FIREWALL

Harrison Ford must crack a systematic safe he created, in order to stave his own wife and children’s lives in the thriller, FIREWALL. Ford is Jack Stanfield, a security expert at a high-volume bank. Jack has created a computerized security system designed to prevent illegal money transfers, protecting the bank’s clients from fraud. With knowledge and access to a tremendous amount of money, Jack becomes a target and a means to someone’s greedy aspirations. Jack’s wife and children have been kidnapped, and he must break into the bank’s computerized system, in order to save his loved ones.

The skill displayed by director Richard Loraine and writer Joe Forte is in keeping FIREWALL moving at a quick enough pace, where discrepancies and unlikely events are overshadowed by tense situations and suspenseful moments. The film isn’t a great example of authenticity or plausibility, but it’s constantly shifting script, and the actors’ on-key performances keep FIREWALL exciting and consistently entertaining. Ford and Virginia Madsen, as his wife Beth, convey smart, head-strong and calming presences, enabling their characters to be realistically resourceful and emotionally grounded. The best of the performances comes from Paul Bettany’s Bill. Bettany, who’s last big role came in Loraine’s WIMBLEDON, shows off a side rarely seen from the Brit. In Bill, he’s created a cold, calculating and callous individual capable of almost anything. Due to Bettany’s performance, we’re given more than enough pull to hope the Stanfield family survives.

Grade: B-