Absolute Power 1997

Critics score:
45 / 100

Reviews provided by RottenTomatoes

Janet Maslin, New York Times: Mr. Hackman languishes in the smallish role of a White House buffoon, with Judy Davis equally cartoonish as his witchy chief of staff. Read more

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: Almost a drawing room thriller, unhurried and genteel but enlivened with suspense and surprising bursts of sly, even biting, humor. Read more

Entertainment Weekly: Read more

Rick Groen, Globe and Mail: Ultimately, this is a thriller in vain search of credible thrills. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: A fairly routine thriller that gets high marks as a result of tight pacing and top-notch acting. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: Not many thrillers slow down to notice relationships, but this one does. Read more

Charles Taylor, Salon.com: The picture might have gotten by if Eastwood had given it some impudent wit. But he directs to the rhythm of his facial muscles. Read more

Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: A first-rate thriller about arrogance at the top, a showdown between two kinds of Americans: the evil, omnipotent bureaucrat and the enterprising, mind-his- own-business loner. Read more

Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine: The plot is a doomsday version of Bill Clinton's Paula Jones problem, but the theme is impending mortality--settling scores before time's up. Read more

Geoff Andrew, Time Out: Doesn't rank with Eastwood's best work as actor/director, but it's nevertheless solidly enjoyable. Read more