Synopsis

Pete Garrison is a U.S. Secret Service agent who saved a president’s life by taking a bullet for him over twenty years ago. Well-liked, respected by his colleagues in the Secret Service, Garrison is a career agent who now heads the First Lady’s detail. He lives in a high-level, orderly world of hierarchical structure, plans, maps, motorcades, code names, lingo and procedures. It's a universe that makes sense, until secrets begin to tear it apart. Pete's fellow agent and friend, Charlie Merriweather, hints at wanting to share critical and confidential information. Before that can happen, however, Merriweather is shot dead. The investigation falls to the Secret Service’s top investigative agent, David Breckinridge, a volatile combination of by-the-book and hothead, Garrison's protégé, and, until recently one of Garrison’s best friends. Breckinridge's investigation uncovers a plot within the Secret Service to assassinate the President. Suspicion falls on Garrison, who is forced to go on the run. He must find the mole and clear his name.

What The Critics Say

"There comes a point in "The Sentinel," as there did in Harrison Ford's "Firewall," when you wonder how a guy in his early sixties can run indefinitely, survive all kinds of risky stunts, hold his own in a fight, and stay three steps ahead of the young guys in his strategy. You wonder, and then you stop wondering, .., it's a movie. As I so wisely wrote about the Ford movie, "Nobody can do anything they do in thrillers, anyway, so why should there be an age limit on accomplishing the impossible?" Roger Ebert CHICAGO SUN-TIMES "As the new kid on the block, Longoria proves she can run, shoot, and bark orders at bad guys as well as the best "Charlie's Angel." Her sexy "Desperate Housewives" persona is implicit in the character, but it's played more for grins than anything else." Eleanor Ringel Gillespie ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION "I actually found this film interesting. I wasn't bored by a moment of it. 3 1/2 STARS" Margaret Pomeranz ABC ATTHEMOVIES "Michael Douglas looks in good shape in THE SENTINEL. As Secret Service agent Pete Garrison, he's clearly been on the beat for some time -- he still has nightmares about taking a bullet for President Regan -- but he hardly breaks a sweat when he's being chased by various villains or David Breckinridge (Kiefer Sutherland)." Cynthia Fuchs COMMONSENSE REVIEWS

"There is something easy and enjoyable about watching Michael Douglas in a state of psychic torture, desperate and friendless, on the lam and in danger, gritting his teeth and bulging his eyes and running for his life. A well-constructed and genuinely tense thriller, "The Sentinel," based on the novel by Gerald Petievich, takes audiences into an endlessly fascinating environment -- life in and around the White House -- and presents it from the privileged vantage point of a Secret Service agent." Mick LaSalle SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE "The Sentinel is at its best when Breckinridge and Garrison are sparring - either face-to-fact or while one chases the other." James Berardinelli REELVIEWS "On its face, "The Sentinel" is boilerplate genre stuff, a mash-up of "The Fugitive" and (insert favorite political thriller here). Within those limitations, however, it has a lot to recommend it, not least the exceptional detail in which the secret world of the Secret Service is rendered. This is what happens when your movie is based on a novel by a former agent (Gerald "To Live and Die in L.A." Petievich) and has another as an adviser." Patrick Beach AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN "Director Clark Johnson ("S.W.A.T.") does a fine job of sketching the intricacies of the job and the details of the investigation with slick efficiency, and he makes creative use of awkward angles and blind spots in the climactic clash in subterranean service tunnels." Sean Axmaster SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER

