Outbreak (1995)

	Directed by: Wolfgang Petersen	COUNTRY USA GENRE Thriller/Action/Drama NORWEGIAN TITLE Outbreak – i faresonen RUNNING TIME 127 minutes
	Produced by: Gail Katz Arnold Kopelson Wolfgang Petersen
	Written by: Laurence Dworet Robert Roy Pool

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Col. Sam Daniels	Dustin Hoffman
Robby Keough	Rene Russo	½
Brig. Gen. Billy Ford	Morgan Freeman
Maj. Casey Schuler	Kevin Spacey	½
Maj. Salt	Cuba Gooding Jr.
Maj. Gen. Donald McClintock	Donald Sutherland	½
Jimbo Scott	Patrick Dempsey	½

Review

Outbreak presents a semi-scientific basis that is adequate for most viewers, spinning its clever, high-octane suspense plot around this. The director is Wolfgang Petersen – a man well-acquainted with technological catastrophe thrillers. This time he works our intellect and spine at once, portraying one of humanity's greatest fears: a new plague. What is remarkable here is how Petersen manages to merge a jam-packed, roaming screenplay into a slick and effective film. It's so manipulative that we can't help being sucked in. Petersen works well with his performers too – Dustin Hoffman gives one of his best performances on this side of the 1980s. He is industrious and believable, both as a scientist and as an accidental action hero. Sure, the formulaics threaten to take over towards the end, but the film balances just on the right side of ridicule – much like Speed, another good action film from the same era. An era that produced some great action films capable of sustaining pace without becoming overly frenzied.

Copyright © 08.10.2009 Fredrik Gunerius Fevang

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