The Sentinel - Wem kannst Du trauen? (The Sentinel)
U.S.A. 2006

Opening 15 Jun 2006

Directed by: Clark Johnson
Writing credits: George Nolfi, Gerald Petievich
Principal actors: Michael Douglas, Kiefer Sutherland, Eva Longoria, Martin Donovan, Kim Basinger

Directed by Clark Johnson with a screenplay by George Nolfi, based on a novel by Gerald Petievich, this conspiracy-to-kill-the-president movie stars Michael Douglas, Kiefer Sutherland, Eve Longoria and Kim Bassinger.

Pete Garrison (Douglas) is the legendary secret service agent whose timely leap stopped the bullet aimed at killing President Reagen. Twenty years later, he's still on the job protecting the current president and his wife Sarah Ballentine (Bassenger). When intelligence of a new attempt on the president's life is received, the informant also claims that there in a mole inside the secret service, though he's not revealing the name. Though first dismissed as ridiculous, the coincidental murder of an agent seems to indicate that there may be some truth in the matter. This leads to all the operatives to being subjected to a polygraph test. Garrison's former protégé, David Breckinridge (Sutherland), with whom Pete has had a complete falling out, is put on the case; he quickly comes to the conclusion that all clues – including a failed polygraph test – point at Garrison being the main suspect.

Garrison knows that he's being framed because he is also being blackmailed; and the material being used against him is not something he can reveal to his colleagues – namely, that he's having an affair with Sarah Ballentine. Garrison goes into hiding, while at the same time trying to discover who the real mole is and how to stop the assassination attempt.

The Sentinel is full of the kind of mystery you don't want in a movie: like, why does a bullet in Garrison's back and later on another bullet in his liver have no lasting effect beyond two frames? Even less mysterious are the revealing looks and camera angles that let us know who the mole is from early on. Though it has a certain degree of tension and the acting is alright, there is nothing particularly commendable about this film. (Osanna Vaughn)