The Package (1989)

In Berlin, US and Russian diplomats meet to discuss a disarmament treaty.  Prospects look excellent but military leaders on both sides are secretly opposed to such a treaty.  In fact, they have plans to derail the treaty.  However, one of their number, a brigadier general, is having second thoughts.  Meanwhile, Sgt. John Gallagher (Gene Hackman) is patrolling the grounds as part of security.  He and his detachment encounter a pair of hikers who attack a vehicle leaving the meeting.  They engage the hikers but both of them escape in another vehicle.  The brigadier general lies dead on the side of the road.  In the aftermath of the incident, Gallagher finds himself at odds with Colonel Glen Whitacre (John Heard).

Though he expects to stay in Germany, Gallagher is assigned to take a package back to the US; it is a soldier who struck an officer (Tommy Lee Jones).  They have hardly arrived when Gallagher is beaten in the airport restroom and his prisoner escapes.  When he starts looking for the prisoner, he quickly realized that the man he transported is not the man listed on his paperwork.  Something nefarious is happening.  And now he's wanted for murder!  Using only trusted contacts and avoiding arrest by either MPs or the police, can Gallagher recover his package before he completes whatever mission he's on?

Among Gallagher's allies are his ex-wife, Lt. Col. Eileen Gallagher (Joanna Cassidy) and a former army buddy & now Chicago cop, Lt. Milam Delich (Dennis Franz).  However, the opposition is vast.  This is truly a trust no one situation where any encounter - no matter how benign - might suddenly become a life-or-death struggle.

Here is a very good thriller that plays out the military industrial complex as the puppet masters of the world order.  Gene Hackman came across as a mellower version of his Popeye Doyle character from The French Connection.  Yes, there are car chases, gunfights, and fisticuffs.  For Dennis Franz, this falls between his stint on Hill Street Blues and NYPD Blue.  Yeah, Chicago cop was a real challenge for him.  In any case, he is quite good here; this is his bread & butter role.  Joanna Cassidy is all worry in this role and doesn't get to do much.  Tommy Lee Jones is terrific but his role is relatively small.  The bad guys have so many pawns that he doesn't get much action.  He is the most likable of the villains, a gun for hire with no scruples as long as the pay is good.

Good popcorn fun.