The Inside Story After seeing "The Sentinel" there's one thing I'd like to say: "Gee, I wish I looked half as good as Michael Douglas does!" Having just turned sixty I have plenty of admiration for actors like Clint Eastwood, Michael Douglas, Sean Connery and Harrison Ford, who, despite their 'senior' years, can still, to a point, cut the mustard in roles which some critics think should only be the domain of actors half their age. Give me a break! It's only a film. It's not real life. And let me make a point about one scene in "The Sentinel", which many critics may have overlooked. You guys know which one I'm refering to. The one where Michael Douglas is bent over, huffing, puffing, red in the face and showing his age. When it comes to age, no-where in the film does it ever give the audience any impression Douglas is playing a thirty year old Secret Service Agent. In fact, Kiefer Sutherland, who is thirty nine years of age (and does a pretty serviceable job in the role of David Breckinridge), isn't passed off as being a youngster either. Fact is (and I think I'm right in saying this applies to most of us), when it comes to real life scenes where Secret Service Agents are protecting the President of the United States of America, I can't remember seeing any agents who looked like twenty year olds amongst them. But getting back to Michael Douglas, what was it that attracted this film? "Finding good material sounds simple but it's not," says Douglas. "I've had my share of message movies but only because they worked as entertainment. I love acting, but the fact is that I don't see that many pictures I'd like to do, so sometimes you have to develop them. I liked the idea behind "The Sentinel" because in an era of fear and paranoia, the notion of an unseen enemy is credible; that’s the film’s big what if?" Another 'big if' was gaining the film rights to the Gerald Petievich novel "The Sentinel" before its publication. "We thought the book’s premise would make a thoughtful, compelling and classic-style political thriller," says producer Marcy Drogin. "Every iconic institution has had its share of scandal, but the U.S. Secret Service is held to a higher standard. That was intriguing to us, to peel away the layers. Also, it provided the quintessential Michael Douglas role as a flawed but sympathetic character." The engine-room of any film is the screenplay or script. With a film based on a book about the Secret Service and authored by former Secret Service agent in Gerald Petievich, writing the screenplay would require extensive research. That job went to co-producer and screenwriter, George Nolfi. "From the beginning I wanted the story to be realistic," Nolfi says. "I wondered: How is the president really protected? Where do the threats come from? What would truly put his life in danger, and how would the Secret Service react?" Cinemagoers who took in the action packed "S.W.A.T." will know it was directed by Clark Johnson, who by the way also appeared in the film. His experienced with law enforcement action thrillers, ensemble pieces, multiple cameras, large set-ups and special effects made him the ideal person to helm the production. With Johnson onboard, the team turned its attention to casting the film. With Douglas signed for the role of Pete Garrison, the cast literally fell into place with Kiefer Sutherland, Eva Longoria and Kim Basinger signing on for the remaining key roles. Douglas and Sutherland had preciously worked together on another project, the 1990 film "Flatliners", which Douglas had produced. "That was when I first met Kiefer and saw how talented he was," Douglas recalls. "In "The Sentinel", he brings tremendous credibility to his role." Sutherland obviously has plenty of respect for the dual Academy award winner Douglas. "If you look at Michael’s films, they're 'Class A'. I had the pleasure of working with him when I was very young, and he was so gracious and kind to me. I watched his films over the years and learned what makes him a phenomenal producer. There's a sense of responsibility and dignity in all his films," Sutherland notes. "I've watched his table-read, his notes, how he handles himself on set. It's been an education and a pleasure, and I'm grateful for that." Fans of the television 'soapie' "Desperate Housewives" will probably be thinking how lucky Sutherland is to be working so close to the gorgeous Eva Longoria, who plays his on-screen partner Jill Marin, a recent graduate from the Secret Service Academy. Sutherland was impressed. "She has an incredible sense of focus," he says. "The character she plays betrays her personality and that's the mark of a great actor." Longaria describes her role as "a triangle between Michael, Kiefer and me, but it's not a love triangle." And the reason she took the role of Jill Marin? Because it's the "opposite of Gabrielle". Longaria plays the lone woman in the team. So, how would she describe her character. "She wants to learn, totally downplays her sexuality, has to prove herself twice as much as a man, and is determined to be the best she can be." Come on Eva, surely your a little on the light side for a Secret Service Agent. She doesn't see it as a liability. "The Secret Service is made up of aggressive, intelligent, fit, ambitious individuals with an air of confidence," she says. "It's not about size. Jill is definitely one of the boys." And was