Firewall (2006)

2.5 out of 4

Starring: Harrison Ford, Paul Bettany, Virginia Madsen, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Robert Patrick, Robert Forster, Alan Arkin, Carly Schroeder, Jimmy Bennett

Director: Richard Loncraine

Time: 105 mins

Viewed: in home theatre

Bank security expert Jack Stanfield (Ford) is forced to comply with the wishes of professional bank robber Bill Cox (Bettany) after his family (wife Madsen and kids Schroeder and Bennett) are held hostage in his Seattle home. Serviceable suspenser begins well, with a potentially intriguing cat-and-mouse plot, but devolves into a seemingly rushed, generic finale. Good to see Ford on screen, but Patrick, Forster and Arkin are wasted. Not boring, just predictable.

(c) Joe Wong (9 July 2006)