Olympus Has Fallen: A Patriotic Action Spectacle
After the tragic death of the First Lady in a freak car accident, President’s trusted bodyguard, Mike Banning (Gerard Butler), finds himself relegated to a desk job. However, when a heavily armed North Korean commando unit launches a brazen attack on the White House, Banning, a natural-born soldier, can’t stand idly by. He becomes the last line of defense, the only one capable of saving America from falling into enemy hands.
It’s easy to dismiss Hollywood’s over-the-top action flicks, especially when they involve iconic landmarks being blown to smithereens. However, “Olympus Has Fallen” offers a refreshing, albeit absurd, take on the genre. Imagine a wild concoction of “Salt” meets “Die Hard,” and you’re halfway there. The film’s audacious premise, while far-fetched, is undeniably captivating. The question isn’t whether you believe a group of North Koreans could infiltrate and seize the White House in a matter of minutes, but whether you’re willing to suspend your disbelief and enjoy the ride.
An Ode to American Patriotism
If patriotism could be measured, “Olympus Has Fallen” would rival “Saving Private Ryan.” The true star of the film isn’t Gerard Butler, but the American flag itself. It’s prominently displayed at the beginning and end of the movie, waving proudly in the wind, hanging mournfully riddled with bullets, and dramatically falling from the flagpole after being desecrated by the villains.
Action-Packed Absurdity
With a plot that fits neatly on a movie poster, “Olympus Has Fallen” doesn’t bother with subtlety. Director Antoine Fuqua, known for “Training Day” and “King Arthur,” sets a serious tone from the opening credits. The dramatic score seems to follow the President even to the restroom, while Banning, the disgraced bodyguard, broods over his yogurt.
As you try to decipher whether you’re watching a comedy or an action film, Butler is already smashing skulls with a bust of Lincoln, rendering any questions purely rhetorical. Bullets fly, and the absurdity reaches new heights. Generals arrive at meetings faster than SWAT teams reach the scene, the Washington Monument is hilariously shortened, and the North Koreans infiltrate the White House disguised as… South Koreans. Aaron Eckhart reprises his role as the perpetually captive man in a perfectly knotted tie.
Considering that another White House siege movie is on the horizon, starring Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx, perhaps it’s time to create a separate genre dedicated to White House invasions, bringing together pyrotechnic experts and masters of suspense.
One name that immediately comes to mind is Michael Haneke.