Absolute Power(1997)- User Reviews

Luther Whitney (Clint Eastwood) does not have a social call in mind when he goes to Walter Sullivan's mansion late one fateful night.

The mansion is desserted (the entire household having gone off to Barbados on business),and the wealth is ripe for the picking.

Luther -an experienced burglar- has made his bussiness to know about the vault in the master bedroom (storing about five million dollars worth of Mrs. Sullivan's diamond jewelry), and after disabling a billion dollar security system, makes his way eagerly up the stairs to plunder the invaluable loot.

But as he's stuffing diamond necklaces and tiaras into a sack, a pair of unexpected vistors arrive...and he realizes the coast may not be as clear as he thought.

The visitors are none other than Christy Sullivan (Walter Sullivan's trophy wife), and a gentleman caller we soon find out to be
President of The United States Allen Richmond (Gene Hackman).

Both are drunk, both are in a romantic mood, and as Luther watches powerlessly (from behind a one way mirror in the vault), what at first appears to be a standard randevouz, unfolds into a horryfying series of events which reveal the President to be a woman beater.

When Christy fights back, she gets shot dead by two Agents of the Secret Service, having stabbed the President in the arm with a letter opener.

The two Agents file into the room, along with Chief of Staff Gloria Russell (Judy Davis), and an outrageous cover-up insues.

Bill Burton and Tim Collin (Scott Glenn and Dennis Haysbert respectively) "sanitize the place" while a half drunk Allen recovers, and Gloria comes up with a story involving "poor Christy, coming home early and interrupting a burglary."

The importance of the letter opener is quickly assessed ("Blood...Fingerprints."),and after snatching it out of Tim Collin's hands, Gloria stuffs it in her purse.

Their job over, they turn off the light switch, and exit Sullivan's mansion leaving Luther in shock.

Then we see Gloria rumaging through her purse, and Luther bending over to pick something up, and we see that she's dropped the letter opener...which is now in Luther's possession as he makes a succesful get-away...with the President's minions in hot persuit.

What insues is a unpredictable tale of power and murder, which Clint Eastwood directs -and stars in- with impeccable style and grace.

Ed Harris is terrific as Seth Frank, the puzzled Detective investigating an interrupted burglary killing which is looking less and less like an interrupted burglary killing.

Laura Linney is great as Luther Whitney's estranged daughter Kate, and the relationship between father and daughter is very well portrayed.

Gene Hackman, Judy Davis and Scott Glenn are also excellent, and some of their scenes allow for unexpected humor which makes the story richer, and really lightens things up.

And finally, there's E.G Marshal...
E.G. Marshal's cameo role of Walter Sullivan really crowns the making of this movie.

His portrayal of an obscenely rich man who made all his wealth from nothing, and still managed to keep his integrity is inspiring, and very belivable.

Without him, the audience wouldn't have been able to believe that Luther Whitney would have put his life on the line for a grieving old
multi-millionaire, with a dead trophy wife and a
phony bond with the President.

WITH him however, you buy the plot completely.
And it's a good plot, filled with unexpected nobility in the face of the basest corruption.

I read the book and I must say, this is one of those occasion where I like the movie better, even though I admire the author (and what he was trying to say), and I think Absolute Power is one of his better books.

In the novel, Luther Whitney and Walter Sullivan are both killed. I don't know about you but I like this movie's happy ending...
(And it's a better one).