French Canadian director Christian Duguay does not display an original idea in the entire film, but he's a slick synthesist who melds various styles effectively and sustains a mood of deepening paranoia.
The Art of War (2000)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:80
Fresh:13
Rotten:67
Average Rating:3.9/10
Consensus: The Art of War is basically a messy recycling of well-worn action movie cliches.
Runtime: 1 hr 57 mins
Genre: Action/Adventure
Box Office: $0
Synopsis:
A group of murdered Chinese refugees is found in a container in the New York harbor, setting off a bizarre and mysterious chain of events leading to the murder of the Chinese U.N. Ambassador. When...
A group of murdered Chinese refugees is found in a container in the New York harbor, setting off a bizarre and mysterious chain of events leading to the murder of the Chinese U.N. Ambassador. When Shaw is accused of the crime, he must go underground -- in effect, vanish from his own life, to solve the mystery and clear his name. He can trust no one except a beautiful U.N. translator (Marie Matiko) who may hold the key to a global conspiracy of cataclysmic proportions.
Wesley Snipes stars in The Art of War, an international thriller set against the high-stakes corridors of the United Nations. The film also stars Anne Archer (Clear And Present Danger, Short Cuts) as Shaw’s supervisor, Hooks, an ambitious FBI agent; Maury Chaykin (Entrapment) as Capella; Marie Matiko (The Corruptor) as Julia Fang, the U.N. translator who is Shaw’s only ally; and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa as Chan, the ruthless businessman Shaw suspects of being the mastermind behind the plot; with Michael Biehn (Aliens, the upcoming Cherry Falls) as Shaw’s American agent partner, Bly; and Donald Sutherland (Instinct, A Time To Kill) as U.N. Secretary General Thomas. Also featured in the cast are James Hong (Red Corner), as Ambassador Wu, and Liliana Komorowska (The Assignment) as Novak.
Directed by Christian Duguay (TV’s Joan of Arc, The Assignment) from a screenplay by Wayne Beach and Simon Davis Barry and story by Wayne Beach, the film is produced by Nicolas Clermont (This Is My Father, Monument Avenue) for Franchise Pictures. Elie Samaha, Dan Halsted and Wesley Snipes are the executive producers. Morgan Creek Productions, Inc. and Franchise Pictures and Amen Ra Films present a Filmline International Production of a film by Christian Duguay, Wesley Snipes stars in The Art of War. The film is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Starring: Wesley Snipes, Anne Archer, Maury Chaykin, Marie Matiko
Starring: Wesley Snipes, Anne Archer, Maury Chaykin, Marie Matiko, Michael Biehn, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Donald Sutherland
Director: Christian Duguay
Director: Christian Duguay
Screenwriter: Wayne Beach, Kevin Bernhardt, Simon Davis Barry
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Reviews for The Art of War
As with Blade, Snipes and Co. have crafted a piece that is fast-moving and filled with hot action; we should be thankful for that.
It's an escapist, over-the-top guy movie, and a long way from subtle, but not the worst of its genre. Those drawn to this type of movie are unlikely to be disappointed.
The Art of War manages to entertain without being enriching, and, at least in some circles, that's the definition of what a summer film is supposed to accomplish.
I chose to enjoy this film as an action-packed popcorn ride starring badass Wesley Snipes kicking butt all over the place, and by God ... it worked!
I'm happy to report that while it's deeply flawed, it's not by any means a bad film.
A formulaic spy thriller with an intricate puzzle-box story and action that speeds along nicely once it gets going.
With charisma, acting ability and physical prowess to spare, Mr. Snipes is in a league of his own and makes a mediocre movie worth watching simply by stepping in front of the camera.
Although those heavy on testosterone might enjoy it, personally, I found a lot of The Art of War tired and truly unbelievable.
Christian Duguay has spent way too much time studying frenetic 60-second commercials and Hong Kong martial arts movies to remember how to make a lucid tale.
The plot is horribly predictable, and the method to the bad guys' madness is confusing.
Latest News for The Art of War
August 13, 2008:
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