White House Down
2013 · Directed by Roland Emmerich
Original language: English
- action
- drama
- thriller
The story
Capitol Policeman John Cale has just been denied his dream job with the Secret Service protecting President James Sawyer. Not wanting to let down his little girl with the news, he takes her on a tour of the White House, when the complex is overtaken by a heavily armed paramilitary group. Now, with the nation's government falling into chaos and time running out, it's up to Cale to save the president, his daughter, and the country.
What it’s like
Bright, saturated daylight floods the White House interiors and then gives way to smoke, sparks and flickering emergency red, with the camera swinging through marble corridors in fast, roving movement. Emmerich fills the frame with CGI-polished spectacle: slick digital explosions, sweeping aerial shots of the Washington monuments, and a glossy, big-budget sheen throughout. The score is brassy and insistent, rarely letting up, and the sound design favours gunfire, crashing glass and roaring vehicles. Pacing is relentless once the takeover begins, with short scenes cutting between the Capitol, the Oval Office and a father hiding his daughter in the building's warren of rooms; the emotional arc follows a dad who has been overlooked and must prove himself, with a warm, buddy-movie rapport building between him and the president. Violence is frequent and loud, with gunfights, explosions and bodies falling, but it stays bloodless and cartoonishly heroic rather than gory; there is some peril for a child and moments of tension, though little real cruelty. Best for viewers who want a loud, crowd-pleasing action romp on a Friday night, or anyone who enjoys over-the-top patriotic set pieces and a comedic, sometimes winking, tone.
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