The Siege

The Siege (1998)

Genres - Action, Adventure, Crime, Thriller  |   Sub-Genres - Action Thriller, Political Thriller  |   Release Date - Nov 6, 1998 (USA), Mar 10, 2023 (USA - Limited)  |   Run Time - 120 min.  |   Countries - Belgium, United States  |   MPAA Rating - R
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Synopsis by Bhob Stewart

Edward Zwick directed this action thriller about Islamic militants unleashing terrorism in New York City. As FBI Terrorism Task Force-chief Anthony Hubbard (Denzel Washington) investigates, a false-alarm bomb threat is followed by a legit bomb, with many killed when a Brooklyn bus explodes. Agents track a suspect through Brooklyn, while Hub teams with Middle East expert and NSA operative Elise Kraft (Annette Bening). After the FBI wipes out three Arabs in a Brooklyn apartment, an explosion in a Broadway theater is followed by attacks on a school and FBI headquarters. When the President declares martial law, neo-fascist Army General William Devereaux (Bruce Willis) swings into action, deploying tanks through Brooklyn, capturing Arab-American males, and herding them into an open-air stadium detention camp. Hub's Arab-American FBI associate Frank Haddad (Tony Shalhoub) is disgusted and quits when his son becomes one of the Arab detainees. With the Army out of control, the power-crazed Devereaux devises plans for torture and murder, turning his attention to Hub and Elise. President Bill Clinton is seen denouncing terrorists in TV clips.

Characteristics

Keywords

terrorism, martial-law, FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation)

Attributes

High Budget