Harrison Ford As President James Marshall (Air Force One, 1997)
It is, perhaps, the biggest fantasy surrounding the U.S Presidency – that the person holding that office would suddenly be able to reveal themselves as some kind of superhero, when faced with a physical threat to themselves and the nation. We want the President to be proficient in defence of self and country, because that makes us feel safe. Maybe this is really why so many previous holders of the Oval Office have served in the military.
Air Force One takes that fantasy, and cranks it up to full volume. Written by Andrew W. Marlowe, and directed by Wolfgang Petersen, it depicts the fall-out from a mission completed by U.S and Russian Special Forces, to capture a Russian terrorist threatening to re-ignite the Cold War. U.S President James Marshall attends a Russian State Dinner several weeks later, and during the return flight, Air Force One is hijacked by Russian terrorists posing as journalists. Taking staffers and the wife and child of President Marshall hostage, they demand the release of their leader.
It’s a classic action movie set-up, and it enables President Marshall – a Vietnam veteran – to employ all of his military training to resolve the situation. The difference is that now, he has the full resource of the American government and military at his command – and he uses them wisely.
