Movie Review #20 - "White House Down (2013)"

Movie Review #20 - "White House Down (2013)"

Beginning Comments:  What is it this year?  The year of "Take Over the White House" movies?  Really? And really bad movies about "taking over the White House"?

On IMDB:  "White House Down (2013)"












Benny's Tabasco Rating:  3 / 10 Tabasco Peppers

Synposis:  Wait ... Before I start, I really like Jamie Foxx ...

OK ... An inside man decides that he doesn't agree with the President politics and wants to forcibly remove him from the White House.

Cast:  Jamie Foxx as the President.  First, I love Jamie Foxx and his work ... Well .. most of his work ... He plays the President ... I guess the stereotypes are gone for the white guy president (welcome change) ... But Jamie Foxx ... He's too young (or at least looks too young) and good-looking to be the President.  Channing Tatum ... really ... Why didn't the cast Brad Pitt, George Clooney, and Ryan Gosling?  Then, it could have been the "Sex Symbol" movie.

Story:  James Woods plays the head of the President's Secret Service detail who doesn't agree with the President's politics to remove the troops from the Middle East ... Yes, the entire US Armed Forces would be gone from the Middle East ... I couldn't get behind the "believe-ability" factor for this movie ... Second, Tatum plays a Capitol City Cop who is interviewing for the Secret Service right at the same time people are taking the White House ... Really?  Come on ...

Cinematography:  Again ... Green Screen?  Why?  All of the flight scenes were CGI and some of the other portions were so bad that you were hoping that the editor missed something to show you the green screen ...

Direction:  First, why would you take the gig?   Second, the director, James Vanderbilt, tried to add humor to this ... Right when things were really serious, there comes a joke ... Jamie Foxx is so much better of an actor than this script ... And the director didn't pull anything out of him ...

Screenplay:  This must have been Columbia Pictures' purchase since Film District was releasing "Olympus Has Fallen" (only slightly more believable, but better acting, direction, and screenplay).  The writing could have gone through at least 20 more revisions before it was "Foxx-worthy" ... I really feel badly for Mr. Jamie Foxx.

Overall Review:  One of the most non-believable screenplays at an attempt to convey a takeover of the White House.  The cast except for Channing Tatum has more talent than I expected and could have been a really good film.  I don't recommend this film to anyone except 13 year old girls who like Channing Tatum.  If you are expecting a good film because of Jamie Foxx, you are going to be very disappointed.  Instead, rent "Olympus Has Fallen" ... Better story ...