Review of Murder at 1600 (1997) by Stuart K — 30 Dec 2012

Directed by Dwight H. Little (Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988) and Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home (1995)), this is a suspenseful if predictable potboiler, set within the wall of the White House, based on the book Murder in the White House by Margaret Truman, (daughter of President Harry S.

Truman). It has it's moments, but not many. When White House secretary Carla Town (Mary Moore) is found dead in a toilet cubicle in a White House restroom, Homicide Detective Harlan Regis (Wesley Snipes) is put on the case, while Regis carries out his investigations in and around the White House, Secret Service agent Nina Chance (Diane Lane) is assigned to keep an eye on him.

However, the investigation has come at a bad time, as there's an impending international crisis occurring involving American hostages being held in North Korea, and U.S. President Jack Neil (Ronny Cox) is trying to find a diplomatic solution, but National Security adviser Alvin Jordan (Alan Alda) and General Clark Tully (Harris Yulin) don't think Neil is handling the situation correctly, leading to a clash of personalities.

But, everyone at the top has something to hide. It's a good film, but it's all been done before with corrupt politicians, Snipes handles the action well, but Alda steals the show, as always, as the slippery adviser.

It's to the point and no nonsense and that's good, but it's all a bit predictable, and a bit of complexity to the plot could have helped it.