Absolute Power (1997 Clint Eastwood & prod)

William Goldman adapted David Baldacci's novel 'Executive Power', and how he did it is amusingly told at length in 'Which Lie Did I Tell?' For one thing, there were far too many characters. Secondly, there wasn't a star role. Third, the most interesting character dies halfway through. The first draft was written for Clint Eastwood as the detective, but no - he wanted to play the burglar, and not have him killed. Needless to say the plot of the book was changed substantially.

The beginning is classic Goldman. Paintings (a recurrent image) in an art gallery. A man sketching. A woman observing. "You work with your hands." The man goes into a bar and hands over a VCR tape. Huh? His drawing of a mansion becomes a mansion at night. He's a burglar, breaking in. He's about to clear a lot of money when a drunken couple arrive...

Eastwood had two suggestions. Can the President's wife be away somewhere so she's not involved? Can you put the burglar's daughter in danger? Good suggestions.

Good cast: Clint Eastwood (whatever happened to him?), Gene Hackman, Ed Harris, Laura Linney, Scott Glenn, Judy Davis, Dennis Haysbert, E.G. Marshall, Richard Jenkins.

Photographed by Jack Green in Panavision, edited by Joel Cox. Clint contributed two themes to the score. Made by Malpaso for Castle Rock.

It's that Alison Eastwood again. And Kimber Eastwood is the White House Tour Guide.