Vantage Point

The idea for Vantage Point had potential. An attempted assassination of the President of the United States (Hurt), at a summit of international leaders to discuss global terrorism, takes place in Salamanca (Spain). The film shows us the same half an hour period through the eyes of different characters; the president himself; the TV producer (Weaver), the tourist (Whitaker), the agents in charge of the presidents detail (Fox and Quaid) and so forth. Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon pioneered this style of filmmaking in 1950 and it has been used in various guises since.

So while not an original idea, surely with a great cast and a big budget we will get a couple of hours of light entertainment. Sadly we spent the end of the film flabbergasted as the plot unfolded, wondering how anyone who read this script actually thought it was a good idea to make this film.

Its shameless that actors of the calibre of Hurt, Quaid and Weaver would sign up for a film like this, though they may longer have the offers they once had. Whitakers participation further proves the Oscar curse where actors careers have a tendency to nose dive after they win the Oscar (see Hillary Swank). But even with a curse in tow, the character he plays and the dialogue he has is truly shocking.

Its not the worst film of all time, the opening half an hour or so is vaguely entertaining. But the longer the film goes on and the plot unravels everything about this film seems to unravel and we are left with actors we once respected sincerely spouting dialogue that is unworthy of the silver screen.