Sentinel, The

Stars: Michael Douglas, Kiefer Sutherland, Eva Longoria, Kim Basinger

Director: Clark Johnson

Despite the deserved accolades for his work on 24, big-screen success continues to elude the gruffly charismatic Kiefer Sutherland. Silly dialogue, poor work behind the camera and unbelievable changes of direction in the plot sink this seemingly solid but finally woeful thriller about yet another attempt to assassinate a US President.

Douglas stars as an agent blackmailed by pictures of his affair with the First Lady (Basinger). 'Night vision camera...' he tells her, 'by a gyroscope. On a boat. Very sophisticated.' (That got a laugh).

Soon he finds himself framed - and pursued by old pal Sutherland, who believes he's the White House mole in the plot to kill the Prez.

The potential is here for a fizzing thriller full of tense sequences, but the action is badly handled and, under the strain of risible dialogue, the actors fail to convince - least of all Longoria of Desperate Housewives fame as Sutherland's new partner, who shows up for duty on her first day sporting noticeable cleavage.

Back to 24, Kiefer, it's so much better.

David Quinlan

USA 2006. UK Distributor: 20th Century Fox. Technicolor.
108 minutes. Widescreen. UK certificate: 12A.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 0, Violence/Horror 1, Drugs 0, Swearing 0.

Review date: 27 Aug 2006