Fail Safe

TV-PG

2000

1 hr. 37 min.

Mystery & Thriller

List

100%

5 Reviews

Tomatometer

79%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

During the 1960s, a computer error in Nebraska unwittingly sets off a perilous chain of events leading to a Cold War crisis. The computer sends an order to a squadron piloted by Col. Jack Grady (George Clooney) to drop a bomb on Moscow. Despite the efforts of the president (Richard Dreyfuss) to negate the false order, the crew forges on with what they think is their task. The president and his translator (Noah Wyle) are forced to reach out to the Russian leader to negotiate.

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clay w

I don't understand the point of this remake. It's a very diluted, condensed, powerpoint version of the brilliant original. It adds exactly nothing to the film version and subtracts vast tracts. It utilizes a collection of very talented actors who somehow seem to be reading lines instead of delivering the visceral, utterly convincing performances provided by those in the original. Honestly, watch the original. It's thought provoking, gut wrenching, horrifying and haunting. This remake is okay, but a pale imitation of its predecessor.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

paul l

Very good but not as good as the 1964 version.. Unavailable in HD..

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

3.7 actually interesting

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/17/21

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Audience Member

Not bad done, but the live emission, instead of making it more real, looks threatrical, and it does not achieve the tension and impact of the original movie. Anyway, I think we all miss Henry Fonda and the way Lumet directed it.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I think you have to begin any discussion about the 2000 version of Fail Safe by talking about the fact that it was performed live on TV. It’s amazing how little this feels like a stage production, and comes across as something that was filmed in a more traditional manner. They choreographed a few interesting camera moves, and even included some computer graphics that seem like they might be hard to time right with the dialogue. They did it all in black-and-white, I assume to fit in with the era that it takes place, and I thought that was a good choice. The story is what you would get if you took Dr. Strangelove and removed all the humor. Now I enjoy the humor a lot in Strangelove but I also found the concept fascinating in Fail Safe when it was taken seriously. There was a moment early on in Fail Safe where I thought I knew exactly what was going to happen, they set it up and made me think I was right, and then the movie shocked me and went the opposite way. I love when a movie can subvert my expectations in that way. The story does get pretty dark and depressing at times, which I didn’t love but at least it didn’t pull any punches. I thought the acting was excellent, particularly from all these TV and movie stars who you would assume are used to having the freedom of multiple takes to get it right. They were able to nail all the lines, including some big dramatic speeches that were dripping with emotion. I quite enjoyed the film, and I think it would have been neat to experience the novelty of it firsthand when it aired on TV. However, packaged on DVD without commercial breaks, I must admit that Fail Safe feels like a legitimate film and one that I would have happily gone to the theater to watch. Ranking on my Flickchart Wins against Elmer Gantry Wins against The Lady Vanishes Wins against Hairspray Loses to Ferris Bueller’s Day Off Loses to The Dirty Dozen Loses to There Will Be Blood Loses to Mannequin Loses to Airplane! Loses to Quantum of Solace Loses to The Adventures of Robin Hood Loses to Little Miss Sunshine Fail Safe ranked 193 out of 1554

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/06/18

Full Review

Audience Member

Horrifying. Intense.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

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Stephen Frears

Director

George Clooney

Col. Jack Grady

Noah Wyle

Buck

Richard Dreyfuss

President

Hank Azaria

Prof. Groeteschele

Brian Dennehy

Gen. Bogan

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Pablo Villaça

Cinema em Cena

Dreyfuss se sai particularmente bem nesta mais do que eficiente verso do material que deu origem ao timo filme de Lumet. E o fato de ter sido encenado ao vivo algo que contribui bastante para o tom de urgncia exigido pela narrativa.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 5, 2009

Full Review

Rory L. Aronsky

Film Threat

...it can't be denied by any means the caliber of talent that's spread throughout these 84 minutes.

Rated: 4.5/5

Jun 6, 2007

Full Review

David Cornelius

DVDTalk.com

This is one of the most notable television projects in recent memory.

Rated: 5/5

Jun 4, 2007

Full Review

John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

It's not quite as gripping or suspenseful as the earlier theatrical movie, but with a great cast, it's almost as good.

Rated: 7/10

Jun 3, 2007

Full Review

Christopher Null

Filmcritic.com

It's a fabulous original film and a worthwhile redo -- but it comes about 20 years too late.

Rated: 3.5/5

Oct 19, 2004

Full Review

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Synopsis

During the 1960s, a computer error in Nebraska unwittingly sets off a perilous chain of events leading to a Cold War crisis. The computer sends an order to a squadron piloted by Col. Jack Grady (George Clooney) to drop a bomb on Moscow. Despite the efforts of the president (Richard Dreyfuss) to negate the false order, the crew forges on with what they think is their task. The president and his translator (Noah Wyle) are forced to reach out to the Russian leader to negotiate.

Director: Stephen Frears
Executive Producer: Laura Ziskin, George Clooney, Pamela Oas Williams
Production Co: Maysville Pictures, Warner Bros. Television
Rating: TV-PG
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 29, 2016

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