A Thrilling Glimpse at the Secret Service

by: Josh Marks

“The Sentinel” moves at such a frenetic pace that there is no time for character development and plot holes are scattered throughout. That said, this political thriller is still an enjoyable ride and offers a rare glimpse into the U.S. Secret Service, the 141-year-old institution charged with protecting the president. The premise is an interesting one: what if a plot to assassinate the president involved a mole inside the very agency assigned to fend off any attack.

Director Clark Johnson (Barry Levinson was previously attached to direct) and screenwriter/co-producer George Nolfi, who adapted the film from a novel by former Secret Service agent Gerald Petievich, have brought together an all-star cast and used them well. The jargon-filled dialogue is as fast and sharp as the multiple cameras zooming in and out the whole film – creating an atmosphere of suspense and paranoia.

Secret Service veteran Pete Garrison (Michael Douglas) took a bullet for Ronald Reagan during the Hinckley assassination attempt. So when intelligence data points to an inside plot to take out the president, Garrison, who now heads the First Lady’s (Kim Basinger) detail, takes the lead in the investigation. However, when his protégé David Breckinridge (Kiefer Sutherland) uncovers evidence leading to Garrison, he must go on the run and use his skills to get to the truth on his own. Agent Jill Marin (Eva Longoria) helps Breckinridge hunt down Garrison but she is skeptical of his guilt.

While Breckinridge and Garrison have a history together – they were friends until Breckinridge accused Garrison of having an affair with his wife – there is no chance to develop the murky relationship between the two of them. So one of the plot holes involves a scene when Garrison is talking to Breckinridge’s wife but there is no buildup or context to the conversation. Also the Secret Service characters, as well as the identity and motives of the bad guys, are not fleshed out. There is also a back story about Garrison’s involvement with the FBI and a drug cartel that is not fully explained. It would have helped if they spent a little time developing the characters and the background of the story.

“The Sentinel” is an action-packed movie, which moves forward at a furious pace and, despite major flaws in the storyline, provides an interesting look into the Secret Service and the fallout when there is a traitor in the ranks.