A job interview with sniffy White House security suit Carol Finnerty (Maggie Gyllenhaal) turns into a one-man mission to protect the president when Capitol cop John Cale (Channing Tatum? finds himself standing between his nation's great leader and a gang of merciless terrorists led by traitor Martin Walker (James Woods). Separated from his 12-year-old daughter during the initial terrorist attack, Cale is torn between finding her and getting President Sawyer (Jamie Foxx) to safety.
From the director of Independence Day and 2012 comes a sniper-sharp action fest that hits the mark with practised precision. Never taking itself too seriously and benefiting enormously as a result, White House Down is peppered with well-judged wit - as well as bullets - in what could safely be described as a mad mash-up of video game Call of Duty and Die Hard.
With helicopter gunships spinning in terrifying synchronisation outside the White House, plus cop and president scaling the guts of a lift shaft within, there's no let-up in the action from the moment Walker's goons detonate a bomb that takes the roof off, grabbing the attention of the Secret Service as well as the film's army of enthusiastic viewers. A solid addition to Roland Emmerich's ever-expanding action portfolio.
White House Down is a Film programme that first aired in 2013 and has been classified a 12 certificate.
