In the Line of Fire (1993)

Directed by: Wolfgang Petersen | 128 minutes | action, crime, drama, thriller | Actors: Clint Eastwood, John Malkovich, Rene Russo, Dylan McDermott, Gary Cole, Fred Dalton Thompson

The Kennedy assassination continues to haunt security agent Frank Horrigan (Clint Eastwood). According to the code of honor of the profession, he should have taken the bullet for the president, but due to a moment of inattention he failed to do so. Since then, Horrigan has been mainly used to do undercover work. When he investigates a man who threatens the current president, it turns out that the threats must be taken seriously. Then, when this man, Booth (John Malkovich), contacts Horrigan, the cat-and-mouse game can begin.

The premise of the film is relatively simple, but it is the acting that sets the level. Eastwood is excellent as the quintessential conceit who lets nothing and no one lecture him. In particular, the clashes between the fanatic Horrigan and White House chief of staff Harry Sargent (Fred Dalton Thompson), who only cares about the election polls, are strong. But it is Malkovich, who really delivers a brilliant performance as the (almost) psychopathic discarded CIA agent, who wants revenge on the system.

Director Wolfgang Petersen knows how to work out the plot of ‘In the Line of Fire’ in an exciting way. As the viewer sees Booth continue to work out his plan successfully, Horrigan is accused of seeing ghosts by his superiors. After some misjudgments, he even has to leave the security service just before Booth, whose real name is already known, has chosen to strike. In addition to the suspense between cop and murderer, there is also room in the film for a tension of a more amorous nature between Horrigan and his fellow cop Lilly Raines (Rene Russo). While this storyline isn’t the film’s strongest aspect, Russo does a good and believable role as a confident cop.

‘In the Line of Fire’ is an exciting film, which, despite some slow moments, is certainly not boring. It gives a good picture of the pressure of opposing interests that exist within the team that functions around the American president. In addition, the viewer is forced to see the similarities between the agent who goes to great lengths to protect the president’s life and the murderer who does this precisely to end that life. This is well illustrated when Booth in a telephone conversation challenges Horrigan to admit that the resemblance between the two people is actually very strong. Horrigan’s furious response speaks volumes.