The Siege

The Siege tells a hypothetical story about terrorist attacks on New York City by Islamic fundamentalists, and how an FBI department led by Special Agent Hubbard (Denzel Washington) tries to stop them. A CIA agent (Annette Bening) is also involved, and refuses to cooperate with the FBI, at least at first. When the attacks continue and the FBI and police are unable to stop them, President Bill Clinton imposes martial law and U.S. Army units under General Devereaux (Bruce Willis) occupy and isolate Brooklyn and round up all the young Arab men and place them in an internment camp. This leads to several consequences and to a final showdown that will not be revealed here.

This one has somethingto think about for everyone 10+++

What a time I picked to watch this 1998 movie for the first time with the anniversery of 9/11 soon upon us.
This movie with the twin towers set in the background and revolving around terrorist was a sit on the edge of your seat movie with non stop action and deep down whatyou should walk away with was a messege.
Tony Shalhoub showed us why he has now won so many emmys for his new show MONK , its all about range and the power to play a part so far from who you truly are.
He was outstanding in this film,.,,Annette Bening as Elise Kraft/Sharon Bridger gave one of her best ever she was better in this movie than the movie she won her Oscar for, and Denzel Washington gave as always a believeable and outstanding proformance. this movie based on The secret US abduction of a suspected terrorist leads to a wave of terrorist attacks in New York that lead to the declaration of martial law it was a lesson as well as a wonderful movie

I walked away seeing clearly that an entire group of people do not a terrorist make. terrorisum is a small handfull of wackos that think they are God basically and in this case showing God their faith ( how stupid does that even sound to a rational thinking human,) My problem was I had to think of who was the star of this movie, as I feel all 3 Annette , Tony and Denzel should have gotton equal billing as this movie would have not worked nearly as well without each of the, Annette Benning's role in this movie was by far the stand out of the movie, , I loved this movie, I picked a weird time to view it being that we are just a week away from remembring 9/11, but it also makes remembering that much easier that it can happen again. This was a buy it now and keep it movie..

The Seige(2000)DVD

This was a remarkable film. Annette Bening was superb as usual. Denzel
Washington and Bruce Willis were equally as good. There is plenty of intrigue and the suspense was ever present. There was a message of course that says we have to be prudent about how we do business with the middle east whether we are at war or peace. The enemy has an agenda that is both new and different for America to understand and deal with and we have to take our time and sort it out. We will have to work and rework our methods if we hope to stop it or even stall it. At the same time we can't allow our military to go over the top. The separate branches of government are there for a reason and we can't allow one branch to act on it's own to the detriment of America and American's.This movie has all the spying,double agents, and suspense of a good thriller.

The Seige

The most amazing reaction to this film is how much it eventually became actual American history in many respects. Denzel Washington was the ultimate FBI guy to find the answers and do everything possible to stop terrorism before it destroys our faith in ourselves, the government, other cultures and what not to do in such crisis situations. 1999 was the year the film was released but many of the ideas certainly played out in real life during 9/11. A worthy movie to see with an open mind and tolerance of other cultures. We still have a very long way to go in that respect.

The Siege (DVD, 1999)

The bombing of a military barracks in Saudi Arabia leaves hundreds of both military and civilian casualties. A group led by Shiekh Ahmed bin Talal is blamed and he is kidnapped and held under the watch of Major General William Deceraux (Bruce Willis).

FBI agents Hubbard (Denzel Washington) and Haddad (Tony Shalhoub) are told that a bus full of passengers has been hijacked and it is rigged to explode. The bomb is bogus, and the terrorists escape. The FBI is warned to release Talal. Hubbard comes into conflict with CIA officer Elise Kraft (Benning). He arrests Kraft and takes a terrorist suspect into custody. Soon afterward, another bus is bombed. The FBI arrests a student job lecturer, Samir Nazhde, because he signed the visa of one of the terrorists. Hubbard is convinced that he is innocent and should be released. All of a sudden a series of bombings occurs all over town with about 600 deaths.

Despite objections, martial law is declared by the President, and the 101st Airborne Division under Deveraux, occupies Brooklyn and seals off the area. All of the Arab-American males, including Agent Haddad's son, are rounded up and put in a make-shift holding jail in Yankee Stadium. He resigns in anger, and New Yorkers riot in protest to the racial profiling. The Army fights to remain in control and there are reports of Army killings.

Hubbard and Kraft, who is now going by Sharon Bridger, capture a suspect named Tariq Husseini who is killed while being interrogated by Deveraux, but he knew nothing. Sickened by what has happened Bridger tells Hubbard what she knows. As it turns out, she had given training and support to militants opposed to Saddam Hussein's regime. After a cut-off of funds, she helped those few who had survived get to the US, ultimately leading to the present situation. She and Hubbard convince Samir to arrange a meeting with the final terror cell. Hubbard convinces Haddad to return to the FBI and help.

A multi-ethnic peace march demonstrates against the occupation. Hubbard and Haddad arrive at the meeting place, but Bridger and Samir have already left. Upon telling Bridger that he is the last cell, Samir shoots her. He further tells her that there will never be a "last cell" and he straps on an explosives vest. He plans to get into the middle of the crowd and detonate it, killing as many as he can. Hubbard and Haddad arrive in time to stop Samir, but watch helplessly as Bridger bleeds to death.

Hubbard and Haddad and other FBI agents raid Deveraux's headquarters to arrest him for the torture and murder of Husseini. Deveraux claims that under the War Powers Resolution the powers vested in him by the President supersedes that of the court that issued the warrant, and orders his troops to point their guns at the Feds and a standoff results. Hubbard reminds Deveraux that the human rights and civil liberties that he took from Husseini is what all of his predecessors fought and died for. Deveraux submits and is arrested. Martial law is lifted and the detainees and Haddad's son are released. Good movie!