"Vantage Point"

Talk about a movie that grabs you from the outset, this one sure did me.

"Vantage Point" is intense, fast-paced, and full of twists and turns, perhaps a few too many towards the end what with the now pretty-much-obligatory car chase through crowded city streets (impressive even if it was a bit much) pushing the film to an ending with far too many coincidences to be even semi-plausible.

Nevertheless.

Dennis Quaid — whose films I generally avoid — is very believable and so is Forest Whitaker, looking ever more asymmetrical as he ages; Sigourney Weaver did what she does best, i.e., seem intense and competent.

I must say I was surprised — in a good way — by some of the completely unexpected events that occurred along the way.

Recommended.

If you want to watch what I consider a masterpiece of conspiracy theory in the presidential arena, try "The Parallax View,"

Alan J. Pakula's 1974 take on the subject.