The Peacemaker (1997 film)

The Peacemaker (1997 film)
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Name	The Peacemaker
Caption	Theatrical release poster
Director	Mimi Leder
Producer	Walter F. Parkes, Branko Lustig
Writer	Michael Schiffer
Starring	George Clooney, Nicole Kidman
Music	Hans Zimmer
Cinematography	Dietrich Lohmann
Editing	David Rosenbloom
Studio	DreamWorks Pictures, Parkes/MacDonald Productions
Distributor	DreamWorks Pictures
Released	1997, 09, 26
Runtime	124 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English, Russian, Serbo-Croatian
Budget	$50 million
Gross	$110.4 million

The Peacemaker (1997 film) is an American action thriller film that marked the inaugural feature film release from the newly founded DreamWorks Pictures. Directed by Mimi Leder and starring George Clooney and Nicole Kidman, the film follows a United States Army colonel and a White House nuclear expert who race to stop terrorists from detonating a stolen nuclear warhead in New York City. It is noted for its globe-trotting narrative, blending political intrigue with high-stakes action, and for establishing a template for the modern studio thriller.

Plot

Following a violent train collision in Russia, United States Army Special Forces officer Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Devoe (George Clooney) investigates the theft of several nuclear warheads. He partners with Dr. Julia Kelly (Nicole Kidman), a top White House nuclear scientist and policy expert. They trace one missing warhead to a Bosnian Serb terrorist named Dusan Gavrich, who seeks vengeance for his family's death during the Bosnian War. The duo's pursuit takes them from the mountains of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the streets of Vienna and ultimately to New York City, where Gavrich plans to detonate the weapon in a suicide attack. In a climactic confrontation at United Nations Headquarters, Devoe and Kelly must disarm the bomb amidst a gathering of world leaders.

Cast

* George Clooney as Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Devoe * Nicole Kidman as Dr. Julia Kelly * Marcel Iureș as Dusan Gavrich * Aleksandr Baluev as General Alexander Kodoroff * Rene Medvešek as Vlado Mirich * Randall Batinkoff as Ken * Holt McCallany as Mark Appleton * Carlos Gómez as Cpl. Ramos * Michael Boatman as Cpl. Beach * Armin Mueller-Stahl as Dimitri Vertikoff

Production

The film was a landmark project for the nascent DreamWorks Pictures, founded by Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and David Geffen. Director Mimi Leder, known for her work on the television series *ER*, was hired, marking her feature film directorial debut. Screenwriter Michael Schiffer penned the original script, with uncredited rewrites by Leslie Cockburn and others. Principal photography took place in several international locations to achieve authenticity, including Slovakia, which stood in for Bosnia and Herzegovina and Russia, as well as Vienna, New York City, and Washington, D.C.. The production faced challenges filming complex action sequences, including a lengthy car chase through the streets of Vienna that required extensive coordination with local authorities.

Reception

Upon its release, *The Peacemaker* received mixed reviews from critics. Some praised its pacing, Leder's direction of action sequences, and the chemistry between Clooney and Kidman, while others criticized its conventional plot and character development. The film was a moderate commercial success, grossing approximately $110 million worldwide against a $50 million budget. It performed solidly at the North American box office, opening at number one and ultimately helping to establish DreamWorks Pictures as a viable major studio. The film is often cited as a competent, early entry in the post-Cold War nuclear thriller genre that proliferated in the late 1990s.

Soundtrack

The film's score was composed by renowned German composer Hans Zimmer and performed by the Hollywood Studio Symphony. Zimmer's music employs a driving, percussive style to underscore the film's relentless pace and tension, incorporating electronic elements alongside traditional orchestration. The soundtrack album was released by DreamWorks Records in September 1997. It features the main title theme "The Peacemaker" and other atmospheric cues that support the film's international espionage narrative. Notably, the score does not feature any contemporary pop songs, maintaining a consistent, suspenseful tone throughout.