Jamie Foxx and Channing Tatum have firmly established themselves as significant figures in the action film arena. Foxx’s journey in this genre began with the dark comedy Bait, released in 2000, under the direction of acclaimed filmmaker Antoine Fuqua, known for his work on The Equalizer. Recently, Foxx has broadened his action portfolio with the Netflix release Back in Action, where he reunites with Annie co-star Cameron Diaz, portraying former CIA operatives drawn back into their precarious pasts.
Evaluating White House Down
Critical Perspectives on the Film
In an analysis of the 2013 action thriller White House Down, a former Army Special Forces operative shares his insights into the film’s realism. The narrative unfolds as a group of armed paramilitary intruders strikes the White House. Featuring an ensemble cast that includes Tatum, Foxx, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Richard Jenkins, and Jason Clarke, the film garnered mixed reviews. It holds a modest 52% rating on the Tomatometer at Rotten Tomatoes and achieved a box office total of $205.3 million globally against a $150 million production budget.
ScreenRant’s Ben Kendrick rated the film a 6 out of 10, highlighting that while attempts to intertwine contemporary issues lend relevance to the plot, director Roland Emmerich’s overt messaging can lead to anticipated outcomes that alienate certain audiences, particularly those who may disagree with his simplistic characterization of the political landscape.
In a recent video interview with Insider, Bob Keller, a veteran of the United States Army Special Forces and Delta Force, criticized several aspects of White House Down, particularly focusing on its climactic sequence. Keller expressed skepticism about the portrayal of military operations, noting that a real-life Special Forces team would necessitate extensive preparation and research. He emphasized inaccuracies such as the helicopters identifying as Special Forces, which would not occur in operational practice. Keller ultimately assigned the film a score of 4 out of 10 for its authenticity.
“So this is supposed to be the unit coming in on these gunships. And they’re going to save the White House. I mean you can never say never. We’re not supposed to do missions in the United States, and that’s how anything military, that’s the whole posse comitatus, right? That would be one situation that the White House is down. You should probably come to the best guys at hostage rescue. I can’t say what happened, should have happened, heck yeah.
Would you actually come in on helicopters for a mission like that? It’s all situation dependent. I’m probably not going to infill from the air on a mission like that. And then flying through the streets? How cool is that. They’re masking that they’re actually coming in is the reason why they’re doing that. Would you actually pick that route? Probably not. I mean you could do a false insertion or have them there as a distraction. I mean there are tunnels going into the White House. There’s other ways to get into the White House that you would have privilege to if this was going down.
It’s funny that the reporter, as they’re flying over, she’s saying ‘oh, it’s special forces coming over.’ How the heck does she know that? It doesn’t say special forces on the helicopter. But it’s the movie thing.
And that’s another thing too. You would have done the research before going. You would know that these guys have any kind of heat-seeking missiles, so you’d be like alright, coming in on that helicopters, that’s out of the equation. We’re not using air assets to do this. But it looks cool. And why not? This one’s kind of janky. I’d give it a 4.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHVHnVwUbDghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHVHnVwUbDg
Implications for White House Down
Understanding Its Reception
Despite the film’s average reviews, Keller remains somewhat positive, stating that “it looks cool,”reflecting its entertainment value despite its inaccuracies. Critiques of the script also add to the narrative that audiences found flaws in White House Down. This analysis highlights how a film, while being crafted for visual appeal, can struggle with authenticity and coherence, inviting both criticism and appreciation.
Source: Insider