The Presidio (1988) User Reviews

Murder At The Presidio

[bkoganbing · 5/10 · 11 March 2007]

A Military Policeman investigating what looked like a break-in at the Officer's Club at the Presidio in San Francisco is shot down. The same man also shoots an SFPD officer while fleeing the first crime. This makes the whole thing a dual jurisdiction between the Army and the local law enforcement.

Hard enough normally, but in this situation you have a detective played by Mark Harmon who's a former MP who has a bad history with Sean Connery the provost marshal in charge at the Presidio. Though they hate each other's guts they of necessity have to work together.

Sean Connery is one of those players who just being in a film elevates in class. Without him in the thing this would be just a routine police yarn, might have been good enough for a made for TV film and nothing more. Another conflict in the film is Connery with daughter Meg Ryan who takes an interest in Harmon at first to spite dad, but then finds herself falling for him.

Acting honors in this film go to Jack Warden the retired sergeant major who won a Congressional Medal of Honor saving Connery's life in Vietnam. Warden and Connery keep you interested in the film, in finding out just why the MP and the SFPD officer had to die. Without them, I doubt anyone would care.

Understated movie, better than obvious at first glance

[TallGuy · 6/10 · 7 August 2000]

While this one is no highlight in Sean Connery's or Meg Ryan's career it is better than many people make it be. It's main failing may be that it lacks a certain level of excitement we have come to expect from such films. On the other hand, it arrives at a little bit more depth than most of its contenders - which may have worked against it ...

Enjoyable But Predictable And Unexceptional Military Police Thriller

[ShootingShark · 5/10 · 27 August 2009]

When a military police officer is murdered on the Presidio of San Fransisco, a city detective and a provost marshal must form an uneasy alliance as they investigate the case.

This is a fair thriller with some exciting elements and is slickly made all round from the always watchable Hyams. It's one of his weakest films though, and I think I lay the blame for that mostly in Larry Ferguson's script. It lacks originality - all the elements of the characters and their relationships come from In The Heat Of The Night, Dirty Harry, Lethal Weapon and a hundred other cop movies. Also, and this bothers me about a lot of Hollywood movies, what is the point of the whole daughter romantic interest subplot ? Unless I'm mistaken, this is a film about diamond smugglers and a murder investigation. I don't really see (or care) what that has to do with Connery's inability to communicate with Ryan. I'm also not very taken with the cast here; Harmon is one-note, Ryan pouts and preens in her usual whiny and annoying manner, and the supporting cast aren't very interesting. Connery and Warden fare better, but both are hamstrung by the predictable story. When it's moving though, it's a pretty good flick - what it has going for it are pleasing Frisco locations, a couple of taut chase sequences, good photography and a moody score by Bruce Broughton. There's one scene I really like - Harmon charms some information out of a dispatcher purely by talking about The Grateful Dead; it's quirky, original and unexpected. The problem with this movie is that every scene in Capricorn One or 2010 is like that. A pleasant way to kill some time, but a rather lacklustre thriller. Trivia - Calfa and DiSanti sort of reprise their roles from The Star Chamber.

Preferably for Sean Connery fans

[Ffolkes-3 · 7/10 · 1 March 2018]

I haven't seen "The Presidio" for about a decade, so watching it again recently after so many years was almost like watching it for the first time.

Although it's definitely not a top class thriller, more of a low-key crime drama, the final twist in the tale makes it a decent picture. It's got fantastic setting. Peter Hyams, who apart from directing the film also holds a spot as director of photography, shots exteriors stylishly. The slightly cold colours correspond well with Sean Connery's characterisation as a strict man of principles.

In case of Connery it's always as much about the acting as it is about the looks and he looks really good as an MP officer, mostly wearing regular uniforms, prefferably dark blue. If he hadn't succeeded as 007 he would have definitely made a career as a character actor playing officers.

Mark Harmon takes over as an action man from Connery which is a nice change. The chase scene is quite impressive even by today's standards, well done! On the other hand the fight scene with Connery is also well choreographed.

My only complain would be about Meg Ryan's character. She seems too soft, too childish as for a person rised only by a father, who happens to be a rather tough guy, shy of showing emotions. Somehow her character doesn't convince me at all.

