Collateral Damage (2002)

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Francesca Neri, John Leguizamo, John Turturro, Elias Koteas, Cliff Curtis
Director: Andrew Davis

Rating: R

Studio: Warner Bros.

Review Posted: 2.13.02

Spoilers: Minor

Rating: 2.5/4

By Craig Younkin.

There are two modes for Arnold Schwarzenegger. One is the wise cracking last action hero type from "The Terminator" and "True Lies", and the other is the corny and caring father figure whose family is always in need of saving or avenging. Not saying that the later isn't at least watchable, it's just that Arnie really needs to return to the former very soon.

With the way action movies are today, computers and all kinds of other special effects are taking the place of simple stories; and being that even the scripts for many of Schwarzenegger's last projects have been fairly mediocre, this puts him at even more of a disadvantage.

This takes us to "Collateral Damage", which is another simplistic action film, but is also a story that many people can identify with now after going through the events of September 11th. The film has recently been held under fire by activist groups claiming it exploits those events, and from the way fear and sadness suddenly creep up on you in the film's opening scene, you begin to see their point.

That scene would be a terrorist attack on U.S. soil where many are left dead, including the wife and young son of Fireman Gordon Brewer (Arnold Schwarzenegger). They are known as collateral damage, unintended targets at the wrong place at the wrong time. The real targets are a group of CIA men who have counterparts down in Colombia regulating Guerilla warfare.

Later we find that the bomb was planted by a Guerilla named Claudio Perrini (Cliff Curtis), a terrorist looking to get those same American soldiers off Colombian soil by attacking the U.S. The bombing sends a scare through Washington, forcing the CIA's lead agent, Peter Brandt (Elias Koteas), to pull his men out.

Only before he just gives in, he is given a bit of luck when the vengeful Gordon Brewer, told that avenging his family was not a high priority for the government, finds a back way into Colombia to handle the terrorists himself. It doesn't take long for his presence there to spread and before he knows it, the Guerrillas are trying to track him down for ransom and the CIA is waiting for him to get killed so they have reason to attack.

The script, by David and Peter Griffiths, sets up an interesting premise, but then can't exercise it to full potential. Arnold's stint in Columbia feels like a rather needless venture, first because the film's really intense stuff happens later on in Washington, and secondly because the Griffiths end up just padding the story with different clichés that mean nothing, rather than focusing more on the subjects of collateral damage and revenge.

The right script is still out of his reach, but this is a mild step up from many of his other films, mainly because he still is one of the most cool people in movies today. Director Andrew Davis also knows how to litter a film with exciting chase sequences and a high explosion count, even though many of the action sequences feel like they're being taken out of other movies including Davis' "The Fugitive" and "Predator".

Arnolds acting also seems better here, capturing the monotonous, but equally effective, grieving and vengeful family man. Cliff Curtis matches him with a sneering and over the top bad guy impression. The film also features two talented actors, John Turturro and John Leguizamo, who could easily walk through their roles in their sleep. The only one who doesn't belong here is Francesca Neri, who plays the terrorist's wife, but looks to have just stepped off the cover of Maxim magazine.

"Collateral Damage" may not be the script that saves Arnolds career, and it will likely disappoint those looking for a more in depth look on terrorism, but there are portions to this film that echo back to the Arnold of old. At best, Collateral Damage is nothing but a rainy day movie, but it's fun for what it is and it should give Arnold's career a stay of execution.

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