city, to uncover international conspiracy and save world from nuclear annihilation by himself. Those clichés might have even worked if not by protagonist being played by utterly bland Ben Affleck. Appearance of equally bland Bridget Moynahan who lacked chemistry with Affleck didn’t help film either. Script rushing to provide some happy ending through reunion of their characters also looked inappropriate after the scenes of utter devastation and carnage that actually dwarfed real life 9/11. Although watchable and at times competently made, The Sum of All Fears failed despite historical circumstances working in its favour. Despite decent box office, Jack Ryan saga wasn’t continued and instead was rebooted twice – as 2014 feature film Shadow Recruit starring Chris Pine and in 2018 as television series Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan starring John Krasinski.
RATING: 4/10 (+)
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