In a nutshell: you'll like the film if you like San Francsico and you'll love it if you like Sean Connery. No more, no less.

Connery fans should dig it.

[Hey_Sweden · 6/10 · 17 January 2016]

A break-in at a military base leads to a murder; the perpetrators' escape causes the death of a cop outside the base, so the case will involve both the San Francisco P.D. and the military police. Former MP Jay Austin (Mark Harmon) is now a detective who will butt heads with his old commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Alan Caldwell (Sean Connery). They'll argue about methodology, and jurisdiction, and other such things, and Jay will naturally fall in lust with Caldwells' conveniently cute daughter Donna (Meg Ryan).

Although there are some good moments for the main actors - Jack Warden also among them, as Caldwells' longtime friend Ross Maclure - this movie is more entertaining during its murder investigation scenes. It IS played awfully straight, with not much in the way of humour, but then, this is more of a serious thriller than the typical buddy-cop action film. It does also have, however, a ridiculous scene that serves no real purpose to the plot other than to show how bad ass Connery is, as he beats up Rick Zumwalt (as a bully in a bar) with his THUMB. Slickly made, with capable direction by Peter Hyams, who again serves as as his own cinematographer (and does a better job of lighting the proceedings than usual). The location work in SF is excellent, fortunately.

The handsome Harmon is passable as our likable good guy protagonist, but he doesn't have much chemistry with either Connery or Ryan. The supporting cast is solid: Mark Blum, Marvin J. McIntyre, Dana Gladstone, the much too briefly seen Jenette Goldstein, Don Calfa (in a quick cameo), John DiSanti, Robert Lesser, Patrick Kilpatrick, etc., but Connery is the principal reason to watch "The Presidio". His effortlessly strong presence lends itself well to the role of a career military man.

This is easy enough to watch, but also easy enough to forget.

Six out of 10.

Exciting action, good acting.

[rmax304823 · 6/10 · 14 April 2005]

In the first few minutes we witness the shooting of a woman who is a stranger to us. This is followed by a car chase through the Presidio and up and down the hills of the city. One of the cars in pursuit runs off the road. The remaining car in pursuit smashes into another vehicle, twirls through the air, and explodes on impact with the pavement. The next scene involves one of those police-station encounters in which a prisoner grabs a gun from one of the cops, and is faced down by the hero while the other police offers stand nonplussed.

Not a promising start, right? We've seen it all before. More than once.

Yet I kind of enjoy this movie and watch it once or twice a year if nothing else is on. The action sequences are well staged even if they're not believable. (Sean Connery, confronted by an ornery Hells Angels type, defeats him in combat while using only one finger.) But Connery is as good as ever, which is to say ultra-reliable and likable. Mark Harmon may not produce celluloid magic but he's likable as well, given that the role isn't especially original. He's an ex football player and it shows. He does at least some of his own physically demanding stunts while chasing a bad guy through Chinatown. He leaps nicely from roof to roof along a row of stalled cars. Meg Ryan is foxy and aggressive and there is a sexy and funny scene between her and Harmon. I've always admired Jack Warden too. Anyone who successfully leaves Newark, New Jersey, behind gets my vote.

The plot. Alas. I hate seeing characters we've learned to truly like turn out in the end to be sneak thieves, even if they are reborn just before they pay their dues. Furthermore, the gospel truth is that I've seen this movie innumerable times and I still can't figure out the deal with the smuggled diamonds. Why the hell do they wind up in jugs of water? Who's kidding whom around here? The direction is competent and the story unfolds without complicating flashbacks or directorial razzle dazzle. The location shooting is admirable. If I were in the army I'd be happy to be stationed at the Presidio, although it IS right on the bay and therefor often foggy. My understanding is that the Presidio will be closed as a military base and made available to the public. I hope things don't change too drastically. A horde of tourists will spoil the currently empty beauty of the place with its manicured lawns and eucalyptus and Washingtonia palms.

Worth seeing as a cool mystery/love/action movie, despite its weaknesses.

The good: great action photography and Sean Connery is excellent, as always. The bad: bland performance by the other leading character whose name I cant even remember.

