Patriot Games (1992)
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A former CIA analyst must confront a deadly terrorist plot after a violent encounter in London.
The story
Former CIA analyst Jack Ryan now teaches history at the United States Naval Academy. While in London with his wife Cathy and their young daughter Sally, Ryan intervenes in a terrorist kidnapping attempt involving a British Minister of State. Ryan is wounded but manages to disarm and neutralize several terrorists. However, the incident leads to a dangerous escalation when one of the terrorists, Sean Miller, escapes and is later freed by a radical IRA splinter cell. As Miller and his associates begin a hunt for Ryan, the former analyst must navigate a growing conspiracy to protect his family and the nation from a determined and vengeful enemy.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Former CIA analyst Jack Ryan, now a history teacher at the Naval Academy, intervenes in a terrorist kidnapping of Lord William Holmes in London. He wounds himself but neutralizes several terrorists, including Sean Miller. Miller is later freed by a radical IRA splinter cell and flees to the U.S. with a plan to assassinate Ryan. While Ryan's wife, Cathy, is pregnant, Miller's group launches a series of attacks, nearly hitting Ryan and causing a car accident that injures Cathy and their daughter. Ryan is urged by his former superior, Admiral James Greer, to rejoin the CIA to hunt the terrorists. Amidst the search, Ryan identifies a key informant and tracks the terrorists to a training camp in Libya, which is eventually raided by the Special Air Service. The terrorists flee to the U.S. to coincide with Lord Holmes's visit to Ryan's home. During a tense standoff at the residence, Ryan discovers the house's power has been cut and identifies the informant. After a violent confrontation where several terrorists are eliminated, Ryan engages in a high-speed boat chase with Miller. Miller, consumed by revenge, kills his own comrades and eventually faces off against Ryan on a boat. Ryan kills Miller during a struggle on an anchor and is rescued by an FBI team. The film ends with a medical update on the health of Ryan's unborn child.
- First release year
- 1992
- Runtime (minutes)
- 117
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Phillip Noyce
- Writers
- W. Peter Iliff · screenplay; Donald E. Stewart · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Harrison Ford · Jack Ryan; Anne Archer · Cathy; James Earl Jones · Admiral James Greer; Sean Bean · Miller; Patrick Bergin · none; Thora Birch · none; Samuel L. Jackson · none; James Fox · none; Richard Harris · none
- Genres
- action; thriller
- Themes
- revenge; terrorism; patriotism
- Tone and mood
- tense; action-packed
- Setting
- London, Maryland, and Libya during the early 1990s.
- Premise and plot tags
- spy; political thriller; action
- Source material / true-story basis
- Tom Clancy's 1987 novel of the same name
- Franchise connections
- Ryanverse
- Reception
- The film received a generally positive reception from critics.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 67 · scale: 100 · review count: 20
- Production trivia
- The film was the first to be allowed to film at the George Bush Center for Intelligence, CIA Headquarters.; The production budget was increased to $45 million due to reshoots of the ending.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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