Who can you trust? This film was a Deja-Vu Experience as it reflects the very real 'Big Brother' scenario we, as a Nation are currently experiencing. No one wants to believe that total corruption can ascend to the heights of the White House, but in this thrilling, character driven plot, what might appear to be fodder for a late night movie, is in fact a blueprint for our current political scene. Jennifer Barron, a strong willed survivor is thrust into a nightmarish scenario where she can trust no one, not even her own Country, and where rogue agencies of our Federal Government take the law into their own hands leaving victims, including her own lover, a duped Secret Service agent whose intentions are honorable but who discovers, too late, that he was but a pawn in an International Consortium which (like today's immoral allies and enemies) have but one goal...to destroy our Political system from within. Her lover, an unwitting assassin for this underground but unimaginably powerful organization is himself killed just before realizing that he too had become too hot to keep alive, and thus he is forced to leave Jenny a computer disk with all this information he has acquired with a code which is indecipherable to all but her, causing her to be pursued by this nebulous but deadly group with the intention of terminating her with prejudice. The human elements and character development of this original story, which doesn't take the normal path of Political thrillers or Horror films by having no motivation for the Protagonist's actions, is, instead, satisfyingly logical, and brings to the Screen a real heroine with brains, beauty and ethics many of our contemporary Politicos should aspire to imitate. This film was not predictable, except if one is a student of history, but rather a warning to ourselves to remain vigilant even while enjoying the wonderful and varied performances of this fast-paced, chilling and exciting film...George Segal and Elliott Gould portray the President and Vice President respectively, and give colorful, unique performances with a startling twist of "NOIR"...while the deceptively charming, erudite attorney 'Frank Donaldsonn' starring veteran actor Conrad Janis, reminds us that all who smile are not angels...his delusion leads us down a chillingly unexpected discovery that turns the movie around, while Paige Turco, as Jennifer Barron is both beautiful, sage, and a woman of action, and Dirk Benedict, her lover, is suave, dedicated to his cause, and with yet another non conventional twist---dead too soon. A very special performance in the role of Jenny's next door neighbor (Maria De la Luz Schultz) played by Maria Grimm adds humor, and pathos when she too becomes a victim to those chasing and destroying all of Jenny's support system, in an effort to recover the compromising DISK, leaving her alone against the odds, a maverick bent on saving the future President and our Country's ideals. Bravo
2 Reviews
The Feminine Touch - A.K.A. The November Conspiracy is POLITICS AS USUAL but Masterfully portrayed
newamericanparty15 September 2008
Warning: Spoilers
How prophetic was this film? It hinted a Consortiums seeking to destroy the American Way of Life, of ascendancy to the Presidency through whatever means, fair or foul, it has secret clues, with assassins everywhere (in our current U.S. Climate we've replaced it with political and news assassins in lieu of actual killers) and it places a damsel in distress. I'd say poor Mrs Clinton fits the bill, though this film was pure fiction, it was thrilling, fast-paced, and chock full of great actors, especially the director/Star Conrad Janis whose Mork and Mindy image was forever shot down by his seemingly benign, yet icy portrayal of a powerful lobbyist who'd stop at NOTHING to promote his views (sound familiar?), and both George Segal and Elliott Gould also definitely stepped out of their mold of buffoonery and gave two very good, realistic and incisive performances. Paige Turco has never been, and may never again be as good as she was in the part of Jenny Barron, a woman of beauty and strength, a will of iron, and a woman's heart that is broken when her lover of 4 years, Dirk Benedict is found dead, shot by the very Black Op agency who had hired him to assassinate 'Enemies of the People'. A great supporting cast rounds out this Non-Stop Action Thriller including Bo Hopkins as the Polilce Chief, the eclectic and sexy Maria Grimm as Turco's friend who stood in the way and paid the ultimate price, Virginia Capers as 'Mama', Richard Kline as Turco's boss, Lois Nettleton as Dirk Benedict's secret contact, Bret Anthony (now starring in Conrad Janis' latest film BAD BLOOD), Woodrow B. Hood as main Secret Agent, and a slew of wonderful supporting actors. This movie outshone all Independent Action Thrillers by his plausibility, and lack of BIGGER, BETTER BANGS....it relied on cleverness, suspense, character development and a sense of the Times. I hear it is to be released on D.V.D. soon. I can't wait.
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