[imseeg · 6/10 · 1 May 2019]

Quite enjoyable action detective. Acting by Sean Connery is excellent, as always, but the weak link of this movie is the other leading character, who looks like a desk clerk for a hairdressing salon, meaning he looks bland and dandy, with no screen presence whatsoever. This is troubling because this "hairdressers desk clerk" leading actor has to play a character that opposes Sean Connery and there just isnt any real chemistry.

The biggest mistake therefore is made in casting for this movie. They should have cast a more macho kinda actor, like Bruce Willis or James Woods and not some whimp. On Imdb's Trivia section I read that initially Kevin Costner was casted as the other leading role. But to great dismay of Sean Connery (he was furious) another actor replaced Kevin Costner at the last minute.

This movie is still quite enjoyable, although it could have been a lot better with a different actor opposing Sean Connery.

The whole movie is about two macho guys (one military, one police) butting heads against each other while trying to solve a murder case. There is some charming budding romance plot with Meg Ryan to be enjoyed as well, although it stays somewhat superficial and hasnt any real merit to the story.

wasted opportunity

[winner55 · 3/10 · 21 May 2009]

Harmon and Connery turn in decent performances. Meg Ryan is way over the top as spoiled sex-pot provost's daughter. The rest of the cast is only competent, but they aren't being asked to do more. Serviceable location photography of San Francisco, competent editing.

Otherwise this is a completely formulaic buddy-cop action film of the later '80's. Totally predictable plot about diamond smuggling. No complications.

And no sense of humor. The best films of this genre had heavy doses of comedy - 48 Hours, Beverly Hills Cop, Lethal Weapon. If there's anything supposed to be amusing here, I missed it. Instead we get a pretty unbelievable romance taking up that space.

There's also a barroom brawl that has absolutely NOTHING to do with the story whatsoever. Perhaps that was supposed to be amusing. I just felt confused and depressed.

Despite the title, this has very little to do with the famed military base. The film does try to convey a "the Vietnam war is over" salute to the soldiers who fought there, so I guess it gets a point for social conscience. The rest is just a waste of talent, locale, and audience interest.

Great Action-Mystery

[The Peacemaker · 22 May 2000]

Sean Connery fans,this is a must. Mark Harmon fans, this is a must. Meg Ryan fans, this is a must. For: a) Sean Connery fans (of which I am one), watching Scotland's favourite son beat up a bully with his thumb is impossible to miss. He's great as a solder, and acts well (as usual). b) Mark Harmon fans, watching him as a coool detective smirking down a barrel of a gun held by a pretty much insane villain is quite amusing AND c) Meg Ryan fans, though she appears in few scenes, she takes over each one with her wild hair and sexy manner. In other words, see it. It's got an element of mystery and and action, and, in my opinion, it's very well acted. Enjoy.

A film from the last years of the Army Presidio

[SimonJack · 7/10 · 6 December 2013]

This is an enjoyable mystery, crime and action movie, with a good plot. As Lt. Col. Alan Caldwell and Police Detective Jay Austin, Sean Connery and Mark Harman play well off each other, although neither role is outstanding. Meg. Ryan, Jack Warden and the rest of the supporting cast are okay. The script is the weakest part of the film, and seems almost to drag the story along at times. The cinematography is very good, but could have been much better, give the location.

My higher rating for "The Presidio" is because of the film setting, and its historical value in capturing the place and time when the San Francisco Presidio reigned as a renowned Army installation. Many scenes in the film show historical parts of the Presidio then. In 1994, the Presidio was closed as a military base – just six years after this film was made. But thankfully, much of the former Presidio is being preserved as an historical area. In 1996, Congress established a trust to oversee the area. Today much of the Presidio is part of the Golden Gate National Park. Part of the area has a combination of commercial and residential lands with parkland and historical sites maintained by the trust and the National Park Service.

When it closed in 1994, the Presidio was the oldest continuously operated military base in the U.S. Visitors today can enjoy the several historic sites around the Presidio. Its National Cemetery is one of only two cemeteries that remain within the city of San Francisco. And the area has great views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco Bay.

Boring, dumb, and bad

[youaresquishy · 2/10 · 11 August 2007]

I found this film to be really boring, dumb, and bad.