she comfortable mixing it with 'the boys'? "I felt comfortable amid all the testosterone because I'm a tomboy," Longoria admitted. "I grew up on a ranch and used to go target-shooting with my dad. I shot my first gun when I was six! I was the best shot. "I asked the Secret Service advisors a lot of questions. I have newfound respect to these people and what they do for our country." Secret Service advisors? That's right. I did mention at the start that they were high on research and I might add to that, authenticity too. Martin Donovan, who plays Special Agent in Charge William Montrose in "The Sentinel" offered, "They appear implacable, stoic, hyper-vigilant and intimidating, but they have a grace in their physicality. The detail leader of the Presidential Protective Division has to be able to hold his own at cocktail parties with world leaders. And our Secret Service advisors tell me they are inundated with questions at such events." Alright, I know what you're thinking, you want to know where all the Secret Service technical advice came from. Don't you? Gerald A Cavis, a recently retired USSS agent and nationally recognized law enforcement expert, who spent years protecting presidents and developing law enforcement and security techniques, was the advisor used on the production. Gerald A Cavis has been a field agent, specializing in interrogation, the polygraph program, and undercover work. In Washington D.C., he served on the elite Presidential Protective Division (PPD) from 1994 to 1997. During President Clinton’s term, he rose to supervise one of four teams directly responsible for the president’s safety, and was also in charge of Clinton's second inaugural. As a Secret Service Agent, Cavis had direct responsibility for overall security at such events as the 2001 and 2004 presidential campaigns and inaugurals, the NATO 50th Anniversary Summit in Washington, D.C., and the visit of Pope John Paul II to St. Louis. Cavis has been a primary consultant to other large events. Events such as the G-8 Summit at Sea Island, Georgia, the presidential debates and the Athens Olympics. Wow! Now that's what you call responsibility. For all that, Cavis says he "was impressed with the filmmakers and the source material’s intent to accurately portray the world of the Secret Service. Gerald Petievich, the author of the book, was a former Secret Service agent himself. And [screenwriter] George Nolfi did an outstanding job. His level of knowledge and research to create the realism was almost scary." The realsim even went down to the films dialogue. "George and Clark and I talked a lot about the dialogue," said Cavis, "so the actors would talk like real agents." It really is intrguing the lengths the production team went to in making "The Sentinel". So, what can audiences expect from the film? Michael Douglas says the film "is unpredictable, topical and has a few twists and turns in it. It's fascinating to learn about the Secret Service’s inner workings and some of the technologies used by the Secret Service. I hope audiences will gain a little more understanding of what goes on behind the scenes: the number of death threats, the amount of research the USSS agents do. These are brave souls." The Verdict "There's more to "The Sentinel" than just a look inside the 'workings' of the Secret Service. "The Sentinel" also offers action, suspense, tension and a serviceable cast headed up by Michael Douglas, who really does (despite his sixty one years) look the part. Like Harrison Ford did in "Firewall", Douglas also never gives the impression he's capable of physically mixing it with the younger Secret Service Agents. It's that approach which gives "The Sentinel" real credibility. While there is a good deal of action, don't go along expecting to see a film which is 'all go'. Good value for your cinema dollars. 3 1/2 STARS." Cast & Crew Bytes "THE SENTINEL" stars .......
Michael Douglas ["The American President", "Traffic", "Don't Say A word" and "You, Me and Dupree"]; Eva Longoria ["Carlita's Secret", "Hustler's Instinct" and "Harsh Times"]; Martin Donovan ["Insomnia", "Saved!" and "The Pornographer: A Love Story"]; Kim Basinger ["L.A. Confidential", "8 Mile", "The Door In The Floor" and "Cellular"], Raoul Bhaneja ["Ararat", "Cold Creek Manor" and "Godsend"]; David Rasche ["Just Married", "Off the Lip" and "United 93"] and Kiefer Sutherland ["Picking Up The Pieces", "Paradise Found", "Phone Booth" and "River Queen"] as David Breckinridge.
"THE SENTINEL" was .......
directed by Clark Johnson ["La Femme Nikita" and "S.W.A.T."]; screenplay by George Nolfi ["Timeline" and "Ocean's Twelve"]; original story by author Gerald Petievich ["To Live and Die in L.A." and "Boiling Point"]; cinematography by Gabriel Beristain ["The Distinguished Gentleman", "Fatal Instinct", "Blade II" and "The Ring 2"]; original music by Christophe Beck ["Big Fat Liar", "Confidence", "Under the Tuscan Sun" and "The Pink Panther"] production design by Andrew McAlpine ["The Piano", "Flubber", "The Piano" and "The Recruit"] and costume design by Ellen Mirojnick ["Fatal Attraction", "Wall Street", "One Night at McCool's", "Don't Say A word", "Unfaithful" and "The Chronicles of Riddick"]. Run Time 108 minutes Rated M [AUST] Copyright ©2006 - Twentieth Century Fox Films - All Rights Reserved Copyright Protected © 2006 - Impact Internet Services - All Rights Reserved