Chain Reaction

1996

PG-13

1h 47m

IMDb RATING

5.8/10

1.1K

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Science Fiction

Action

Drama

Thriller

At the University of Chicago, a research team that includes brilliant student machinist Eddie Kasalivich experiences a breakthrough: a stable form of fusion that may lead to a waste-free energy source. However, a private company wants to exploit the technology, so Kasalivich and physicist Dr. Lily Sinclair are framed for murder, and the fusion device is stolen. On the run from the FBI, they must recover the technology and exonerate themselves.

Directors

Andrew Davis

Writers

J.F. Lawton(screenplay by)

Michael Bortman(screenplay by)

Arne Schmidt(story by)

Stars

Keanu Reeves

Morgan Freeman

Rachel Weisz

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Videos2

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Photos85

Top cast

Eddie Kasalivich

Paul Shannon

Dr. Lily Sinclair

FBI Agent Leon Ford

FBI Agent Doyle

Lyman Earl Collier

Maggie McDermott

Ed Rafferty

Dr. Alistair Barkley

Lu Chen

Lucasz Screbneski

Emily Pearl

Chidi Egbuna

James Washington

Morris Grodsky

Lab Techie #3

Video Dan

Caleb Williams

Directors

Andrew Davis

Writers

J.F. Lawton(screenplay by)

Michael Bortman(screenplay by)

Arne Schmidt(story by)

All cast & crew

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Review

Featured review

6/10

I think it was Roger Moore (or maybe Michael Caine) who, when asked about some rotten film he made, said he didn't recall the film but he did the house it paid for. Well, clearly that philosophy was not just limited to the 1970s. Here we have another such film featuring the slightly unkempt Keanu Reeves ("Eddie") who is working with fellow scientist "Lily" (Rachel Weisz) on some revolutionary green technological advances. Next thing, his father is found with a plastic bag over his head, things start exploding and the two are wanted by the FBI for murder, treason - just about every crime in the book. What now ensues is the usual manhunt drama with a truly off-form Brian Cox ("Collier") and a slightly more benign "Shannon" (Morgan Freeman - not playing the President this time) in hot pursuit. The plot is simple, yet the attempts to introduce red herrings - whom can they trust, etc? - merely serve to clutter it all up. Somebody somewhere decided this couldn't just be an action thriller, it had to have some worthier purpose. Well, I am afraid that just fell flat. Keanu is a handsome man, and in many, many of his roles that carries his somewhat limited acting abilities; well not here and Weisz doesn't really turn up either. That said, the production standards are decent, and there is plenty of action to keep the thing moving along but the formula is tired and I was pretty bored after the first fifteen minutes. The film managed to sustain that ennui quite successfully, too.

Geronimo196722 Jul, 2023