The Rock

Title: The Rock
Rating: 4/5
Genre: Action, Thriller
Starring: Ed Harris, Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage

Since its release this has hit my list as one of the finest examples of an action film dealt in a smart yet full manner. Not limited to the cliché of ‘good vs bad,’ each character has honourable intentions conflicting with each other, resulting in this explosive result. With an array of car chases, comical moments, explosions, tragic deaths, insane psychopathic characters, bloodbaths, good ol’ fashioned shooting and one of the nastiest chemicals imaginable, this is a film that delivers on it all with excellent execution and a high-speed pace not betraying the emotional impact the film intends to convey.

One of the critical aspects in making this emotional impact is the role of General Hummel (Ed Harris), with a determination and conviction his motives are perfectly agreeable, desiring nothing more than justice for those who lost their lives in various conflicts and were denied compensation for their heroic actions, a man who’s claims have gone unheeded, resulting in his desire to take matters into his own hands. Using non-lethal force he steals a number of rockets armed with a deadly poison, as well as a number of hostages inside of Alcatraz – an inescapable ex-prison nicknamed ‘The Rock’ – demanding compensation for their lives under threat of force. His conviction as this character lends a new kind of ‘villain’ to the story, capable of empathising with him and indeed, the resolution did nothing to betray this.

And who better to stop him than the only man to ever escape, John Mason (Sean Connery), an ex-SAS agent locked up indefinitely for discovering government secrets, and an expert in Chemical weapons, Dr. Stan Goodspeed (Nicolas Cage). The balance between the ‘nerd’ and ‘hard-nut,’ was performed well, with both actors playing some of their most convincing characters to date, more than simple minded 2D characters, they have a sense of motive for their actions which lends itself to create more audience involvement.

This film won’t make you re-assess situations, it won’t engage your brain as you decipher complex issues presented, it doesn’t have a moral or underlying point to make, this is still an action film at its core and it’s none the less for it. Some films try to have the pretext that there is a underlying point to their actions, others make unbelievable scenarios with 2D characters just to see how big an explosion they can make, but this film doesn’t fit into either. The underlying point (in particular regarding Hummel’s actions) isn’t drilled home, but rather used an explanation for his behaviour, and it is this that makes this film succeed where so many others fail. Packed with punch-ups, gun battles and witty one-liners this stands as one of the finest examples of what an action film should be.

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