Murder at 1600 * (1997, Wesley Snipes, Diane Lane, Daniel Benzali, Alan Alda, Tate Donovan) – Classic Movie Review 2300

Director Dwight H Little’s 1997 movie is a very, very bad and totally cheesy thriller, wasting Wesley Snipes as Detective Harlan Regis, a homicide cop who must investigate the murder of a woman in a White House loo. She was  25-year-old White House staffer, Carla Town. When D.C. homicide cop Regis is assigned to investigate, he finds all evidence suppressed by the Secret Service.

Regis convinces Secret Service Agent Nina Chance (Diane Lane) to help him in uncovering the cover-up, which might be connected with the US President’s son Kyle Neil (Tate Donovan), who is a prime suspect as he admits he was having sex with Carla an hour before her murder.

Though very far fetched and hard to swallow, the premise is acceptably intriguing. But the movie is completely stupid and pathetic throughout, with a script that hasn’t an ounce of conviction, tension or credibility as it develops. As Alvin Jordan, the National Security Adviser, the normally graceful Alan Alda has never been worse.

Also wasted are the very good cast of Daniel Benzali as top Secret Service Agent Spikings, Ronny Cox as President Jack Neil, Dennis Miller, Diane Baker, Charles Rocket, Harris Yulin, Nicholas Pryor, Tom Wright and Nigel Bennett.

To be fair though, Snipes, Lane and Benzali are all good value, giving brisk and professional performances. Maybe the movie just about works as preposterous, low-grade hokum.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2300

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