Absolute Power (1997)

45% of critics liked it
(42 reviews)
52% of users liked it
(31,194 ratings)

In this thriller, an aging cat burglar becomes a crusader embroiled in a deadly cat-and-mouse game involving murder and a government cover-up. Adapted by distinguished scenarist William Goldman from a novel by David Baldacci and featuring a powerful all-star cast, the story works at different… More In this thriller, an aging cat burglar becomes a crusader embroiled in a deadly cat-and-mouse game involving murder and a government cover-up. Adapted by distinguished scenarist William Goldman from a novel by David Baldacci and featuring a powerful all-star cast, the story works at different levels, not only as a straight-forward thriller but also as an insightful look at the love between the old thief and his estranged daughter, a highly successful prosecuting attorney. The trouble begins when ex-con Luther Whitney (Clint Eastwood, who also directed) decides to pull off one last heist before retiring. Just as he finishes looting the vault of a well-fortified mansion, a drunken couple enters the adjoining bedroom apparently eager to start making love. But something goes awry and a violent tussle ensues that abruptly ends when gun-wielding men bust in and shoot down the woman. During the ensuing chaos, Luther slips out. Only later does the audience learn that the would-be lovers were U.S.-President Alan Richmond (Gene Hackman) and Christy Sullivan (Melora Hardin), the young wife of the President's biggest supporter Walter Sullivan (E.G. Marshall). As the investigation and cover-up begins, Luther, who has already been contacted by hard-boiled and suspicious detective Seth Frank (Ed Harris) begins to fear that he will be blamed for the killing and prepares to leave the country. He tries to see his daughter Kate (Laura Linney) to make peace with her for having been absent in prison during most of her life, but she rejects him. Luther goes to the airport, but just before he flies, he sees a press conference in which President Richmond, without so much as a twitch, goes on a tirade concerning his stand against violence. Something inside him snaps and he abruptly decides to stay and fight for justice. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: R, 2 hr. 5 min.
Directed By: Clint Eastwood
Written By: William Goldman
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Action & Adventure

In Theaters: Feb 14, 1997 Wide
On DVD: Jul 8, 1997
Studio: Warner Home Video

Critic Reviews

Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine
The plot is a doomsday version of Bill Clinton's Paula Jones problem, but the theme is impending mortality--settling scores before time's up.
Janet Maslin, New York Times
Mr. Hackman languishes in the smallish role of a White House buffoon, with Judy Davis equally cartoonish as his witchy chief of staff.
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
A first-rate thriller about arrogance at the top, a showdown between two kinds of Americans: the evil, omnipotent bureaucrat and the enterprising, mind-his- own-business loner.
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail
Ultimately, this is a thriller in vain search of credible thrills.
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
Almost a drawing room thriller, unhurried and genteel but enlivened with suspense and surprising bursts of sly, even biting, humor.
Mike Clark, USA Today
Unintentional yuks litter an otherwise somber political thriller adapted from David Baldacci's novel.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...enough twists and turns going for it, and enough humor and suspense, to keep one occupied. Basically, it's a so-so effort from Eastwood. (Blu-ray Edition)
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...Eastwood makes what he can of a nifty, though implausible, what-if idea.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Eastwood films with his usual effortless pace, generating suspense practically out of thin air.
Maitland McDonagh, TV Guide's Movie Guide
One begins to long for a good explosion.
, Film4
Not one of Clint's best, but still better-than-average entertainment.
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
Contrived and dawdling.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Doesn't rank with Eastwood's best work as actor/director, but it's nevertheless solidly enjoyable.
JoBlo, JoBlo's Movie Emporium
A pretty decent suspense movie, until its last half hour or so, which ends on a flaccid note and doesn't generate the needed resolution for the solid build-up that came before.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
For all the suspense the film does generate, the fairly flat climax is a disappointing payoff.
Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness
Dunderheaded fantasy about noble thieves and corrupt commander-in-chiefs.
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews
Good actors elevate this disappointing and lame effort by a respected filmmaker.
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
...suffers from the same pathology as Bridges of Madison County; a weakness of source material.
Dragan Antulov, rec.arts.movies.reviews
The plot and its resolution requires simply too much disbelief to be suspended by the audience...

Read all 19 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Martin S

Okay movie. Didn't really stay focused....so how good could it have been? Typical 90's movie.
Conner R

This is a really fun mystery thriller. If you love Clint Eastwood and the genre, it's practically a shoe in. I really liked the idea of knowing the answers, but not knowing why they were relevant until the story unfolded. Clint Eastwood as a jewel thief is a really interesting… More
This is a really fun mystery thriller. If you love Clint Eastwood and the genre, it's practically a shoe in. I really liked the idea of knowing the answers, but not knowing why they were relevant until the story unfolded. Clint Eastwood as a jewel thief is a really interesting thought. Usually he's on the other side of the law, but it turns out he can play both sides with complete ease. It's also bizarre when Gene Hackman plays evil characters because he does it so well.
Wahida K

