Harrison Ford in Firewall is the ordinary family guy whose family is threatened, then he outsmarts the bad guys and wins in the end after beating up on the bad guys.
It's nice to see Harrison trying something new, isn't it?
The problem with a film with a predictable premise is that you'd probably be able to guess what is going to happen - or how things will turn out. Do you really think the family are going to be killed in this movie? Do you think the bad guys are going to get away with the cash? Really, the only thing left to question is whether Harrison kills the bad guys or are they apprehended in the end.
There were a few instances where they could be a twist in the plot, but it kept going along its predictable path. However, the saving grace was in the last half hour when Ford turns the tables on the villains.
Harrison Ford doesn't act much different than he has in any other of his recent films, I guess you can say the same for Clint Eastwood and other greats pushing their golden years.
Unlike Clint though, Harrison isn't aging so gracefully, as he stumbles and bumbles through the action sequences (unless it was planned that way - I couldn't tell). Ford also looked like he could be the kids' grandfather instead of their father. Paul Bettany is an amazing actor with such great range and he proves he can make a good bad guy. Bettany is very capable of looking intimidating and intelligent, and he certainly holds his own against Ford.
Overall, Harrison Ford has done much better. I wonder when Indiana Jones 4 will come out?
