Who will win against the terrorists? Vantage Point is ultimately optimistic about it. It is more subtle than the politically strong and pluralistic voice in Lion for Lambs; Point is more stylish than intellectual so is slight in argument and content. The various angles on the same event works unevenly when the episodes aren’t all together interesting and get progressively violent, implausible (such as an out-of-place car chase) and profane (the terrorists are one-dimensionally nasty). Best of the various angles is the perspective involving Forrest Whittaker as the tourist with the video cam who happens to tape the assassination. Whittaker gives the striking performance in the piece; it’s the best written character in a weakly characterised movie.

However, it is engaging somewhere in the middle, then loses the plot in a rush to an unconvincing finish where things are easily sown together when the stakes were higher.

William Hurt as the President reminds you at first that he performed as an imprisoned gay window dresser in Kiss of the Spiderwoman and as an emotionally coiled husband in The Accidental Tourist … it doesn’t bode well as the leader of the U.S. but Hurt pulls it off uniquely. Sigourney Weaver effortlessly goes through the motions, as she can staunchly do so well, in a small role as the tough news women. Less impressive is Dennis Quaid as the continuing grimacing and tense bodyguard.

Vantage Point is another of the big modern day Hollywood thrillers, like Miami Vice, The Kingdom and Man on Fire.