CLINT EASTWOOD. I dont need to review on this Movie. OUTSTANDING.
danny d

the first 30 minutes were absolutely brilliant, but the rest of the film went down hill fairly quickly. there were huge holes in the film that were just too much to recover from, but the film was entertaining.
Jason S

I really enjoyed the movie but it seemed more low key than it should have been. We were dealing with massively important people and a situation that is pretty huge but the movie goes the quiet route and the whole thing feels small. I liked all the people involved and they all did… More
I really enjoyed the movie but it seemed more low key than it should have been. We were dealing with massively important people and a situation that is pretty huge but the movie goes the quiet route and the whole thing feels small. I liked all the people involved and they all did good jobs but it seemed like there should have been a little more to it. The ending fell a little flat as well but not enough to kill the enjoyment of what came before.
Lady D

A bit of a hit and miss type film. A pretty slow start, but the general story was fairly good, yet it all seemed a little dragged out.
Derek D

This is the kind of cast that makes you say "Son of a bitch, this is a great cast!". Clint Eastwood is excellent as a career criminal that sees a lady murdered by the Secret Service while messing around with the President. All involved put in top-notch performances with a… More
This is the kind of cast that makes you say "Son of a bitch, this is a great cast!". Clint Eastwood is excellent as a career criminal that sees a lady murdered by the Secret Service while messing around with the President. All involved put in top-notch performances with a very unique story idea.
Candy R

Clint is a highly skilled thief who witnesses a murder while on a job.
Lenny M

Clint Eastwood showing his real self with a voyeur fetish.
xGary X

Faintly ridiculous thriller saved from total mediocrity by a strong cast.
Dean M

Absolutely terrific thriller since <i>In the Line of Fire</i> and Clint Eastwood did great jobs as the star, producer and director in this one of David Baldacci's best novels.
Christopher O

When I heard they were making this into a film I was excited to see it come to life but unfortunately Clint Eastwood alters the plot so he can star in it and direct it and makes other plot alterations which dilutes the novel into a mediorcre thriller. Hackman and Judy Davis are wasted… More
When I heard they were making this into a film I was excited to see it come to life but unfortunately Clint Eastwood alters the plot so he can star in it and direct it and makes other plot alterations which dilutes the novel into a mediorcre thriller. Hackman and Judy Davis are wasted and Ed Harris and Laura Linney just don't click in their roles. The book was deeper and more of a legitimate political thriller, the film version left me confused and unsatified.
Chosen 7

Great suspense thriller. Good performances.
David S

A so-so film from Eastwood. Having read William Goldman's account of writing it in 'Which Lie Did I Tell?' I wasn't expecting great things but there were some nice scenes. I liked the exchange in the gallery between Eastwood and Harris and Glenn's character… More
A so-so film from Eastwood. Having read William Goldman's account of writing it in 'Which Lie Did I Tell?' I wasn't expecting great things but there were some nice scenes. I liked the exchange in the gallery between Eastwood and Harris and Glenn's character was more interesting than I expected. Saying that Hackman has played this role numerous times (most noticably in 'No Way Out') and is nothing special and Eastwood is fine but not at his most engrossing. I kept walking out of the room to get other jobs done during the film which probably says something about something. Ho hum.
John A

'Absolute Power' is the kind of thriller that attempts to explore character relationships yet still provide enough thrills to satisfy an adrenaline-hungry audience; one that includes a potentially smart storyline and interesting characters that work around the plot, rather… More
'Absolute Power' is the kind of thriller that attempts to explore character relationships yet still provide enough thrills to satisfy an adrenaline-hungry audience; one that includes a potentially smart storyline and interesting characters that work around the plot, rather than against it. Unfortunately, this technique hasn't worked as well here as the film thinks it has. The plot is supposed to concern a thief who witnesses the president commit a horrific crime, and how he must find a way to convince others of the truth. Eastwood's mistake is that he becomes so intently focused on the thief's father-daughter relationship he forgets about unwinding the plot; the tension is effectively built, and we desire an enthralling outcome, but it never materialises. Instead a hushed, talky resolution takes it place, and the mid-section of the film seems to forget the whole thing. Dialogue is strangely convoluted too; take for instance "That thief witnessed a murder!" - yes, we know. Later: "Just another open and shut case"...ah, but we know better! Dramatic irony, and all that. Eastwood uses it again and again; "It's not as though he has any evidence" is a line designed so we can shout at the screen "but he does, he does!!!". For a director of Eastwood's calibre, this seems strangely amateur. Several scenes are repetitive and monotonous too, as though no-one could think of anything better to take up time with, and I struggled to believe the president of the most powerful country in the world would have such inept, 'looney-tunes' style bodyguards. The film boasts a great cast and, despite being over-long and lacking in any subtelty, works as an intriguing political thriller. But with such a masterful director, and what can easily be a taut, refreshing plot, it's just not half as intriguing as it ought to be.
Leo L

Great movie!