Gene Hackman Movie:

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		MPAA Rating: R (Restricted) Media: DVD

Editorial Review:
Gene Hackman is a career officer assigned a routine mission well beneath him: deliver a prisoner (Tommy Lee Jones) from Europe to the United States. However, the simple assignment becomes a daring cat-and-mouse game played as the last flames of the Cold War are flickering. This is the first of three films that teamed Jones with director Andrew Davis. In 1989 Jones was a wild card: an actor respected but only popping up in grade B fare. After Davis's Under Siege and The Fugitive, Jones was America's favorite gruff character actor, with an Oscar on his mantel. With a weaker script, Davis still creates the same kind of magic here. Hackman is superb as the officer, an action role similar to others that the nearly 60-year-old unexpectedly excelled at (Bat 21, Narrow Margin) during this period. Tight, tense, and with no letup in the third act, The Package is a good gem for a Saturday night flick. --Doug Thomas

The Package [Region 2] Reviews:
DVD The Package
2009-11-12 - A Gene Hackman film is generally good, regardless f the plot. This film is no exception.

Strannix, are you there?
2008-09-12 - Why did it seem like Tommy Lee Jones was doing his 'Strannix thing" from "Under Siege" in this movie? The plot winds into predictable end that makes you say "Where have I seen this before?" The movie seemed like a ripoff of so many other political/assassination-type flicks I've seen before. Not many surprises (if any) in this movie.

Skip it
2008-07-07 - The Package was quite a disappointment considering the presence of Gene Hackman and Tommy Lee Jones among others.
A U.S. sergeant witnesses the assassination of a high ranking American military officer during peace talks held in Germany between Washington and Moscow. Shortly after the incident he receives orders to return home accompanying a prisoner. Things quickly become more complicated when `the package' makes a run for it...
In short, the acting is all right (though nothing great), while the plot and the dialogues are average and below average respectively.
The movie does bring to mind The Fugitive, though this film does not really provide as much entertainment.
Though the potential for a good movie was definitely there it fails to take off, primarily due to the writers and the poor choice of lines and weak plot.
In a nutshell, it's a mediocre movie and that's about it; no masterpiece here... 2.2 Stars


The Package
2008-06-26 - Having seen "The Jackal" both versions, I think this sort of remake of them is far above par and quite more realistic, with a grain of salt, but the main interest of this movie is Gene Hackman and Tommy Lee Jones. Both actors give an exemplary rendition of their roles and should have gotten oscars. Unfortunately, the plot and scenario do not lend themselves to Oscars. Still highly recommended, I plan to see it again.

Well worth seeing
2007-06-20 - This is not The French Connection, but Hackman is, as always, rock solid, and the supporting cast (particularly Tommy Lee Jones) is superb. The plot is improbable, with Russian and U.S. officers conspiring to continue the cold war and the case broken by a sergeant formerly married to a lieutenant colonel, who are basically operating independently against all of the forces that be. Their success (guaranteed in a quintessentially American movie) reaffirms American beliefs concerning independence and integrity while it provides some action/adventure in the process. The canvas is a little large and there are some gaffes and shaky production values, but this is a reliable way to spend a slow evening. It's also nice to see Hackman doing a credible high crawl through rough terrain in snow. He's the man.