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Sweepers

1999, Movie, R, 96 mins

Sweepers: Review

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This opportunistic attempt to cash in on the anti-mine fervor shoehorns a goodwill message in between gut-busting fights, ear-splitting detonations and vehicular chases. In 1993, Angola falls into the hands of Unita Rebels, whose allies include foreign mercenaries equipped with high-tech land mines. Mine specialist Christian Erickson (Dolph Lundgren), a member of the Humanitarian Order of Chivalry, ferrets out land mines until his own son, Johnny (Rowan Southern), dies in a explosion caused by an undetectable experimental mine. Five years later, guilt-ridden alcoholic Christian works among the Angolan natives, who still face death and injury from unexploded mines. Unbeknownst to Christian, his best friend, Dr. Cecil Hopper (Bruce Payne), started his rehabilitation clinic as a cover for his covert munitions dealing; in fact, Hopper smuggled in the top secret A-6 mine that killed Johnny. FBI Agent Michelle Flynn (Claire Stansfield) arrives in Angola on her own mission and tries to enlist Christian's aid, but he won't cooperate until her co-workers are killed in a helicopter explosion masterminded by mercenary Yager (Ian Roberts), who later kidnap Michelle. Christian must get his act together before more deadly mines make their way out of the country and kill innocent people. Histrionically challenged action star Lundgren sweats and strains to give a believable performance, but his mighty efforts to convey parental loss and alcoholic depression can't dispel this formulaic film's been-there-done-that ambience. Rather than a meaningful examination of the devastation caused by mines, the film offers mindless action, state-of-the art stuntwork and persuasive special effects. It's a passable time-waster diminished by its pretensions to public service. leave a comment --Robert Pardi
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