fbpx

FIREWALL

"Equally predictable and entertaining"

Watch:

What You Need To Know:

In FIREWALL, Harrison Ford stars as Jack Stanfield, an executive for a banking corporation that lives a busy life divided between a hectic work schedule and a happy suburban family. After rushing home one evening to enjoy “pizza night” with his family, Jack finds a group of armed, techie criminals who have taken his family hostage and demand that he use his familiarity with the bank’s security system to transfer 100 million dollars to their offshore account. Otherwise, his family will be murdered. Under these frightening conditions, Jack must figure out how to save his family.

Ford’s uncomfortable grimace in FIREWALL is not too far removed from the pressurized, shifty-eyed deserter in the 1993 thriller THE FUGITIVE, though Jack Stanfield is neither as likable nor as heroic as Dr. Kimble. Nevertheless, he wears the part well and manages to radiate his uneasiness to those of us on the other side of the screen. Also like THE FUGITIVE, FIREWALL moves briskly to a steady rhythm of action and anticipation, equally predictable and entertaining. While the movie is a better-than-average action thriller, it unfortunately contains unnecessary foul language and several scenes of moderate action violence.

Content:

(B, H, C, Cap, LLL, VV, A, M) Light biblical worldview suggesting the importance of family and the need for a father/husband to protect his family, humanist and materialist attitudes depicted by criminals, although clearly portrayed as evil, a minor but likable character is briefly portrayed playing guitar in a praise band at a charismatic church, brief neutral capitalist elements with several scenes taking place at large banking corporation; 21 profanities and 19 obscenities; several scenes of action violence including a few graphic shootings, a car chase, and several moderately graphic fighting scenes; light alcohol consumption when men meet at a bar for a business gathering; and blackmail, deception, talk of gambling, and misrepresentation.

More Detail:

In FIREWALL, Harrison Ford stars as a white-collar businessman forced to protect his family from a group of cold-blooded criminals that have invaded his home.

Jack Stanfield (Harrison Ford) lives a busy but happy life divided between a hectic work schedule and an active suburban family. As an executive at a banking corporation based in Seattle, Jack is in charge of securing customers’ accounts from fraud and theft. After rushing home one evening to enjoy “pizza night” with his wife Beth (Virginia Madsen) and two children, Jack finds a group of armed and treacherous techie criminals that have taken his family hostage. British mastermind Bill Cox (Paul Bettany) demands that Jack use his familiarity with the bank’s security system to transfer 100 million dollars in an offshore bank account. Otherwise, his family will be murdered. Unsure of whether he can actually pull off the transaction, Jack worries primarily about protecting his family’s safety, which seems to hinge on his ability to pull off the difficult transaction. Bill has done his homework, and every move Jack makes is under close scrutiny thanks to strategically placed cameras and microphones in both the Stanfield home and Jack’s office. Under these knee-shaking conditions, Jack must figure out how to save his family before it’s too late.

Harrison Ford is certainly well-acquainted with this type of character, a part he perfected while playing Dr. Richard Kimble in the wildly entertaining blockbuster THE FUGITIVE. Ford’s uncomfortable grimace in FIREWALL is not too far removed from the pressurized, shifty-eyed deserter in the 1993 thriller, though Jack Stanfield is neither as likable nor as heroic as Dr. Kimble. Nevertheless, he wears the part well, and manages to radiate his uneasiness to those of us on the other side of the screen. Also like THE FUGITIVE, FIREWALL moves briskly to a steady rhythm of action and anticipation, equally predictable and entertaining.

The rest of the cast does a sufficient (if unremarkable) job. Paul Bettany ably pulls off his role as Bill, the cold architect of the scheme, and his underling delinquents are believable enough. One of the few moments of comic relief comes when a minor but likable character, Bobby (Matthew Currie Holmes), is shown playing guitar in a praise band at a charismatic church.

None of the characters in FIREWALL are likely to be remembered once the movie concludes, but neither will the movie itself leave much of an imprint on its audience. It does what it intends to do, however, by offering 105 minutes of better-than-average entertainment.

It should be pointed out that the movie contains unnecessary foul language and several scenes of moderate action violence. While most of the depicted violence is understandable considering the movie’s genre and the context of its narrative, the picture’s excessive foul language is completely unwarranted.

Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.


Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.