A master thief witnesses a presidential crime, triggering a high-stakes game of political survival.
In short: In the 1997 thriller Absolute Power, a professional burglar hiding behind a one-way mirror watches the President of the United States commit a violent act. What follows is a tense pursuit involving the Secret Service, a determined detective, and a desperate quest for justice that forces the thief to protect his daughter.
Directed by and starring Clint Eastwood, Absolute Power is a political thriller adapted by William Goldman from David Baldacci’s 1996 novel. The story centers on Luther Whitney, a career thief who accidentally witnesses the murder of Christy Sullivan, the wife of a billionaire and friend of President Alan Richmond. When Secret Service agents kill Christy to cover up the President's violent assault, they stage the scene as a burglary gone wrong. Whitney, who managed to escape with incriminating evidence, becomes the primary suspect in a murder investigation led by Detective Seth Frank.
The film’s production was marked by Eastwood’s desire to subvert the source material’s grim conclusion. Finding the original novel’s high body count discouraging, Eastwood requested that Goldman revise the screenplay to ensure that characters the audience grew to like would survive. Filmed in Washington, D.C. between June and August 1996, the production utilized notable locations, including the apartment of journalist Christopher Hitchens and the Walters Art Museum, where Whitney is seen copying an El Greco painting.
Upon its release on February 14, 1997, the film received mixed critical reception. While reviewers like Janet Maslin praised Eastwood’s direction and performance, others criticized the plot as preposterous. Despite the mixed reviews, the film was a financial success, grossing $92.8 million worldwide against a $50 million budget. It notably held the number one spot in Italy for nine consecutive weeks. The film remains a distinct entry in Eastwood’s filmography, blending genre tropes with a cynical look at the abuse of executive authority.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Absolute Power (film)
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