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Here, however, Willis must rely on others to bring him info, and the end result is that the film never gains much momentum.Īnother problem lies with the film's villains.

Mercury rising how to#

Audiences traditionally like proactive heroes who figure out how to stop the bad guys. When not carrying the screaming, flailing child under his arm, the good cop (or FBI agent, as it is) must avoid the bad cop (or NSA assassin) until the final confrontation where the good guy not surprisingly, and of course quite predictably, wins.īeyond that, the film's biggest problem is that director Harold Becker ('Sea of Love,' 'City Hall') and screenwriters Lawrence Konner and Mark Rosenthal ('The Jewel of the Nile,' 'Star Trek VI,') haven't given Art much to do other than run and hide.

Yet, since this film only uses autism as an obstacle for the main character - instead of allowing him to learn and change as did Tom Cruise's character in 'Rainman' - the film simply becomes a standard issue suspense flick. Putting an autistic child in harm's way easily and quickly generates audience sympathy, and the fact that Willis' character puts his career and life at risk for the boy makes him A-Ok in our books. Willis fans will have to wait until his 'big' movie, 'Armageddon,' arrives this summer hoping that picture will turn out better.Įssentially a combo of 'Witness,' where a cop takes a boy under his wings to protect him from the 'bad guys,' and 'Rainman,' where the main character's efforts are hampered by a communicably challenged, autistic person, the film both benefits from, and is hurt by its construction.

Mercury rising movie#

A tepid thriller that works on the most basic level, this movie surprisingly feels rather flat throughout most of the production despite a few standard-issue action set pieces. OUR TAKE: 4.5 out of 10 Call it 'Rainman Witness' for combining elements of two other popular movies, but 'Mercury Rising' isn't likely to raise temperatures in theaters this spring.

Mercury rising code#

ALEC BALDWIN plays an NSA official who orders that boy, his family, and anyone else connected to the secret code killed in order to save thousands of others' lives (his own personal justification).BRUCE WILLIS plays an FBI agent who will risk anything and everything to protect a young, autistic boy.WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R For violence and language.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're fans of Bruce Willis films, they might, but it's doubtful many preteens will want to see it. Jordon (CHI McBRIDE) and Stacey (KIM DICKENS), a stranger woman he has just met, Jeffries does what he must to protect the boy, expose the bad NSA officials, and keep from being killed by Burell (L.L. Getting reluctant help from his fellow agent, Tommy B. Suddenly, he's now wanted for kidnaping, and no one will believe his theory that someone's trying to kill the boy. After learning that someone ordered the police surveillance dropped at the local hospital, Jeffries takes Simon and goes on the run. Assigned to investigate the double homicide, Jeffries intuitively knows the boy is also in danger. Formerly an undercover agent, Jeffries has recently been relegated to routine operations after being labeled as delusional by his superiors. The boy's parents are murdered, but Simon manages to hide until he's later found by F.B.I. Shocked, they immediately report the breach to their supervisor, Nicholas Kudrow (ALEC BALDWIN), a high-ranking NSA official, who orders that the boy and his family be assassinated to insure national security. After deciphering a top-secret military code, nicknamed Mercury, that had been placed in a puzzle magazine for last-minute, redundant quality control, however, Simon's world suddenly changes forever.Īlthough the writers of the code, Dean Crandell (ROBERT STANTON) and Leo Pedranski (BODHI PINE ELFMAN), never figured anyone could break it, Simon calls in with the answer. Barely able to communicate with the outside world, he spends his time solving puzzles with amazing speed and ease. PLOT: Nine-year-old Simon Lynch (MIKO HUGHES) is an autistic savant.

QUICK TAKE: Suspense/Drama: An FBI agent must protect a nine-year-old autistic child from government officials who want the boy eliminated after he unknowingly breaks a top-secret military code.