It's billed as a crime film, and despite the fact that a crime occurs in the opening minutes, it's actually primarily not a crime film and is more a film about the father-daughter relationship between Meg Ryan and Sean Connery.

But the crime aspect of the story was dumb, and just what the crime was about was never explained. The crime aspect of the story was clearly just an excuse to have a fight scene in a bar, a car chase scene or two, and some shoot 'em up scenes. It's not at all interesting. There's really no kind of whodunnit stuff if that's the kind of thing you're looking for. None of the criminals' characters are developed at all, if that's the kind of thing you're looking for.

The other non-crime aspects of the story were really what this movie was about, and they were incredibly cheesy. This is basically an incredibly boring and bad cheesefest interspliced with some pointless car chases, fist fights, and shoot 'em up action.

I thought it was poorly cast and badly directed, but, in all fairness, it seems as though it would have been impossible to have made a good film out of this horrid screenplay. The story is just dumb and boring.

Mark Harmon was terrible and is not at all believable as a police officer. Meg Ryan was even worse. Some of her cutesy expressions where she tries to seem like a lost puppy are likely to cause cringing. Meg Ryan appears to be posing for the camera most of the time. Even Sean Connery was a little off at times.

This is truly an example of bad cinema. There are plenty of films that I do not like but can see how various other types of people might well enjoy them. But I can't for the life of me figure out how anyone could see anything of value in this film.

Do yourself a favor and skip this one. There is no need for anyone to see this as far as I can tell. There are at least 1,000 other films that you haven't seen yet that are better than this one, and chances are that seeing almost any other film would be a better use of your time.

Better-than-average thriller

[jhazelett72 · 8/10 · 22 August 2001]

Despite what some people have said about this movie, I must tell you I thoroughly enjoyed it. Sean Connery, as always, gets into his character Lt. Col. Caldwell very well (he should be cast as a military officer more often). Meg Ryan, though limited in screen time, shines as his daughter Donna...they're father-daughter sessions make for some good drama.

Mark Harmon, who for some reason hasn't received many offers to star in big movie roles, plays Jay Austin. He's a cop who used to be an MP at The Presidio, the base at which a murder takes place. Harmon does an excellent job, both as Donna's lover and Caldwell's unwanted partner.

The fact is, the performances are wonderful, the story is fascinating, and the chase scenes create pulse-pounding excitement. If you like action, romance, drama, and a little humor every now and then, I recommend The Presidio.

Meg and Harmon just cut to the chase

[Nazi_Fighter_David · 7/10 · 21 May 2007]

Detective Jay Austin (Mark Harmon) was sure that somebody wanted something badly from the storeroom that night… So he broke in and killed his friend, an MP, Patti Jean Lynch (Jeanette Goldstein) during her routine patrol…

Austin used to be an MP under Lt. Colonel Caldwell's (Sean Connery) command… He thought he could use the Colonel's help avoiding other channels… His instinct tells him that the bullet belongs to someone on the base… What we get here is an investigation involving both the Army and the San Francisco Police Department…

Now, while Caldwell considers Austin a man who has no respect for women and he'll use his daughter (whom he loves too much) to get at him… his friend, Sgt. Maj. Ross Maclure (Jack Warden) knows that Donna is not a little girl anymore, and that her father doesn't want her to grow up…

As a woman in love, Donna (Meg Ryan) knows that her father and Austin don't like each other… So she decides to find out about Austin, and about that incident in the Presidio, where the female MP that was shot to death was with Austin when he busted Colonel Paul Lawrence (Dana Gladstone)…

The investigation takes a turn when Caldwell knew that Arthur Peale (Mark Blum)—a former province adviser to the CIA in Vietnam—owns the Black Mountain Water Company… Slowly, he begins to perceive that there's a piece missing, something worth killing for…

The film carries two car chases in the streets of San Francisco, a good fight in a bar, and a climactic shoot-out in a water bottling plant

Entertaining if forgettable murder mystery

[Tweekums · 5/10 · 13 September 2012]

After an MP is shot and killed on the Presidio Military Base in San Francisco the killers flee into the city; here they kill two more people; this time city cops. Police Officer Jay Austin is put on the case as he used to be an MP who served at the Presidio. That doesn't make things easy for him though as he left the Army after his CO didn't back him when he struck a drunken colonel while arresting him… his old CO is Lt. Col. Alan Caldwell; the man he will have to liaise with if he is to solve the case. As is always the case in such movies they don't get along well at first and it looks like they will get worse when Austin goes out to dinner with the Colonel's daughter Donna. As the investigation proceeds a group of suspects emerges; all of whom served in Vietnam at the same time.

