The Siege (1998)

: Sweet Potato

Directed by: Edward Zwick
Starring: Denzel Washington, Annette Bening, Bruce Willis, Tony Shalhoub

Wow! This film is eerily prophetic as it explores the concept of terrorism in New York City – Pre 9/11. The twin towers, still visible in the NYC skyline, are a haunting reminder of that day. Denzel Washington is excellent as an FBI agent on a mission to find and stop the terrorist cell, while Bruce Willis is totally convincing as a no nonsense Major General tasked with an unenviable job but determined to fulfill it. The film gives you a chilling glimpse of what we could resort to in response to such a terrorist threat. I found myself wondering if George Bush ever considered the same action, and I shuddered. The film also juggles the political hot potatoes of torture, racial profiling and inter-agency cooperation, which makes it that much more foretelling. This action flick probably doesn’t deliver enough explosive energy for fans of that genre, but it does sizzle with social and political relevancy.

-PotatoPatti