 | |
List Price: $9.98 | | Label: Showtime Ent.
Salesrank: 16348
Released: July 18, 2000 |
| Our Price: $4.15 |
| Used Price: $3.67 |
|
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD |
|
Editorial Review:
A former government agent turns his home into a fortress to protect himself from assassins. His family wonders if hes crazy or clever. Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 01/16/2007 Starring: Patrick Stewart Hector Elizondo Run time: 111 minutes Rating: Nr Director: Eric Steven Stahl
Description of Safe House:
This unusual film begins deceptively, seeming to be yet another high-tech spy flick laden with futuristic weaponry, computers running top-secret software (with the requisite flashy graphics), and the talented actor Patrick Stewart slumming at the center of a nonsensical mishmash. Stewart's presence itself is something of a tip-off, but when his character is soon glimpsed hanging upside down from an exercise device, watching a wall of security cam monitors while quoting H.L. Mencken, it's apparent that this isn't just another action film with an outsized firearms budget. In fact, nothing much seems to be what it appears. Mace Sowell, Stewart's character, claims to be a retired intelligence agent, but his daughter, who doesn't believe a word of it, trots him around to a succession of skeptical shrinks. And while his daughter interviews potential caretakers for her apparently deranged father, Sowell is viewed through the patio doors of his lavish house taking rather acrobatic target practice in the back yard. There is the plot of a thriller in all of this, but make no mistake about it, the most entertaining aspect of this quirky film is watching Stewart have a wonderful time playing an endearing curmudgeon who might be the craziest man alive, or perhaps a totally rational man who really does know some secrets that put himself and others in danger. --Robert J. McNamara
Safe House Reviews:
If you like Patrick Stewart, you'll like this film. Period. 
2009-11-30 - Perhaps I've said it all in my title. If you like Mr. Stewart, you'll like this. It really is about that simple.
Stewart plays Mace Sowell, who, as the Amazon description tells us, plays someone who claims to be a retired intelligence agent. His family doesn't believe a word of it, and thinks that Mace is suffering from alheimer's disease. Mace's doctor, played quite effectively here by Hector Elizondo, agrees.
And so we have Mace convinced that the conservative presidential candidate wants him dead, and we're left to observe for ourselves whether that candidate has a good reason for feeling the way he does ... or if Mace really is mentally ill.
The ending of this film is truly well-played. I truly hope I don't give away anything here, but I must say this: We end up having a great deal of confidence in Mace, even when common sense tells us we shouldn't.
A well-written screenplay, effective direction, and very strong performances by both Patrick Steward and Kimberly Williams make this a very enjoyable film.
GREAT video 
2009-01-11 - saw this a few years back on TV.. one of Patrick Stewards better works outside of STNG.
Great show to watch if your paranoid about your goverMINT
disappointed 
2008-11-25 - While I have always enjoyed watching Patrick Stewart's performances, I have never seen him in something where his use of profanity was extreme or where he did a nude scene. This was a top-notch thriller superbly acted and directed that needed none of the above to make it well worth watching. Sadly, it's fate was my garbage can.
Paranoia or Dementia?
2008-02-18 - I'm a fan of Patrick Stewart so it may bias my review a little. That aside I think this is a fine spy thriller. You have a retired man, played by Stewart, that says he was an agent for the DIA. The problem is no one believes him not even his daughter or psychiatrist. When he starts to lose his memory from Alzheimer's setting on, things look rather bleak. Who can he trust? The only one that seems to believe is his pool man and maybe his live-in caretaker. He truly believes he is at risk and with his high tech toys he tracks a presidential candidate's activities and the suspicious deaths of former team members. He knows the dirty secrets of this candidate and believes he will kill him as well. One of the better made for TV movies with the right amount of drama, comedy, and thrills. Good quality DVD and excellent replayability. I ordered a copy myself. Fans of Stewart shouldn't miss this one.
Safe House - Strangely Entertaining
2008-02-17 - I have watched this movie many times and continue to enjoy it time after time. It is funny and serious and has moments of elegance woven into the plot. I always enjoy Patrick Stewart and Kimberly Williams and they were wonderful together in this drama. Given that all things are relative, the movie probably did not deserve the four stars but it was better than three. There is some violence and a few f-bombs. It would not be particular good for children but most of all, they would not enjoy the movie.
