Film Review: The Siege

The Siege begins in grand style with Denzel’s character, Anthony "Hub" Hubbard as a FBI terrorist specialist in charge of the New York boroughs responsible for tracking down an Arab militia group that planted a paint bomb on a city bus. The intrigue builds from there with the introduction of the multi name, multi role Annette Benning as a sort of CIA shadow operator. The terrorist trail is pulled into sharp contrast when a second bus filled with people is blown up while Hub attempts to negotiate with the abductors for the innocent passengers freedom. The scene is heinous, shocking, and completely believable. From there, the rhythm of the film never lets up and the clues and side stories are enough to keep even the best amateur sleuth guessing, wondering, and amazed. This is a realistic action film with a decidedly brutal message that America can no longer consider itself immune to radical acts of random terror.

The story becomes endlessly more complicated when the president unleashes marshal law in the person of General William Devereaux realistically played by Bruce Willis. Denzel Washington and Bruce Willis both deliver electrifying performances that will leave you wondering who is right and who is wrong on the same side of right. Confused? Good. See the film and you’ll know what I mean. The Siege conjures up more racism against Arabs than the sneak attack of Pearl Harbor did against Japanese-Americans during World War II. There is actually a round up and interment detention of all Arabs fitting a certain profile and ironically, Denzel’s partner at the FBI, Frank Haddad, has his own son detained. The anger Haddad demonstrates is crisply adequate and the emotion he makes you feel is near Oscar performance level. I say this because any actor can act, but few can make you feel an emotion of empathy laced with justifiable frustration, bitterness, and disdain. By the way, Agent Haddad was played by Tony Shalboub who you may remember as "Jack Jeebs" in Men In Black. Denzel Washington is at the top of his form in this one. Not since Crimson Tide has he put in such a solid performance. Fallen and He Got Game were nice pieces of work but in The Siege, Washington really shines. As an elite leader of professional agents he clinches the part with unrelenting accuracy and an agent type personality that even the bureau should strive for. Other notable performances were Annette Benning as Elise and Sami Bouajila as Samir Nazhde. These two break new ground for the movies. The role was a risk for Benning but I believe a worthwhile one and just as risky and groundbreaking as her husband’s early summer release, Bulworth.

My verdict for this movie is gggreat. I can safely say that aside from the Arab stereotyping, and the uniquely American racism one feels or propagates to and toward Arabs, The Siege is a very well done thriller that ushers in a new genre of racial adventure films right behind True Lies and Executive Decision. There will be a lot of protest on this film. Don’t let it stop you from seeing it though. Whether you like it or not, in the shadow of the Oklahoma and 1993's World Trade Center bombings, domestic terror is here to stay.

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Film Review: The Siege: