In a cinematic twist of murder-mystery theater, “Vantage Point” invites viewers to actively study the scene of an assassination attempt.
This political thriller presents eight versions of the same perilous event, each story revealing more clues to the riddle, “Who shot the president?”
Dennis Quaid plays Secret Service agent Thomas Barnes, who returns to the job after taking a bullet for the president only a year prior. As soon as the shots ring out in Spain’s Plaza Mayor during a global summit on the war on terrorism, Thomas begins a thrilling hunt for the killers.
Even at 53, Quaid wears the action-hero badge well, with his surprising athleticism complemented by his years of experience in the genre. As he maneuvers his car through the narrow streets of Spain, the gripping chase becomes the film’s most exciting sequence ““ all epic explosions, gun battles and gruesome murders considered.
But Venezuelan actor Edgar Ramirez, last seen in “The Bourne Ultimatum,” steals the scene with his smoldering portrayal of a skilled gunman desperate to ensure his brother’s safety. His role may be minor, but he pulls into the lead as the film’s eye candy.
The ever-impressive Forest Whitaker adds a layer of tenderness to the suspenseful plot as Howard Lewis, a lonely camcorder-toting tourist who captures the afternoon’s startling events on tape. As he represents the everyman, the audience connects with his naively ambitious foray into crime fighting as he jumps headfirst into the action.
Because five more characters relive the same time frame, the film’s potential for becoming a tedious showcase of the use of the rewind button is high. In fact, within the first few cycles, the film seems to be a lengthened version of its trailer.
But soon enough, one character’s insight gives way to a refreshing twist that justifies the predictability of the first half. The film manages to keep the audience engaged by staying unpredictable: each story line jerks the plot in a new direction such that even by the eighth viewing of the incident, the truth is still unfolding.
History may never resolve the mysteries surrounding some of the world’s most studied assassinations, but at least “Vantage Point” creates an opportunity for movie lovers to solve a puzzle with an answer.
-Karen Leano
E-mail Leano at kleano@media.ucla.edu.