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Mercury Rising
1998 111 min United States of America R 18+
★5.5
Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Director: Harold Becker
🎭 Based on
«Simple Simon»
byRyne Douglas Pearson
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
Renegade FBI agent Art Jeffries protects a nine-year-old autistic boy who has cracked the government's new "unbreakable" code.
Budget:
$60M
US Gross:
$32.94M
Worldwide:
$93.1M
Starring
Bruce Willis
Actor
Miko Hughes
Actor
Alec Baldwin
Actor
Awards
2 wins total
Key opinion
Mercury Rising is generally regarded as a competent but conventional thriller that relies heavily on Bruce Willis’s reliable screen presence. While the emotional bond between the protagonist and the autistic child serves as a compelling anchor for many, others criticize the film for predictable plotting and uneven performances from its supporting cast.
| Acting | Bruce Willis delivers a trademark, solid performance that effectively anchors the film's action and emotional stakes. | |
| Emotion | The core relationship between the protagonist and the autistic child provides a resonant emotional foundation for the narrative. | |
| Originality | The premise involving a boy who decodes a government secret provides an intriguing, high-stakes hook that keeps the story compelling. | |
| Acting | Opinions on Miko Hughes's portrayal of autism are divided; some viewers find his performance sympathetic and convincing, while others view it as an awkward or inaccurate imitation of previous portrayals. | |
| Acting | The quality of the antagonists is contentious; some find Alec Baldwin's performance charismatic or fitting, while others criticize the character writing as generic, wooden, or underdeveloped. | |
| Pacing | The pacing and execution are subjects of disagreement; supporters appreciate the focus on narrative tension over spectacle, while detractors argue the film lacks momentum and features poorly built suspense. |