Chain Reaction (1996)

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Siskoid
I saw Chain Reaction in theaters back in 1996, and all I remembered was the leading man (it's Keanu, but I think in my memory it was Johnny Depp - I must have conflated the movie with Nick of Time) escaping a giant explosion on a motorcycle. So maybe not the most memorable action thriller. Watching it again more than 20 years later, I thought it was pretty good, actually! Oh sure, the 90s frame job conspiracy plot is mostly be the numbers and as with most action films, you can drive vehicles through the plot holes, but the director of The Fugitive is eminently qualified to direct a cross-country chase, and does so well. The action and tension work. The energy crisis premise is still relevant. Morgan Freeman plays a more ambiguous figure than these films normally get (normally, it'd all be more like Brian Cox's character). The FBI characters aren't doofuses and are worth cheering on. Rachel Weisz's acting is almost too good for this movie. And Keanu is engaging as a machinist who actually uses his skill set to good effect throughout (if your action hero isn't going to be a cop, make the difference count). And bonus points for staging a lot of the action in wintry conditions - we never get enough of that and I feel underrepresented as a citizen of northern climes. 4 years 7 months ago
kyla3
The composed music for this movie was what every 90's movie should have. 11 years 8 months ago