Absolute Power

If you want a crime drama that treats its mystery as more than a puzzle, Absolute Power is available in Australia on Netflix right now. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. With 1,261 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Clint Eastwood anchors it, but the writing does the real work. Put it on tonight on Netflix and see for yourself.

There is a reason Absolute Power keeps coming up in conversation. Absolute Power treats its mystery as a means, not an end in itself. A master thief coincidentally is robbing a house where a murder—in which the President of the United States is involved—occurs in front of his eyes. He is forced to run, while holding evidence that could convict the President. Clint Eastwood and Gene Hackman lead a cast that gives the tension real weight. Absolute Power came out in 1997. What distinguishes the best crime dramas from the rest is whether the character work can carry scenes where the mystery takes a breath — Absolute Power passes that test consistently. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Viewers who think they have seen every crime drama tend to find Absolute Power proves them wrong. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Clint Eastwood carries scenes that would sink a lesser production. The resolution feels inevitable rather than arbitrary, which is rarer than it sounds.