Product Description

There's never been a traitor in the United States Secret Service...until now. And the evidence points to Pete Garrison (Douglas), one of the most trusted agents on the force. Now on the run, with two relentless federal investigators (Sutherland and Longoria) hot on his heels, Garrison must fight to clear his name and thwart an attempt on the President's life before it's too late!

Product Details

• Released on: 2006-08-29
• Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Dubbed, Subtitled, NTSC, Import
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Spanish
• Dubbed in: English, French, Spanish
• Dimensions: .20 pounds
• Running time: 108 minutes

Review
A movie dealing with treachery in the Secret Service obviously has the potential to be a crackerjack thriller. Unfortunately, The Sentinel isn't up to the task; George Nolfi's script (based on a Gerald Petievich novel) is riddled with implausible twists and plot holes. It's also an easy bet that many viewers will guess the mystery villain before that person is revealed. Clark Johnson's sleek yet impersonal direction keeps the story on its feet but lacks the verve or intensity to gloss over the story's flaws. Thankfully, The Sentinel does have an ace up its sleeve in the form of a very good cast: Michael Douglas fills the shoes of the story's beleaguered hero with ease, Kiefer Sutherland makes an excellent sparring partner for him, and Kim Basinger is sympathetic and appealing as Douglas' conflicted lady love. Ultimately, The Sentinel is too gimmicky and underdeveloped to hold up to a scrutiny, but it's a passable time-waster for anyone in an undemanding mood. ~ Donald Guarisco, All Movie Guide

On the DVD
ccAlternate ending and deleted scenes with optional commentary by screenwriter George Nolfi
Full-length audio commentary by director Clark Johnson and screenwriter George Nolfi
The Secret Service: Building on a Tradition of Excellence featurette
In the President's Shadow: Protecting the President featurette

Synopsis
A man who has devoted himself to serving the leader of the free world is accused of plotting against him in this thriller. Pete Garrison (Michael Douglas) is a veteran Secret Service agent who has had a long and distinguished career helping protect the president of the United States. David Breckinridge (Kiefer Sutherland) is a fellow Secret Service agent who learned most of what he knows from Garrison and holds him in great respect. When intelligence data suggests that there is a mole within the Secret Service who is part of a plot to assassinate President Ballentine (David Rasche), Garrison launches an investigation to ferret out the rogue agent, and asks Breckinridge to go over the evidence with a fine-toothed comb. Breckinridge is shocked when the clues point to Garrison as the traitor within the Secret Service, but his sense of duty compels him to see that his former mentor is placed under arrest. Garrison eludes his captors and struggles to prove his innocence while tracking down the real conspirator and eluding the agents who were once his colleagues. As Breckinridge leads the search for Garrison, another ranking agent, Jill Marin (Eva Longoria) plays devil's advocate, convinced that Garrison couldn't possibly be the rat in the house. The Sentinel also co-stars Kim Basinger as the First Lady. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Customer Reviews

Nice idea but not sensational
This movie serves as a sharp reminder of how paramount it is to the success of a film to have decent writers on board. I know it may sound like an utterly trite, common-sense lesson, but the fact that this movie turned out the way it did shows that there are people out there in Hollywood who have not yet learned. This movie had a really solid cast, a big budget, and an exciting premise. And yet, from beginning to end, viewers are served up forgettable characters with poorly-developed back-stories, going through the motions in a plot that never hooks their interest. I watched the whole movie and could care less about Michael Douglas's fugitive character. This one does not measure up to the level of The Fugitive (1993). It is definitely more on par with say, U.S. Marshals (1998).

In fact, the only thing about this film that is worthy of discussion is which of its many facets was the most one-dimensional? There is a serious competition going on between: the main-character's relationship with the first lady, his feud with Keifer Sutherland's character, the secret plot to kill the President, the rookie agent played by Eva Longoria, and finally the question of which member of the Secret Service is a mole.

The film's climax and subsequent resolution one finds boring, banal answers to all of those questions that they never really cared much about to begin with. The overall impact on the viewer was virtually non-existent. This movie was lighter than air.

Overall, I think a 3 stars' is reasonable mark: the movie could have gone straight to the TV (as some other users say). There's not so much difference between this film and the ones you might see at home. `The Sentinel' is a forgettable thriller and there is absolutely no reason to recommend it.

interesting.
This movie was pretty good to watch. I expected more from a movie starring Michael Douglas. The story was good but had some aspects that really didn't need to be in the movie. The main character having an affair with the first lady was something that I could have done without. The movie seemed short and the idea of police chasing an innocent man while he tries to prove himself innocent is over done. If you want a better version of this movie rent/buy Fugitive starring Harrison Ford.