A Review of the Film: Murder at 1600

I've never been a Wesley Snipes fan - he's just not a name that usually will draw me to a film. However, I think he does a great job in the film Murder at 1600. 

Snipes portrays Washington DC detective Harlan Regis. In the beginning of the film, he is trying to figure out how to avoid being evicted when he is called to a very familiar Washington address to investigate a homicide. The eviction and a conflict with the North Koreans is going on in the background all during the murder investigation. 

It's not enough to have to deal with the usual complications of a homicide investigation, but what Regis is dealing with here is national security issues. His access to evidence as well as people to question is restricted by both the Secret Service and the National Security Administration. Who are they covering up for? 

His Secret Service liaison is Nina Chance, a former Olympic gold-medalist in sharp-shooting. Casting Diane Lane in this part was also a good move. She is a contemporary of Snipes here - not a love interest and not an underling. She is truly his equal and plays the part very well. 

The film follows Regis, Chance, and Regis' partner Detective Steve Stengel (portrayed by a subdued Dennis Miller) through their investigation. While there is some action, primarily this movie is filled with suspense. In the beginning, it was immediately apparent to me that the initial suspect was being set-up but who actually committed the murder eluded me until about three-quarters of the way through. 

Daniel Benzali also does a tremendous job portraying Head White House Secret Service Agent Nick Spikings. Along with Alan Alda as National Security Advisor Alvin Jordan, I never had a clear motivation as to whether they thought they were protecting someone or just trying to work their own agenda. Who was the good guy? Who was the bad guy? How much does the President know? Is he involved? This movie kept me in suspense very well. 

The sub-plot of his dealing with the North Korean crisis also played out good in light of recent events. Rather than charge right in to attempt to rescue thirteen men who were shot down while spying, he is attempting to negotiate, much to the chagrin of the National Security Advisor and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Should he be questioned about a murder that he may or may not have had anything to do with while having to deal with a crisis of global proportions? 

Many of the questions the film raised I could see being applied to the Presidency just as I've known it with the last two inhabitants of the White House. 

There are plenty of parts that are rather implausible. Just a look at the notoriety the Bush daughters gained with their illegal drinking makes me believe it would be impossible for the Secret Service to cover up the President's son beating up his girlfriend. The press knows about underage drinking but not a beating? I don't think so. I also thought the ease with which access was gained to the White House at the end was ridiculous, even if it was necessary for the plot. 

I was also somewhat disturbed by the portrayal of the Secret Service as an agency that functioned to cover-up for the President and his family. In the beginning, they seem to be primarily responsible for the framing of the initial suspect. Agent Chance goes along with this until Detective Regis rattles her by suggesting her silence will be responsible for sending an innocent man to jail. It seems like no other agents had a moral problem with sending an innocent man to prison. 

At the end, we know even though the murderer has been found and his evil plans thwarted, a cover-up will still occur. There is politics at play in keeping the citizens innocent about a lot of the scandals. However, I have to wonder how they will manage to keep people like Detective Regis and Detective Stengel from talking, since neither of them indicated all along that they play the political games. 

Plum Island by Nelson DeMille – Another Smart-Ass Detective, John Corey

I first became interested in reading Nelson DeMille after it was discussed in one of my groups about the town that I grew up in how he graduated from the same high school as me (although many years earlier).  I liked what I had read so far, so I began my journey into the world of NYC Homicide detective John Corey withPlum Island. 

For those not in the know, Plum Island is an island off the end of Long Island owned by the US government.  It’s the location of its Animal Disease Research Facility as well as at one time during the Cold War being the site of research into biological warfare targeting livestock. 

In the novel, John Corey is recovering from nearly being killed by three bullets when he is visited by a local sheriff.  There’s been a murder in the quiet hamlet of Southold, and the police force there isn’t used to handling such serious cases.  Two of Plum Island’s researchers have been killed.  They also happened to be acquaintances of Corey’s. 

He soon finds himself embroiled in the murder investigation, albeit reluctantly at first.  Suffolk County’s homicide unit is on the scene, as is the FBI and CIA.  All are concerned the murder had something to do with the research on the island.  Were the couple smuggling a pathogen such as anthrax to sell to terrorists? Or were they selling an immunization to the highest bidder? Or was it something completely unrelated.  Corey seems to be fighting time and everyone else, including his own bosses in New York City to find out exactly what happened and why. 

Perhaps because I am thoroughly immersed in Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch series, but another smart-mouthed detective was a bit tiring.  Corey is quite similar in many ways to Bosch, and told in the first person we get many of the same sarcastic observations and stupid jokes that annoy the people he’s teamed up with.  If you like Connelly, you’ll like Plum Island, but I wouldn’t recommend reading them at the same time. 

Other than that, I enjoyed Plum Island quite a bit.  The way the murder investigation unfolds is a lot of fun.  I lived out in this area for one year in the 1980’s and was very familiar with the surroundings DeMille references as well as being accurate.  The characters are multi-dimensional and blend together quite well to create a good story.  They are interesting without descending into jokes or caricatures.  Really, I didn’t figure it out until close to the end and although the last few chapters might have been a bit unbelievable, it was otherwise a good read. 

If you enjoy good mysteries, I do recommend Plum Island.  I think the ending could have worked a little differently (and I don’t want to go into too many details for fear of spoiling it) instead of having Corey manage to do something he had no experience with before.  Otherwise this is a well-paced fun read that will keep you wondering to near the end.  Add another half-star if you’re familiar with this part of Long Island.