AIR FORCE ONE

This thriller from 1997 has an admittedly ridiculous premise. No, not that a bunch of terrorists could board Air Force One so easily, but that the US President is as young, brave, decent and resourceful as President Marshall is here.

In fact on this viewing the US triumphalism, although not as bad as in 'Independence Day' say, did irk me a tad.

But that aside this is a superior film of its type, with all the working parts in synch.

Harrison Ford and Glenn Close are fine as President and Vice-President but the real standout performance in the acting department is Gary Oldman, who is totally convincing (and scary) as someone so committed to his cause (Mother Russia) that he is prepared to commit any atrocity. 

Director Wolfgang Petersen proves a dab hand at keeping things moving and making the action sequences exciting, aided by Jerry Goldsmith's propulsive and sumptuous score.

The screenwriters do a great job of finding different ways for the President to outwit the bad guys, such as the way he manages to tell the White House to attack Air Force One with a fighter jet, although the business with the red, white and blue wires might be just a little too cute.

Minor disappointments were that we didn’t get to see Dean Stockwell’s Secretary of Defense make a bigger power grab, and that maybe more could have been done with the traitor on board.

It’s also a little odd that Gary Oldman’s demise isn’t the climax of the film.

But these minor quibbles aside, this still stands up as one of my favourite action films.