Mercury Rising: Difference between revisions

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'''''Mercury Rising''''' is a 1998 [[Thriller|action thriller]] film, based on the novel ''Simple Simon'' (1996) by Ryne Douglas Pearson. The novel was actually a sequel of ''October's Ghost'' (1994) and ''Capitol Punishment'' (1995) which both feature the main character Art Jefferson. Renamed "Art Jeffries" for the film. The film was directed by [[Harold Becker]], previously known for such films as ''[[Malice (~~Film~~)|Malice]]'' (1993) and ''[[City Hall]]'' (1996). The main stars were [[Bruce Willis (Creator)]], [[Alec Baldwin]], and child actor [[Miko Hughes]].

'''''Mercury Rising''''' is a 1998 [[Thriller|action thriller]] film, based on the novel ''Simple Simon'' (1996) by Ryne Douglas Pearson. The novel was actually a sequel of ''October's Ghost'' (1994) and ''Capitol Punishment'' (1995) which both feature the main character Art Jefferson. Renamed "Art Jeffries" for the film. The film was directed by [[Harold Becker]], previously known for such films as ''[[Malice (film)|Malice]]'' (1993) and ''[[City Hall]]'' (1996). The main stars were [[Bruce Willis (Creator)]], [[Alec Baldwin]], and child actor [[Miko Hughes]].

The novel was based on an [[Urban Legends|Urban Legend]]: "that secret military intelligence codes were sometimes leaked to the public in puzzle magazines to see if civilians could crack them." The film begins with a [[Hostage Situation]] in South Dakota. [[FBI Agent]] Art Jeffries (Willis) is the [[Reverse Mole]] within the villains' ranks. He is trying to convince the others to surrender while protecting a teenaged boy. However the FBI task force attacks and kills both the robbers and the boy. Art confronts his superior and ends up demoted. Further, his psychological evaluation reports him as suffering from "delusional paranoia".

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Burrell kills the parents but fails to locate Simon, who was hiding in a closet. The police and FBI briefly investigate the crime scene, though they incorrectly identify it as a murder-suicide. Jeffries locates Simon and takes the boy under his protection. However the boy is unable to explain what actually happened and the authorities are not particularly inclined to protect him. Jeffries is convinced that Simon is still in danger and takes matters into his own hands. Kudrow manipulates events to discredit Art and have him charged with kidnapping. Art has to crack the case, save Simon and protect his own reputation. He finds allies in fellow agent Thomas Jordan (Chi [[Mc Bride]]) and friend Stacey Siebring (Kim Dickens). He also receives unexpected help by Emily Lang (Carrie Preston), the girlfriend of the already assassinated Pedranski.

The film was a modest box office hit, its wordwide gross estimated to 93,107,289 dollars. About 33 million of these dollars came from the United States market, where it was the 61st most successful film of its year. It received mostly negative reviews, dismissed as an uninspired action film with stock situations. Willis won a [[Golden Raspberry Award]] as Worst Actor for three of his 1998 films: ''[[~~Armageddon (Film)|~~Armageddon]]'' , ''Mercury Rising'' and ''[[The Siege (~~Film~~)|The Siege]]''. On the other hand, Hughes was praised for his realistic depiction of autism and won a Young Artist award.

The film was a modest box office hit, its wordwide gross estimated to 93,107,289 dollars. About 33 million of these dollars came from the United States market, where it was the 61st most successful film of its year. It received mostly negative reviews, dismissed as an uninspired action film with stock situations. Willis won a [[Golden Raspberry Award]] as Worst Actor for three of his 1998 films: ''[[Armageddon]]'' , ''Mercury Rising'' and ''[[The Siege (film)|The Siege]]''. On the other hand, Hughes was praised for his realistic depiction of autism and won a Young Artist award.