Absolute Power

Luther Whitney, a master thief, is robbing a mansion when he has to hide behind a one-way mirror. From there he witnesses a killing: the owner's young wife is shot by Secret Service agents during a struggle with the President of the United States. Luther gets out with the evidence. From then on the police and the White House are both looking for him, and he has to make contact with the daughter he has not spoken to in years. Clint Eastwood directed, produced and played Luther. Gene Hackman, Ed Harris, Laura Linney, Scott Glenn and Judy Davis are in the cast. William Goldman adapted David Baldacci's novel. Goldman made one significant change: in the book Luther is killed early and the story continues through his daughter. In the film he stays to the end, because Eastwood was playing him. Who it is for: viewers who like nineties star-cast thrillers and Eastwood's plain, unfussy direction. Who it is not for: anyone wanting political realism. The president is drawn close to caricature and the conspiracy logic is not tight.