Vantage Point

I recently watched Vantage Point and it was a really a mixed bag. I guess it was an okay movie. It was interesting to see each person’s individual point of view but there are so many plot holes or plot devices that were just really weak.

You really have to watch the movie to understand this review. I just can’t review this movie without tearing apart the plot. Everything else like the acting and the action sequences were decent and pretty good actually.

********** MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD **********

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

Obvious Twist/Villain

I called one of the villains very early on – the Secret Service agent played by Matthew Fox. It was kind of a twist and revealed later in one of the sequences but it was so obvious. When he ran off to check the room the shot came from, I said “he’s a bad guy.” There’s just no way someone manages to shoot the President (or fake President actually) or know his itinerary without inside help. And near the end, during the car chase, they tried to show he’s been living a double life and his native language is Spanish, but Matthew Fox’s Spanish was really bad. It sounded slow and rehearsed, not natural at all.

Things That Don’t Really Make a Lot of Sense

Secret Service Agent is Really a Terrorist

And how does a terrorist get to become a Secret Service agent? From his short Spanish explanation he apparently was living a double life for years. So you’re supposed to assume he was a “sleeper” for a really long time. OKAY then.

Cop Unknowingly Brings In Satchel of C4

The cop that was seduced by the female villain brings in her bag without knowing there are explosives inside. Apparently she worked up a fake relationship with him just so on this day he could bypass the security check and bring in her bag that she forgot. Shouldn’t the Secret Service be doing the security checks? It was just local police. The guy flashes his badge and they ask if he’s armed. He says yes, and hilariously, the guard says “okay, I’ll turn off the metal detector”.

Super-Assassin Being Coerced

Then there’s the assassin/random guy whose brother is kidnapped and threatened. And he kills like 50 Secret Service agents by himself with a pistol. They explain this in one sentence when the main villain says on the phone “your brother spoke very highly of your special forces training.” OKAY then.

Secret Service Agents Don’t Wear Bullet-Proof Vests

I don’t understand why none of the Secret Service agents wear bullet proof vests. Every single agent that got shot, was hit in the chest or torso. All of them would’ve survived if they were wearing vests. Especially when they’re expected to block bullets for the President. I’m not an expert, but I think it’s extremely practical for a bodyguard to wear a bullet-proof vest.

Random Dude Filming Things

And they even threw in the random spectator, played by Forest Whitaker, who’s running around trying to film everything. It was so random and pointless. Actually if this character didn’t exist, it wouldn’t really have made a difference in the sequence of events.

Bad Guy Chooses Not to Run Over Little Girl

The primary villain manages to kidnap the President but it all gets undone because he refuses to run over a little girl (who was annoying as hell). Seriously what kind of kid is dumb enough to try and walk across a highway? Also, keep in mind this villain has masterminded the murders of tons of people that day and brutally killed the assassin’s little brother (whom he had kidnapped and promised to let go if the assassin did his part). BUT he refuses to run over this girl. Yes, that sure makes a lot of sense. Cold-blooded, ruthless killer with a heart.

Commercials Revealed Most of the Movie

Also, I remember the commercials for this movie basically revealed major parts of the story. That the President gets shot but it turns out it was a double and the real President is someplace safe but still gets kidnapped. What does it say about a movie when a commercial sums it all up? The movie basically filled in details and added action sequences. I think the movie would’ve been more enjoyable if these things weren’t revealed.

Conclusion: Bad Movie

I change my mind, it was not okay. In light of all these things, it was actually a pretty bad movie.