Absolute Power

Absolute Power is a solid thriller which, as a thriller, is obliged to move at a suitably high pace, but which nevertheless dares to slow the pace down in long scenes. The film takes its time, then, to tell its exciting story about the ageing but still highly professional burglar Luther Whitney, who is surprised during one of his break-ins at a rich man's mansion and has to hide. From there he witnesses a murder, and the murderer (or murderers) is not just anyone. Nor is the victim. None other than President Alan Richmond is having an affair with the young wife of his biggest benefactor and old friend Walter Sullivan. The president gets too rough. It ends in a fight. The Secret Service come to the president's aid – a murder is committed. When the president, his chief of staff Gloria Russell and the bodyguards discover that someone witnessed the murder, which is officially the work of a desperate burglar, Luther can no longer feel safe. His grown-up daughter also gets caught up in the affair, but Luther is not a man to be trifled with.

It is nice to see that Clint acknowledges his age and here plays a man who is thinking about his retirement and the family life he cut himself off from. The relationship between father and daughter does become a touch too sentimental at the end, though.