Earlier this year I saw "First Daughter" with Katie Holmes. The movie I'm writing about now was also going to be called "First Daughter", and coincidentally dealt with the same plot lines the Holmes' film did. "First Daughter" was a bad film, with the best of intentions, and without trying to make any comparisons; somehow "Chasing Liberty" is a little bit better, when it isn't even good.
The format presented gives the main characters more freedom to develop their own relationship. These are Mandy Moore as Anna, the president's rebellious daughter; and Mathew Goode as undercover agent Ben Calder. What was a final revelation in "First Daughter" is the first thing we learn here. Calder has to protect the girl but something glows between them, and she doesn't know the truth.
The script by Derek Guiley and David Schneiderman very interestingly develops talks between them that indirectly define their situation, and how it could be handled; but they never say anything directly. At the same time, two secret service agents that take care of Anna work out their own relationship. It's good to see actors that play characters as the movie passes by, and these two agents are played by Jeremy Piven and Anabella Sciorra. They're both great and their chemistry is contagious, making the movie very pleasant.
And that's a very reliable proof that movies can depend on what they count with. Take Mark Harmon as the president, for example. He is much more pleasant and calmed than what any Michael Keaton could have achieved with extreme efforts. Then there's this supporting character, a very annoying world traveler called McGruff, who's played by Martin Hancock, and wins the audience with ten minutes of screen time.
It is hard to explain, but it's how I think it goes. And the movie also has Mandy Moore as its lead. How many times have I suggested that the girl stops recording albums and dedicates her time on an acting career? She's so talented and warm. She takes the clichéd role from the angle it should be taken and comes off as a winner. Mathew Goode is, however, the revelation. With the accent and the looks, he gives a safe and likable portrayal.
Director Andy Cadiff could easily be called a TV director, but the experience served him well; because he goes around Europe and enchants the viewer's yeas with the sceneries and shots. I hope he leaves the television business once and for all and tries to make more things in the big screen; he's got the talent for it.
His movie's definitely got the talent to be good too, but it fails. I believe that the film is much more complex than what it seems, but is blinded by the clichéd formula it follows and we miss to see the intelligence. "First Daughter" was about good intentions, "Chasing Liberty" is about good film-making, but lacks something I'll look for when I find it adequate.
The format presented gives the main characters more freedom to develop their own relationship. These are Mandy Moore as Anna, the president's rebellious daughter; and Mathew Goode as undercover agent Ben Calder. What was a final revelation in "First Daughter" is the first thing we learn here. Calder has to protect the girl but something glows between them, and she doesn't know the truth.
The script by Derek Guiley and David Schneiderman very interestingly develops talks between them that indirectly define their situation, and how it could be handled; but they never say anything directly. At the same time, two secret service agents that take care of Anna work out their own relationship. It's good to see actors that play characters as the movie passes by, and these two agents are played by Jeremy Piven and Anabella Sciorra. They're both great and their chemistry is contagious, making the movie very pleasant.
And that's a very reliable proof that movies can depend on what they count with. Take Mark Harmon as the president, for example. He is much more pleasant and calmed than what any Michael Keaton could have achieved with extreme efforts. Then there's this supporting character, a very annoying world traveler called McGruff, who's played by Martin Hancock, and wins the audience with ten minutes of screen time.
It is hard to explain, but it's how I think it goes. And the movie also has Mandy Moore as its lead. How many times have I suggested that the girl stops recording albums and dedicates her time on an acting career? She's so talented and warm. She takes the clichéd role from the angle it should be taken and comes off as a winner. Mathew Goode is, however, the revelation. With the accent and the looks, he gives a safe and likable portrayal.
Director Andy Cadiff could easily be called a TV director, but the experience served him well; because he goes around Europe and enchants the viewer's yeas with the sceneries and shots. I hope he leaves the television business once and for all and tries to make more things in the big screen; he's got the talent for it.
His movie's definitely got the talent to be good too, but it fails. I believe that the film is much more complex than what it seems, but is blinded by the clichéd formula it follows and we miss to see the intelligence. "First Daughter" was about good intentions, "Chasing Liberty" is about good film-making, but lacks something I'll look for when I find it adequate.