Lee Eisenberg It's generally safe to assume that most movies starring Clint Eastwood will feature him getting tough on bad guys. Wolfgang Petersen's Academy Award-nominated "In the Line of Fire" doesn't have that to quite the same extent, but you should have a sense of what Clint does. The movie really belongs to John Malkovich as the villain. His character is one nasty but clever son of a b****. Rene Russo didn't get enough screen time, but there is one scene that lets her go all out; nonetheless, I'd like to see her get a lead role.Basically, it's nothing special, but it doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not. Watch for appearances by Fred Thompson (later a senator and presidential candidate), John Heard (the dad in "Home Alone") and the recently deceased John Mahoney, as well as early appearances of Dylan McDermott (of "The Practice" and "American Horror Story"), Tobin Bell (Jigsaw in the Saw franchise) and Joshua Malina (Pres. Siebert on "The Big Bang Theory").

Predrag The teaming up of Clint Eastwood and John Malkovich was the idea of, what can I say, a mad genius! The two along side each other convey a bitter and chilling relationship that keeps you in suspense all throughout the movie. Though I must say Malkovich, as always conveys the most noticeable character and achieves it well as the sick and twisted but clever assassin Mitch Leary, who attempts to ruin the life of the American President's bodyguard - Frank Horrigan (Eastwood). Horrigan is determined to protect the President's life no matter what - even if it means being In The Line of Fire for him, because of his fail at protecting John F. Kennedy's life thirty years before hand. With the odd funny moment and sparks of romance this film is great entertainment for those who like fast, hot action.The movie was very intense and a great cat and mouse game between Eastwood and Malkovich ensues, as the villain taunts our hero Horrigan, of mistakes made in the past. A great supporting cast, Rene Russo, Dylan McDermott, John Mahoney. I really thought the performance by Malkovich richly deserved the best supporting actor for his role as Mitch Leary.. but alas. The script is slightly cheesy with love interests, a last gasp attempt to resolve situations and defying the odds. Though these elements usually ruin pictures, the direction and performances are enough to save the film. The action sequences are well thought out, particularly the roof top chase and the scene in the lift. The fact this film doesn't overdo the action is an added bonus and is kept solid and consistent through Peterson's direction. If you are not a political person then there is no fear as this is none educational, more of an action and dramatic styled refection on past politics. This is a shame however as this could have stepped up the ante of the plot and driven the film on a serious everyday issue but instead was used to build on Frank's personality, his lack of belief in himself, which ultimately leads to a fairly awful and cringing saving ending.Overall rating: 9 out of 10.

fearthebeast360 This film,in my opinion, is up there with dirty harry, Gran Torino and million dollar baby, Eastwood best films hes acted/directed in. I have absolutely no problems with this film whatsoever it is suspenseful, romantic, powerful and never has a dull moment. Obviously its not as good as the likes of Shawshank, the godfather and se7en but still similar to films likes of phone booth, rocky 2 and die hard 4.0 have been hard done by by the the critics.I would highly recommend this film to anyone who really listens to the dialogue and enjoys suspenseful thrillers. Again Eastwood never fails to please me.

seymourblack-1 "In The Line Of Fire" is a real crowd-pleaser that contains plenty of action, suspense and humour but also distinguishes itself from most similar thrillers because of its engaging plot, its well fleshed-out characters and its excellent dialogue. Its greatest asset, however, is its totally deranged villain who plans to assassinate the President. His dual with a tough but vulnerable secret service agent is at the heart of virtually everything that happens and provides the movie with much of its impetus as well as some interesting insights into the psychological preoccupations of the two men.Veteran secret service agent Frank Horrigan (Clint Eastwood) is haunted by the memory of the day in November 1963 when he was guarding President Kennedy but failed to save him from being assassinated. That incident left him doubting whether he had the courage needed to risk his own life to save the President's and the guilt that he'd suffered since led him to drinking too much and suffering the breakdown of his marriage. When he receives a phone call from a man who threatens to kill the President, Horrigan seizes the opportunity to return to the Presidential Protection Detail because doing so could offer him the chance to redeem himself.The potential assassin turns out to be a disillusioned ex-CIA agent called Mitch Leary (John Malkovich) who's very bitter about the way he'd been treated by the government and is seeking to take revenge by killing the President. He's obviously read a great deal about Horrigan's background and sees certain parallels in their experiences. Leary is very cool, clever and cunning and clearly has the ability to carry out his threat. He's also determined and recognises that he has "a rendezvous with death".In his new role, Horrigan starts a relationship with a fellow agent, Lilly Raines (Rene Russo) and also runs into trouble with the Presidential Chief Of Staff, Harry Sargent (Fred Dalton Thompson) who orders him off the Detail when he raises the alarm at one of the President's re-election rallies after mistaking the sound of a bursting balloon for a gun shot. Horrigan then takes matters into his own hands and pursues his quarry until they eventually confront each other in the movie's exciting climax.In a movie which is full of good performances, the contributions of Clint Eastwood and John Malkovich stand out. Frank Horrigan is something of a misfit among his colleagues due to his age, his sexism and his lack of fitness which becomes most apparent when he runs breathlessly alongside the President's car. He knows he's seen as a "borderline burn-out with questionable social skills" but also knows that his instincts are intact and despite being regarded as a dinosaur and being subjected to Leary's mind games, knows he has the experience and confidence to hunt down his adversary.Clint Eastwood, in one of his most subtle performances, strikes the perfect balance in portraying his piano-playing tough guy's interesting combination of strengths and weaknesses and John Malkovich is wonderfully creepy as the dangerous psychopath whose CIA training and brilliant use of disguises make him a formidable threat and just the type of top class villain that this superior thriller deserves.