Based on Frederick Forsyth's novel, this thriller is long on plot and short on character. The action spans four continents, following a modern-day mercenary, Christopher Walken, who is hired by one of those sinister, faceless conglomerates that crop up in so many movies these days. Director John Irvin, a veteran of British television and documentaries, mounts suspense nicely during the fast-paced first half, but the script weakens as Walken and his troops prepare to overthrow a dictator in a West African country in order to install the puppet of the evil multinational moguls. Walken matches his intense performance in The Deer Hunter, but his character seems one-dimensional. There's a violently colorful finale, though, and assuming one doesn't look for much else, this is a satisfying adventure. (R)
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