Angel Has Fallen- The Movie

I am not a movie person. The last movie I watched was Black Panther.  On Wednesday, September 4, I travelled to Sovereign Center in Liguanea after work.  The movie time was 5:40 pm. and I arrived at about 5:15 pm. My doctor has repeatedly told me that I have three full time jobs, one each for my ageing parents and my paid job as a teacher. Angel Has Fallen is an action packed American suspense thriller. The movie is approximately 2 hours long. The plot surrounds the attempted assassination of the US President Trumbull who is played by well known African American actor Morgan Freeman. Like all Presidents of the United Sates Trumbull is protected by the Secret Service. In the fast moving movie Secret Service agent Mike Banning played by Gerard Butler is framed for plotting with the Russians to have the president killed. Despite having a good relationship with the President, agent Banning hid from his boss the fact that he was suffering from insomnia and migraine headaches. Banning’s wife is much younger and he is the father of an infant daughter. There is not much dialogue with the president and his vice president until close to the end after it was discovered that the second to the president was part of the failed assassination attempt. President Trumbull offered agent Manning the job of director of the Secret Services while on a fishing trip due to the pending retirement of the current holder of the office. However, before agent Banning attended a training camp at a paramilitary company owned by his former army colleague Wade Jennings. Like all presidents Trumbull finds the time to escape Washington to get some relaxation and goes on a fishing expedition.  While on a visit to a rural lake the President and his security detail were attacked by drones in a clearly well planned and orchestrated attack. All eighteen security officers were killed and the president and agent Banning suffered injuries.  The president ended up in a coma and agent Banning remained consciousness shortly after going to the hospital.  At the hospital the vice president was sworn in as interim president by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. After the attacked on the president and his security protection the FBI was called in and an investigation launched. The planted evidence had the DNA of agent Banning in the van which led to his arrest at the hospital.  While being transported to a secure facility for interrogation agent Banning vehicle was attacked by the real instigators of the failed attempt on the life of the president. All the officers were killed and agent Banning was taken out from the vehicle. Agent Banning declared his innocence throughout and decided that he must escaped to find the truth. Agent Banning’s wife stood by his side in believing his innocence.  This of course was breaking news on the news channels and his wife learnt of the incident while she was out.  Jada Pinkett Smith plays agent Helen Thompson an FBI agent in the high stakes suspense. She and along with another FBI agent were eventually killed after she gave agent the benefit of the doubt and travelled by helicopter to the paramilitary company owned by Jennings.  Jada’s character was not believable at times; perhaps this is due to cast stereotyping with which we have associate Jada. Banning and his dad who walked out on the family reunited after the junior Banning reached out to his dad who lived a life as a recluse in the forest of Virginia. The movie has a lot of guns and gun violence which is the centerpiece all throughout. I found the plot unbelievable at certain intervals. Morgan Freeman’s character could have been extended a lot more. Banning’s character is credible and allows the audience to make a connection with him.  The screen writers could have added more suspense as I thought it was too easy to figure out who the bad guys were. The sound track which accompanied the movie makes you want to listen . The movie is entertaining, however, the performances in Angel Has Fallen are far from Oscar winning. I was not wowed by this movie. Those who are fans of suspense and a culture of guns will clearly enjoy movie night.

Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues.

waykam@yahoo.com
@WayneCamo   
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