Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
A master thief coincidentally is robbing a house where a murder—in which the President of the United States is involved—occurs in front of his eyes. He is forced to run, while holding evidence that could convict the President.
Absolute Power is elevated chiefly by its cast — Clint Eastwood directing himself opposite Gene Hackman, Ed Harris, and Laura Linney gives the film a weight beyond its pulpy thriller premise. The setup is genuinely gripping: a master thief witnesses a presidential cover-up through a one-way mirror, a clever hook that generates real tension. However, the plot mechanics grow increasingly contrived as the film progresses, relying on coincidences and a villain whose motivations strain credibility. Cinematography is competent and atmospheric but unremarkable for the era. The concept of a thief-as-reluctant-witness to high-level corruption has a certain distinctiveness, but the execution follows fairly conventional thriller beats. The ending deflates the earlier tension with a resolution that feels rushed and emotionally unsatisfying given the father-daughter relationship the film worked to build.