It’s a fall into grace…

Johnson Thomas

In this third edition Secret Agent Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) is called upon to re-verify his credentials as an ace, always bankable presidential guard…and this after he has, for the third time, rescued the President (Morgan Freeman taking over from Aaron Eckhart) from sure-fire death. He has to do it on the run while under severe pressure and pain from a stress headache- with the top most sleuthing agencies of the USA gunning for his blood.

Top Secret Service agents like Banning are never beyond suspicion, I guess. Despite having risked his life and taken down an army of terrorists holding the President hostage in the White House (Olympus Has Fallen) and successfully escorting the commander-in-chief through London during an attack that killed several world leaders (London Has Fallen), he still has to prove his allegiance. 

In this film, President Allan Trumbull’s entire security staff is wiped out during a fishing expedition and it’s Banning alone who manages to keep the president alive. With Turnbull conveniently comatose Vice-President Kirby (Tim Blake Nelson) sworn in as acting President, okays Banning’s arrest for being in cahoots with the Russians.  

Screenwriters Robert Mark Kamen, Matt Cook, Ric Roman Waugh work on a story by Creighton Rothenberger, Katrin Benedikt; based on characters created by Creighton Rothenberger, Katrin Benedikt, to cook up a narrative that increments the odds with double-crossing deeds and constantly inventive flash fire. While the film is not exactly a high class thriller, it manages to ensnare with a phenomenal body count and reverberating mayhem. The writers also write in some psychological byplay by bringing about an alienated eccentric Vietnam vet father (Nick Nolte) and son (Banning/Butler) reconciliation. The artillery bursts on display here are likely to take your fancy and the action is thrilling and not without tension. Butler, Freeman and Nolte display their incendiary charm and formidable talent to rope in the fence sitters. Angel Has Fallen, in spite of its regurgitated plotline, is potent enough to draw you into the theatres!