The Final Option has American players Richard Widmark and Robert Webber joining a British cast playing the American Secretary of State and head of the Strategic Air Command over in London for an arms limitation conference. What happens is that they get taken hostage by a radical group of terrorists who are nicely moled into the peace movement.British action star Lewis Collins gets a rigged incident so he can resign from the SAS the British equivalent of the Delta Force and infiltrate the peace movement. Clearly he doesn't fool anybody, but Collins has his uses and Judy Davis the head of the radical cell finds him useful in many ways.In fact the two female terrorists Davis and Ingrid Pitt really walk off with this film with their brand of fanaticism.When the shooting starts toward the end it is the best part of the film as SAS does what it does best, kill enemies. Final Option is a well done action flick that the Margaret Thatcher government must have loved.

It's pretty obvious that "Who Dares Wins" (a.k.a. "The Final Option") was an attempt by the British film industry to compete with American action/suspense films coming out at the time. And it does get a few things right. Though not give a gargantuan budget, the movie does look pretty slick and polished. And the last half hour does contain some genuine excitement and suspense, as well as some good action. However, the first ninety or so minutes do have some significant flaws. There's little in the way of sympathetic characters; even the hero has a significant degree of unlikability about him. Also, while he's a professional, he commits some sloppy acts here and there. (For that matter, the bad guys also come across as dumb sometimes.) There are also some draggy bits; the movie could have used some more action and suspense in those first ninety minutes. And the anti-American musical number around the twenty-one minute mark is very unintentionally funny. Despite these flaws, I have to confess I didn't find the movie boring (though it gets dangerously close to being so several times.) Though I can't label it a must see, it is okay if your expectations aren't great and you can't find anything better to watch.

Cynical SAS captain Peter Skellen (ably played with firm and charismatic resolve by Lewis Collins) infiltrates a radical political group who are plotting a terrorist abduction of several American dignitaries who are visiting England. Director Ian Sharp, working from an absorbing script by Reginald Rose, relates the engrossing story at a steady pace, maintains a tough gritty tone throughout (thankfully, there's no silly humor with anyone making dopey quips after someone gets killed), generates a considerable amount of tension, and stages the explosive action in the last fifteen minutes with consummate skill and brio. Moreover, the filmmakers warrant additional praise for the way that they show how a group of left-wing radicals can be every bit as dangerous and misguided as right-wing fanatics. The sound acting from a sturdy cast rates as another major asset: Judy Davis delivers plenty of sexy and saucy pluck as passionate and dedicated group leader Frankie Leith, Richard Widmark portrays the role Secretary of State Arthur Currie with deliciously sardonic bite, and Ingrid Pitt radiates pure menace as the ruthless Helga, plus there are commendable contributions from Robert Webber as the hearty General Ira Potter, Edward Woodward as the pragmatic Commander Powell, Tony Doyle as the hard-nosed Colonel Hadley, and Rosalind Lloyd as Skellen's loving wife Jenny. Kudos are also in order for Phil Meheux's slick cinematography and Roy Budd's pulsating score. A real cracking winner.

It's a combo of Dirty Harry and little drummer girl rolled up in my post 9/11 mind. These "Terror" films in the 80's are so innocent, yet violent and so telling of the future. They show it on cable every 2-3 weeks and I just keep watching it.It has great action, great passion and a mix of great American actors and those great "super English Cop" actors. Judy Davis and the English lead are great and he should have gone places in American cinema ala Clint. Proboly shot on a shoestring but doesn't look it at all. Special effects terrific. I watch this like "DOA" (1950ish) with Edmond O'Brien, small movie with lots of raw passion and dangerous people around and COMPELLING acting. Hope you like it as much as I.