THE SUM OF ALL FEARS (2002)

MORGAN'S RATING

European neo-Nazi terrorists get their hands on a lost nuclear device, and set about on their plans to use it at the Super Bowl. The plan is to disguise the attack as being caused by Russia, in the hopes of rekindling the Cold War. Luckily, young CIA anaylst Jack Ryan is on the cast...in the fourth action-packed thriller featuring the Jack Ryan character from Tom Clancy's novels.

Ben Affleck (Jack Ryan), Morgan Freeman (Bill Cabot), James Cromwell (President Robert Fowler), Liev Schreiber (John Clark), Bridget Moynahan (Dr. Cathy Miller), Alan Bates (Dressler), Ciaran Hinds (President Alexandra Nemerov), Philip Baker Hall (Defense Secretary Becker), Ron Rifkin (Secretary of State Owens), Bruce McGill (National Security Advisor Revell), Colm Feore (Olson), Joseg Sommer (Senator Jessup), Ian Mongrain (Syrian Radar Operator), Russell Bobbitt (Israeli Pilot), Ken Jenkins (Admiral Pollack), John Beasley (Lasseter), Al Vandecruys (US Stratecom Colonel), Richard Cohee (Mt. Weather General), Philip Pretten (President's Military Aide), Alison Darcy (Fowler's Aide), Richard Marner (President Zorkin),  Dale Godboldo (Rudy), Lee Garlington (Mary Pat Foley), Jamie Harrold (Dillon), Sven-Ole Thorsen (Haft).

27,000 NUCLEAR WEAPONS. ONE IS MISSING.

PRODUCTION INFORMATION

DIRECTOR: Phil Alden Robinson. WRITERS: Paul Attanasio and Daniel Pyne, and based on the novel by Tom Clancy. PRODUCER: Mace Neufeld. EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Tom Clancy and Stratton Leopold. ORIGINAL MUSIC: Jerry Goldsmith.  DISTRIBUTOR: Paramount Pictures.

QUOTES

[Jack's giving a quick briefing using a PDA] John Clark: I need to get one of those. I don't even have E-mail.

Bill Cabot: When I asked you for your advice, I didn't mean for you to actually speak.

[just before he falls over dead] Zorkin: I am to be described as "robust" and "healthy".

[After an unpleasant silence] President Nemerov: [The Jack Ryan] I like you. Bill Cabot: In that case, so do I.

FACTS

[In a Nuclear Arms depot in Russia, during an inspection] Bill Cabot: What's that man's T-shirt say? Depot Worker: Oh...I am a bomb technician, if you see me running, try to catch up!

RELEASE DATE: May 31st, 2002 (USA) DVD RELEASE DATE: October 29th, 2002 (USA) BOX OFFICE OPENING: $31.1 million (USA) BOX OFFICE RESULT: $118.4 million (USA) BUDGET: $68 million (USA) SHOOTING DATES: February 2001 -- June 2001 - Ben Affleck is the third actor to portray Jack Ryan. Affleck's predecessors are Alec Baldwin and Harrison Ford. - The interior of the Baltimore Forum is really Montreal's Parc Olympique. The Chicago Rockets and Alabama Gators were played by the Montreal Alouettes and TorontoArgonauts respectively. - In the Tom Clancy novel "The Sum of All Fears," there is no bomb blast in Chechnya -- it was made up for the movie. Also, there is no Dr. Rita Russell. However, there is a Dr. Elizabeth Elliot. - The movie changed the villains from Islamic extremists (in the novel) to Neo-Nazis. - Morgan Freeman plays a ranking member of James Cromwell's Presidental administration. In Deep Impact (1998), the roles are reversed. - The U.S. aircraft carrier shown in the movie is CVN-74, the U.S.S. John C. Stennis, identified by the large white "74" on the side of the ship. - When Jack Ryan is paged while in bed, the number he is told to call is 555-1034, the same number used by Marla Singer in Fight Club (1999). - It is rumored that Matt Damon had a cameo as a waiter, but it was cut.

Jack Ryan: I can't go on a mission. I only write reports. John Clark: Then write a report about it.

Cabot: Are you Ryan? Jack Ryan: Yes, sir. Cabot: What is this? A paper chase? Jack Ryan: Sir, my ah- Cabot: Well come on, were late.

Bill Cabot: You're about to breathe air that's way over your pay grade so listen up. You're going to be asked for analysis and advice, so be God damn sure you know what you're talking about before you give it. Don't be afraid to say you don't know. Choose your words carefully, words have a habit of being turned into policy.

Jack Ryan: Look, the President is basing his decisions on some pretty bad information and if you shut me out, your family, my family, and twenty million other families will be dead, in thirty minutes! [pause] My orders are to get the right information to the people who make the decisions. I just need to send some information.

Dressler: People call Hitler crazy. He wasn't crazy, just stupid. You don't try to fight Russia and America; you get Russia and America to fight each other.

John Clark: Shoot him, Ryan. Shoot him before he figures out what I'm saying.

Bill Cabot: How's your Russian? John Clark: Still works. Why?

CRITICAL COMMENTS

"The Sum of All Fears is almost impossible to follow -- and there's something cringe-inducing about seeing an American football stadium nuked as pop entertainment." -- Richard Roeper, Ebert and Roeper

"Absorbing and disturbing -- perhaps more disturbing than originally intended -- but a little clarity would have gone a long way." -- Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

"Plays like a cheesy '80s TV movie." -- Lou Lumenick, New York Post