Originally Published: 2002-06-02

Those expecting to see a mature and wise Jack Ryan (The Hunt for Red October, A Clear and Present Danger, Patriot Games) will be surprised to see Ben Affleck as the brilliant analyst at the genesis of his career. Once this time warp jolt in age is accepted, then The Sum of All Fears moves along fairly convincingly but not as intelligently as previous incarnations of Tom Clancy's books.
Ryan is consulted by CIA director Cabot (Morgan Freeman) to look into the election of new Russian President Nemerov (Ciaran Hinds). When days later an atomic bomb explodes in Chechnya, U.S. President Fowler (James Cromwell) is convinced the Cold War is back, especially after a similar incident occurs in the U.S. (the film's most a terrific sequence). But Ryan isn't convinced that Nemerov is the culprit, and desperately tries to collect proof of it before Fowler begins dropping bombs on Russia.
There's an eagerness and melodrama to The Sum of All Fears that may disappoint Clancy fans. But as a whole, the picture contains enough engrossing moments and interesting performances to make it a worthy summer thriller.

	Printable Version	</ td>	Email to a Friend
	Voice Your Opinion		Letter to the Editor