This is a decent enough film but if you removed the unnecessary romance between Austin and Donna and some of the excessive banter the remaining mystery wouldn't sustain a one hour TV show! Sean Connery plays Caldwell the way he plays everybody; which isn't really a bad thing as he is an entertaining scene presence; even though I didn't buy that he'd still have that accent if he moved to the States when he was ten! Mark Harmon was OK as Austin although he has nowhere near the screen presence as Connery. The action scenes were pretty good; especially the opening night time car chase and the final shoot out in the water bottling plant. I wouldn't go out of my way to see this but it passes ninety minutes well enough if it is on TV.

One hell of a love story!

[fibermik · 6 February 2002]

This story looks like other drama/action movies. The story take place at the Presidio (military base) and is nothing new (a criminal investigation inside military lines) but Meg Ryan, Sean Connery, Mark Harmon plays it so well that the thin story becomes a minimum. Though it isn't a complete love story and have a little attention to it, Mark Harmon and Meg Ryan does it very well. She has a complex since her father (Sean Connery) probably spent more time doing the army instead of his wife (her mother). She cannot concentrate her mind on one man for long. Of course he (Mark Harmon) falls in love with her after a few love scenes, and at a party he get furious when she wants to dance with another gentleman. They come apart. This is when I noticed that this movie was about love. At home she have a little fight with her father over the problem, and as a solution to this she goes back to Mark Harmon's apartment where she apologize. When the story reach top and they solve the puzzle the end comes very quickly, but as they walk away hand in hand I feel like something else has been solved. The love between father and daughter, and of course between daughter and her lover (Mark H.).

See for yourself Meg Ryan is made to be a father's darling.

I've known buildings that were easier to talk to than you.

[lastliberal · 7/10 · 21 July 2007]

The role of Provost Marshall at the Presidio was not real stretch for Sean Connery. He just had to continue the role he played in The Untouchables the year before. That is not to say that he wasn't good, but it was a familiar type for him - tough cop and tough father.

This time he was protecting his daughter, played by Meg Ryan in a role that is familiar also, against a San Francisco police detective (and former MP) played by Mark Harmon.

Ryan gave that sweet role that she played in Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail. The cute smile and the girlish manner that we all love; not the raw role we saw in In the Cut.

I am a big fan of Harmon in NCIS and I always enjoyed his earlier roles. he does a good job here as well.

There was plenty of action: car chases, running through the streets of San Francisco, and a final gun battle that ends it all.

I think it's OK!

[grahamsj3 · 7/10 · 14 December 2003]

I like this film better than most of the reviewers, it seems. I thought that Mark Harmon and Sean Connery worked very well together. A then pretty much unknown Meg Ryan shows why she eventually became a superstar. Hers was a relatively minor part in this film, but she did a great job. As I said, Harmon and Connery are symbiosis personified and the film benefits from the interaction between the two. The plot has a surprise ending (at least it surprised me!). This isn't one of those classic films, but it's a good one. I doubt that I'll buy it but I sure may rent it in the future.

functional but not much more

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 14 March 2016]

Two men kill an MP at the Presidio base during a break-in. This leads to a wild chase in San Francisco killing two cops. Police detective Jay Austin (Mark Harmon) is assigned the case. He is forced to deal with MP Lieutenant Colonel Alan Caldwell (Sean Connery). Years before, Caldwell was his commanding officer. He arrested Colonel Paul Lawrence (Dana Gladstone) but Caldwell wouldn't back him. He quited over the incident. Lawrence is again a suspect in the new case. Austin and Caldwell's relationship gets even worst when Austin starts dating Caldwell's daughter Donna (Meg Ryan).

Before Mark Harmon made it on NCIS, he played a variety of roles including cops like this one. This seems set for a great thriller pairing him with a veteran like Connery. Yet this is less than that. Some of it is the fact that their characters don't get along. This is no buddy cop drama. The investigation is forgettable. Meg Ryan is doing a sex kitten thing. Everything is functional but not much more. Nobody is really excelling in this one.

