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The Siege
1998 116 min United States of America R 16+
★6.1
Drama, Action, Thriller, Crime
Director: Edward Zwick
Trailers
Description
The secret US abduction of a suspected terrorist from his Middle East homeland leads to a wave of terrorist attacks in New York. An FBI senior agent and his team attempt to locate and decommission the enemy cells, but must also deal with an Army General gone rogue and a female CIA agent of uncertain loyalties.
Budget:
$70M
US Gross:
$40.98M
Worldwide:
$116.7M
Starring
Denzel Washington
Actor
Bruce Willis
Actor
Annette Bening
Actor
Awards
2 wins & 4 nominations total
Key opinion
The Siege is a grand political thriller that explores the intense friction between national security and civil liberties in the face of terrorism. While its striking visuals and prophetic themes are widely praised, its political message remains a subject of significant debate.
| Cinematography | Deakins’ striking visual style and grand scale effectively convey a sense of societal paranoia. | |
| Theme | The narrative offers a prophetic exploration of the erosion of civil liberties and the complexities of global terrorism. | |
| Score | The film is enhanced by a memorable and unusual musical score. | |
| Acting | Lead performances are inconsistent, with Bruce Willis providing a memorable presence while Denzel Washington is often noted as underperforming. | |
| Culture | The film's political orientation is deeply polarizing, viewed by some as pro-American propaganda and by others as an ambiguous critique of hegemonic power. |