"VANTAGE POINT" - DEJA 'VIEW' OVER AND OVER AGAIN

The attempted assassination of a political figure is seen from several different vantage points in this action packed thriller that will pump your adrenaline. The movie stars Dennis Quaid, who in an interview about his role said, “My dialogue consists of only seventeen lines with most of my acting done on the run in a dangerous speed chase.” I can tell you this; Quaid’s intense character is, most certainly, defined through actions rather than words.

The initial setting is a public plaza in Salamanca Spain (but shot in a vacant lot in Mexico City where they recreated the famous plaza) and involves a conspiracy to assassinate U.S. President Ashton (William Hurt) during a landmark summit against global terrorism. The story unfolds at the scene of the crime and repeatedly backtracks to the same date and time but each time we get to witness the events from a different vantage point.

Initially we are introduced to a CNN-like camera crew led by news director Rex Brooks (Sigourney Weaver) in a nearby trailer as she communicates with her on-the-scene reporter Angie Jones (Zoe Saldana) and cameraman who are set up and ready to report live. Suddenly two shots ring out hitting the President, followed by several bomb blasts that leave Angie and many in the crowd dead or severely injured.

Next our attention moves on to secret service agent Thomas Barnes (Dennis Quaid), whom a year earlier took a bullet meant for our Commander in Chief. After a required and necessary leave of absence he’s back on the job but appears tense and tightly wound, yet quick to react while assigned to accompany and protect the President at this summit.

Before you know it Barnes finds that he is thrust in the middle of a well thought out plot, and in hot pursuit of those responsible for the deadly acts of terrorism becomes engaged in a fierce car race through the crowded city streets. As the action rewinds over and over again, we get to see the point of view from several onlookers including a mother and child that happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time as well as characters that are part of the conspiracy. One of the bystanders is Howard Lewis, an American tourist (Forest Whitaker) with a camcorder roaming through the crowd not realizing that the eye of his camera has focused on important aspects of the unfolding crime. Other integral characters are a local cop (Eduardo Noriega) who suspects his girlfriend (an intriguing Ayelet Zurer) of cheating with a mysterious stranger, and Barnes’ fellow agent Kent Taylor (Matthew Fox).

As each of the character’s paths collide and as their stories are revealed, pieces of the puzzle begin to fall into place and motivations become apparent.

I must say I was sucked into the story with its harrowing chain of lies, betrayal, murder, double crosses, kidnappings and plenty of action. That isn’t to say there are not scenes that demand suspension of belief. In reality, there is no way anyone could survive the impact of a speeding car crushed between a sixteen wheeler and a wall. Needless to say, Quaid, the super hero, walks away with just a small cut on his cheek as if he just tripped on the curb. As they say, only in the movies! Unnecessary were scenes involving the endangered little girl, which are contrived, yet positioned as filler to build additional tension.

Considering those flaws, as an escapist, action packed thriller, Vantage Point still manages to deliver the goods. My interest was perked from the beginning to end and I was constantly kept on the edge of my seat. From my point of view, that says it all.

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