review: IN THE LINE OF FIRE (Blu-ray)

Sony  //  Buy from Amazon.com In the Line of Fire showcases Clint Eastwood at his finest. In a performance that won universal acclaim, Eastwood stars as Frank Horrigan, a veteran Secret Service agent haunted by his failure to protect John F. Kennedy from assassination. Thirty years later, he gets a chance to redeem himself when a brilliant psychopath threatens to kill the current president and take Horrigan with him. Taunting him by phone and tantalizing him with clues, the assassin (John Malkovich) lures Horrigan into an electrifying battle of wits and will that only one man can survive. I love Clint Eastwood films from the 90s - "In the Line of Fire," "Absolute Power" and "The Unforgiven" are 3 truly excellent films that all showcase Eastwood's ability to draw the viewer in via subtlety and story rather than overt action or hammy acting. This particular film is an exceptionally well-crafted story, with a powerful mix of storytelling, acting and truly superb cinematography, all rolled together into a great film. The director manages to play the audience like a finely-tuned violon, plucking the emotional and intellectual strings like a true maestro, pulling us into the story in expert fashion. Just a fantastic film, with an excellent cast - this is one I can watch repeatedly every year and never tire of. Video Despite being 15 years old, this film looks rock solid on high def Blu-ray. Presented in a 2.40:1 widescreen transfer, this is a great looking release with sharp detail and rich coloring throughout. Audio The Dolby TrueHD surround mix is also excellent, with crystal-clear dialogue and immersive sound effects that will tickle your eardrums. Extras audio commentary w/ director 4 featurettes (counterfeiting tactics, Secret Service, Secret Service in the film, special effects) talent files trailers & tv spots Closing Thoughts Truly excellent dramatic action + decent extras = great film finally available in high def!