Clear and Present Danger (1994)

The third, and arguably best installment in Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan series, this time once again starring Harrison Ford (The Fugitive, Presumed Innocent) as the CIA Deputy Director. This time out, he’s sent to Colombia to deal with a policy against the drug lords after a friend of the president is gunned down by them. It’s a personal war, which Ryan objects to, and threatens to indict everyone high up in the government.

This is an action movie for intelligent and discriminating minds. The acting and directing are excellent, with plenty of political twists and exciting action set pieces. Harrison Ford may be old, but he’s still the best action hero we have working today, giving an intelligence and character to every role he plays. The only trouble is, as with the other two films in this series, it just doesn’t grab me the way it should. But while it may be hollow in its soul, there’s no denying this is the work of consummate professionals putting out their best to make the story work. 

— Preceded by Patriot Games.  Followed by The Sum of All Fears.

Qwipster’s rating: A-

MPAA Rated: PG-13 for some intense action/violence and language
Running Time: 141 min.

Cast: Harrison Ford, Willem Dafoe, Anne Archer, Joaquim de Almeida, Henry Czerny
Director: Phillip Noyce
Screenplay: Donald Stewart, Steven Zaillian, John Milius (Based on the novel by Tom Clancy)