Decent movie

[kosmasp · 6/10 · 5 February 2007]

If you have seen this sort of film before, than you'll foresee things happening. That is not necessarily a bad thing. It's just not a good thing either.

The actors are very good, but also not extraordinary (even Mr. Connery had better performances in other movies). The plot moves in the normal speed as you'd expect and the editing isn't bad either, with the exception of a few scenes, especially near the ending. But that's it, it's nothing really special nor ground-breaking happening. What's left is a decent enough picture that you can watch and enjoy, but the experience will be like the movie: Average!

Weak story ruins potentially interesting concept.

[Boba_Fett1138 · 5/10 · 10 August 2008]

This is not an horrible movie but it's just one of those type of movies that is very formulaic and forgettable to watch.

The movie its weakest element is its writing. The story focuses more on the personal and relational aspects of the characters rather than on the actual thriller plot-line of the movie. The movie often becomes just uninteresting because of that. But on top of that, the actual thriller plot-line of the movie also isn't exactly anything renewing or spectacular. It's quite weak honestly, as mostly shows in the end.

It also doesn't feature exactly the most credible story. The two main characters in the movie, played by Mark Harmon and Sean Connery don't like each other from the start and they actually also share a long history of not liking each other but nevertheless they decide to team up with each other, without being forced to do so.

Not really the director's fault though. As a matter of fact, Peter Hyams is a quite underrated director. Yes OK so most of his latest works such as "A Sound of Thunder" is horrible but he also directed "Capricorn One", "2010" and "Sudden Death", which are all kind of underrated movies within their genre. It is unlikely though that he will ever make a movie like this again, since I don't think a lot of studios are still willing to give Peter Hyams a go with a big movie production, considering all of the box office bombs he directed the last couple of years. His latest movie that is currently in production, "Beyond a Reasonable Doubt" will probably also not become a success I would suspect. Sure it stars Michael Douglas but lets also be honest here, Michael Douglas hasn't starred in anything decent ever since the 2000 movie "Traffic".

In this movie it's mostly notable that Peter Hayms started his directing career in the '70's. This movie features some very typical '70's thriller elements. Most notably are its chases. This movie features some real good chase sequences. Also some good old fashioned foot chases. You don't need fast cars, explosions and fancy editing to make a good chase sequence, as this movie shows. Sometimes I really miss some good old fashioned foot chases in most recent productions.

It's also of course nice that the movie features some good and well known actors but it's not like they can uplift the movie to a much higher level. The script is too simplistic, unoriginal and restrained for that. A waste of Sean Connery's and Meg Ryan's talent you could say. Funny thing is that Mark Harmon more or less later would play the same type of role in the hit-series "Navy NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service".

The movie is basically one big waste of a potentially good and interesting concept but the story unfortunately picks some uninteresting approaches to it. The main concept gets for instance much better handled in the Columbo movie "Columbo: By Dawn's Early Light". Not that this movie is completely horrible, it's just so very standard and forgettable all.

5/10

http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

Far from fame and brilliance, this movie guarantees good entertainment.

[filipemanuelneto · 6/10 · 29 November 2017]

Although its an old movie (we're basically the same age) I still did not know it. The plot is based on an homicide investigation at the Presidio Military Base in San Francisco, by a police officer and the commander of the local Military Police. Both have a past of great differences but things get worse when the cop begins to date the military's daughter against her father's will.

This film is, therefore, a thriller with an interesting story but far from being exceptional or brilliant. Sean Connery is, as usual, charm and elegance. I think he's one of the best actors of the late twentieth century. Flawless in his role, he didn't disappoint in this film. Meg Ryan also got rid of her task competently and gave the public a great performance. Mark Harmon is less known in the movies because he has turned his career to television, but was very well in his role.

This movie is far from famous and may have great difficulty in winning the test of time. However, despite the lack of originality and the feeling that it's very close to television movies, it has an interesting story and, above all, an excellent cast, providing us some pleasant entertainment.

