The Sentinel
A philandering Secret Service agent is framed for an assassination attempt.
Michael Douglas is sleeping with the wrong woman again, said Michael Phillips in the Chicago Tribune. In The Sentinel, he plays ace Secret Service Agent Pete Garrison, who once took a bullet for Ronald Reagan. Now he heads the team guarding first lady Sarah Ballentine—played by Kim Basinger—whom he is secretly servicing. Explicit photos of their liaison are used to blackmail Garrison and frame him for an assassination attempt on President Ballentine. From there, the film 'œskitters off in other, awkwardly plotted and credulity-straining directions.' Basically, The Sentinel reworks 'œevery police thriller where a top cop falls under suspicion and must use the tools of his trade to prove his innocence while on the lam,' said Kirk Honeycutt in The Hollywood Reporter. It's incredible enough that the Secret Service guy is having an affair with the president's wife right under his nose. But it gets worse. A colleague of Garrison is murdered minutes before he is to spill confidential information to the beleaguered agent. Then the investigation is assigned to a man who hates Garrison for allegedly sleeping with his wife. Things pick up steam once Garrison is underground—and Douglas is 'œfree to be an action hero.' And a fine job he does of that, said John DeVore in The New York Sun. Who else can make 'œWall Street sharks, adulterers, and sex-crazed cops seem charismatic and sympathetic?'
Rating: PG-13
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
The struggles of Aston Martin
In the Spotlight The car manufacturer, famous for its association with the James Bond franchise, is ‘running out of road’
-
The end of ‘golden ticket’ asylum rights
The Explainer Refugees lose automatic right to bring family over and must ‘earn’ indefinite right to remain
-
Grecotel Luxme Dama Dama: Greek luxury with a breezy beach vibe
The Week Recommends Rhodes is reimagined in this refined and relaxed resort