he 2008 primary is a real challenge for incumbent U.S. President Walter Emerson (Pollak). He's facing a powerful opponent, tensions in Korea could explode into full-scale war at any moment, and, because he only took office four months earlier (following the unexpected death of his predecessor), most Americans are unsure he's competent to be president. Nonetheless, Emerson is aggressively seeking his party's nomination, and is campaigning in Colorado when caught in a blinding snowstorm.
Taking refuge at Morty's Roadside Diner, Emerson and his team are reveling
in their projected state primary victory when they learn through a TV
newscast that Iraq has once again invaded Kuwait. After conferring via
telephone with his generals in Washington--who all advise restraint--the
president believes that only one response is possible. In an impromptu speech
transmitted from the isolated restaurant, Emerson announces that Iraq must
withdraw its forces from Kuwait in less than two hours or the United States
will drop a nuclear bomb on Baghdad.
Stunned by the tough rhetoric, the president's aides, Chief of Staff
Marshall Thompson (Hutton) and National Security Advisor Gayle Redford
(Ralph), attempt to convince Emerson that his decision is wrong. Meanwhile,
the Iraqi ambassador reveals that his nation also has nuclear capabilities,
and indicates that the moment an American bomber enters Iraq's airspace, a
counterattack will be launched.
Tensions steadily build in the tiny diner as the deadline approaches. Thompson and Redford continue to pressure Emerson to back down from his deadly declaration, while the other restaurant patrons, including a "good old boy" named Ralph (Astin), can't believe what they are witnessing. But the
president stands firm, and as the clock ticks down, the future of humanity
hangs in the balance.
More failure than Fail-Safe
Deterrence is a cerebral story that focuses on the complex
political issues addressed during an international crisis. The story also
raises questions regarding the basic nature of the presidency and,
more specifically, the enigmatic Emerson. It's an ambitious agenda which,
while not entirely unsuccessful, falls short as both a believable drama and a
meaningful character study.
Up to a point, Pollak's performance is credible. As the president, he's forced
to make a decision that will have life or death consequences for billions of
people. Yet as a candidate, he's clearly in a situation where he must appear
powerful and unyielding. It's an intriguing dilemma, but one which
writer/director Rod Lurie largely glosses over. Instead, he has Emerson come
to a speedy conclusion without seriously consulting his advisors. The rest of
the movie is then spent listening to people trying to persuade the President
to change his mind.
Other elements also seem forced. Emerson's religious background is brought
up and serves as the heart of an insipid and utterly unnecessary interchange
with the diner's waitress. Additionally, most of the customers at the
restaurant are one-dimensional, adding little to the narrative
other than superfluous conflict.
The production is shoddy from a technical perspective, too. Lurie
occasionally pans across a scene for no apparent reason, and in a couple of
instances the camera's focus inexplicably changes. And, while the conclusion
is unexpected, it's not entirely plausible. In the end, Deterrence
isn't dreadful, but it's more failure than Fail-Safe.
