In this high-intensity drama, based on the novel by Tom Clancy, Ben Affleck stars as Jack Ryan, the CIA agent from Clancy's THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER, PATRIOT GAMES, and CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER. Here, Ryan is dealing with a terrifying new problem: a nuclear weapon has fallen into the hands of foreign terrorists who are determined to create a war between Russia and the U.S.
As the film begins, a South African arms dealer (Colm Feore) acquires a long-lost nuclear weapon and sells it, at great profit, to a resurgent group of fascists led by Dressler (Alan Bates), who plans to lure the U.S. and Russia into a war. Soon after, the Russian premiere dies and the relatively unknown Nemerov (Ciarán Hinds) replaces him. But U.S. president Fowler (James Cromwell) smells a rat, and calls CIA chief William Cabot (Morgan Freeman) and special agent Jack Ryan (Affleck), the junior analyst who has been researching Nemerov, into action.
THE SUM OF ALL FEARS is a powerful addition to Tom Clancy's techno-thriller series. Affleck is effective, and there are notable supporting performances from Freeman, Cromwell, Feore, Hinds, Bates, and Liev Schreiber as a CIA operative. Director Phil Alden Robinson manages the action with great skill. Particularly notable are the terrifying nuclear attack and the sequence of final reckonings intercut with Puccini's beautiful aria "Nessun Dorma."
Theatrical Release: MAY 31, 2002
DVD Features:
Region 1
Keep Case
Widescreen
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Dolby Digital 2.0 - English
Dolby Digital 2.0 - French
Additional Release Material:
Audio Commentaries - 1. Phil Alden Robinson - Director, John Lindley - Cinematographer
Trailer - 1. Theatrical
2. Phil Alden Robinson - Director, Tom Clancy - Novelist
Featurettes - 1. Making Of
2. CREATING REALITY: THE VISUAL EFFECTS OF 'THE SUM OF ALL FEARS'
Interactive Features:
Interactive Menus
Scene Selection
Stars
Ben Affleck: Oscar winning actor, screenwriter, GOOD WILL HUNTING
Morgan Freeman: American Actor
Liev Schreiber: American actor, SCREAM series/LOVE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA
James Cromwell: American actor, BABE/L.A. CONFIDENTIAL
Alan Bates: British actor
Ciaran Hinds: Supporting Actor
Colm Feore: Actor. BEAUTIFUL DREAMER
Bridget Moynahan: Actor, THE SUM OF ALL FEARS/I, ROBOT
Philip Baker Hall: Supporting Actor
Ron Rifkin: American Character Actor
Bruce McGill: Star, BEHIND ENEMY LINES II: AXIS OF EVIL (2006)
Marie Matiko: ART OF WAR
Director
Phil Alden Robinson: American Director/Screenwriter
Producer
Mace Neufeld: Producer/Executive
Screenwriter
Paul Attanasio: screenwriter, "Quiz Show" & "Donnie Brasco"
Daniel Pynee: Screenwriter, SUM OF ALL FEARS (2002)
Composer
Jerry Goldsmith: Film composer
Editor
Neil Travis: Editor, T3 (2003)
Executive Producer
Stratton Leopold: Executive Producer, SUM OF ALL FEARS (2002)
Executive Producer
Tom Clancy: American novelist, THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER (1990)
Source Writer
Tom Clancy: American novelist, THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER (1990)
Director of Photography
John Lindley: American Director Of Photography
Review 1:
"...The first two-thirds of the film skillfully sets up its dramatic dominoes....And the glossy catalog of aircraft and missiles being primed for action makes for an impressively chilly display of hardware..."
Source: New York Times
p.E1 05/31/2002
Review 2:
"...THE SUM OF ALL FEARS could hardly be more timely or frightening....Affleck has the intelligence and athleticism to carry off the singularly unpretentious and fiercely diligent hero..."
Source: Los Angeles Times
p.C1 05/31/2002
Review 3:
"...Freeman always manages to do something new....He and Affleck demonstrate a seasoned team's nimbly cutting spontaneity..."
Source: Entertainment Weekly
p.43-4 06/07/2002
Review 4:
"...Solid, quality summer entertainment....Few Hollywood spy thrillers have been more handsome than this one..."
Source: Variety
p.21-32 05/27/2002
Review 5:
"...Vigorously directed....Tautly scripted....The production values are first-class..."
Source: Hollywood Reporter
p.8-43 05/28/2002