A predictable hackneyed detective drama better left to television

[wgranger · 5/10 · 30 October 2006]

This movie has all the makings of a grade B TV police show except for some exceptional actors in the form of Sean Connery, Meg Ryan, Mark Harmon and Jack Weston, who do an excellent job bringing some belief to their roles. In fact this is my number one complaint about the movie: unbelievability. I can accept the basic premise of two characters who dislike each other being forced to work together to solve a crime. That one of them has a beautiful daughter in the form of Meg Ryan starts the ball of disbelief rolling. Meg forces Mark Harmon to chase her in a classic Corvette convertible, driving like a maniac. Who would treat a classic car that way? When the men begin to work together, we hear such original lines as "you can ride along with me if you like" and "Why don't we stop for some coffee?" Yeah, right, two guys who really hate each other. (Was there a strike of the Writer's Guild during this movie?) But there's more: The officer who caused the falling out between the lead characters just happens to be a major suspect now and bad guy. The Medal of Honor character (Jack Weston) who is the best friend of Sean Connery turns out to be a bad guy, but finds his conscience in the end. Jay Austin (Mark Harmon) goes from MP to SFPD detective. (What a meteoric rise.) And he just happens to be uninvolved with any other female when he meets Meg Ryan. (Well, I guess this is San Francisco.) Even the underlying plot begs belief. The murder of the female MP was caused by the diamond smuggler leaving the diamonds at the Presidio's Officer Club, then breaking in at night to retrieve them. However, the water bottle that held the diamonds had a special holder. How could one be so careless? Did the MP really have to die in the first place?

Great Chase Scenes Highlight an Engrossing Film

[fredmaharry · 9/10 · 20 December 2005]

I would be giving this film a 10 out of 10 if it weren't for the relative letdown of the ending which does not quite resonate the way it should have.

But this small disappointment does nothing to erase the first hour of the film which brims with great characterization, great acting and great direction.

Peter Hyams chose to pace his film with two great chase scenes which are so well directed, they should be studied by younger filmmakers who think fast cutting and CGI somehow makes action scenes exciting.

Shot with long takes and real stunts, the car chase is a model of great action directing that takes your breath away even after the tenth viewing. As for the foot chase scene, it is so well-paced (kudos to Hyams' editor Jim Mitchell) that you can still see everything in spite of the frenetic action (again a craft that is totally lost in most of today's disappointing action films) Extra tip of the hat should also go to Bruce Broughton for his inspired and powerful score.

Needs 15 or 20 mins more of a movie.

[nathansoltis · 6/10 · 2 January 2023]

I think this movie had the potential to be really good if it had just a few more scenes to build up the characters and story. The love aspect of the movie isn't developed enough for them to be believably in love. A lot of the first half is rushed to me. I really feel this movie was 15 to 20 mins extra film time away from being a 7 to 8 star film. Action was good. The actors played their parts well. The last 20 mins of the film saved it from being a 5 star film. If only they would of gone deeper on a few things. Like developing the love relationship in the film more. Allowing the friction between the main characters investigating the case last a little longer. Maybe a scene or two more dealing with the investigation.

Not a bad watch. Just missing the few pieces that would turn this film into a great film.

Deadly

[Davalon-Davalon · 1/10 · 13 November 2006]

This has to rate as one of the worst films of all time. Not even the great Sean Connery can save it.

This rambling mess tries to combine some bizarre smuggling gang, a murder, old soldiers, a cop with a chip on his shoulder, and an angry, oversexed woman.

The lines are all leaden with clichés, the forced animosity between Mark Harmon and Sean Connery as cop and soldier is just that, forced. The "animal attraction" between Meg Ryan (yes, her eyes are beautiful and so is her hair) and Mark Harmon is totally fabricated, and there is not one minute of this mess that is remotely believable.

Every five minutes the "movie" is going off in a different direction, and you're like, "Huh? What? Why? Where? Who?" On top of the plot less plot, most of the scenes are shot from a distance without any sense of drama, intrigue, nothing. There was an explosion at some point in the film that got a rise out of me, but that was about 75 minutes into it.

Do not waste 90 minutes of your life watching this unintended joke fest unless you enjoy laughing at bad movies (because that's the only enjoyment you'll get out of this).

Anyway, this was a sad excuse for a movie.