Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #29640 in DVD
• Released on: 1998-12-08
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English, French
• Subtitled in: Spanish
• Dubbed in: Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 124 minutes

Amazon.com
It seems that thrillers these days--even good ones--are all about scene-chewing bad guys, cute retorts fit for the Dennis Miller show, and one big special effect to end the movie. Well, something like The Peacemaker, the first feature film from DreamWorks, puts the record straight. Here is an expertly paced thriller with a sensible villain, smart instead of cute dialogue, and a focus on action instead of special effects. It's not original, just solid. It's the second of these energetic and effective thrillers that writer Michael Schiffer (Crimson Tide) has penned. The White House Nuclear Smuggling Group tracks down 10 stolen nuclear bombs after a suspicious train wreck in Russia. The acting head of the department (Nicole Kidman) and her military field officer (George Clooney) are off to Europe to track down the bombs. Instead of a Gary Oldman-Bruce Dern madman, The Peacemaker's heavy is an unknown Romanian actor (Marcul Iures) playing a Bosnian rebel who works passionately and quietly. This may be a popcorn movie, but it uses the ripe emotions of the Bosnian War to create tension. This is the best film vehicle yet for the overwhelming charisma of George Clooney as a quick witted, generally warm Oliver North type who will seek deadly vengeance without pause. He's matched very well by the professional polish of Nicole Kidman who is showing great flexibility in dividing her roles between serious and fun fare. --Doug Thomas

Customer Reviews

Peacemaker
A action movie and then some. Breaking up a terriorist plot. The two people fight off the terriorists. It is a heart pumping movie. Not A "Chick Flick", unless you are into Action Pictures. Car chases,military action,use of guns,etc.

Topical Thriller
1998's "The Peacemaker" capitalized on civil war in the former Yugoslavia and on the threat of nuclear proliferation. It was also an early star vehicle for George Clooney, making the transition from TV to movies and here paired with Nicole Kidman.

"The Peacemaker" opens up with the alleged theft of one or more nuclear weapons from the former Soviet Union. White House nuclear expert Dr. Julia Kelly, played with appropriately cool professionism by Kidman, is quickly on the case. As partner, she is assigned tough-talking Colonel Thomas DeVoe, played with spot-on special operations swagger and competence by Clooney. The two are off to Europe to track down the missing nuclear weapons.

The interrogation of an arms dealer in Austria quickly reveals their differing professional styles. DeVoe, unable to get answers politely, reverts to a coercive interrogation, while Kelly has the presence of mind to mine the arms dealer's computer for information. Kelly and DeVoe manage to bond while surviving a thrilling car chase.

The balance of the movie is a series of exciting action sequences as Kelly and DeVoe close in on a missing nuclear weapon, now in the hands of a terrorist who intends to use it inside the United States. The finale involves a chase through the streets of New York City, including a nail-biting improvised act of bomb-deactivation.

Clooney and Kidman are entirely credible as two professionals who generate a romantic attachment despite their differing operating styles. The movie, if not original, is well-executed while staying within the bounds of a reasonably plausible storyline. The villian of the piece is actually sympathetic in his motivation; the conclusion avoids easy answers.

This movie is highly recommended as an entertaining thriller featuring two compatible leading actors in a still topical storyline.

Boring
whoa peoples, just wayyyy too much talky talk in this thing. Oh sure we get some occasional broken noses and a few shootouts, but really this is a bore. Over an hour of watching Clooney, or Clowny whatever, walk around debating with Kidman's character about some nuclear mayhem half a world away. Yeah just blah blah blah-dee blah blah over and over again till I about feel asleep. C'mon, in a situation like this talk is cheap and actions as they say, speak louder than words. Oh sure people will chime in now saying well that is what they were trying to do, to come to a safe conclusion. Whatever, really Syriana he was much better in that. This is just a waste of time because most of it is talk talk blah blah. Not as bad as that movie with Jason Bourne called "The Good Shepherd" that was oh my goodness Henry dear a sleeper of a snoozer. Clooney does not look good in a military uniform at all, he looked uncomfortable and was sweating a lot. With great power comes great responsibility as they say in Spider Man, so maybe he would have been better off with a cameo role as a limo driver, or better yet...a waiter!