MOST WANTED

US, 1997, 99 minutes. Colour.
Keenen Ivory Wayans, Jon Voight, Jill Hennessy, Paul Sorvino, Eric Roberts, Simon Baker, Robert Culp, Wolfgang Bodison, John Diehl.
Directed by David Hogan.

Most Wanted is a conspiracy theory film. It was made during the Clinton era – but probably seems much more akin to the first decade of the 21st century, especially with the Jason Bourne films and variations on these themes.

The film was written by Keenan Ivory Wayans, writer and director (A Lowdown Dirty Shame, Scary Movies) as well as being the creator and producer of the African American television show, In Living Colour.

Wayans plays a soldier in the first Gulf War who clashes with his commanding officer about killing a young boy and finds himself in jail, destined for execution. There is a bus rescue (shades of The Fugitive) and he is taken in by a rogue general, playing near the top or over the top by Jon Voight. He is forced to participate in an assassination of an industrialist (very similar to the Mark Wahlberg film, The Shooter). However, the first lady is killed by another sniper and the hero goes on the run, contacts the doctor who saw him and videoed him and the shooter, finds a way to confront the rogue general and his staff, contact the CIA – which has a mole supplying information to the rogue general - and finally comes into a setup where he is vindicated and the rogue general unmasked (and killed).

While the material is familiar, it is presented with quite some pace by director David Hogan (mainly a director of music videos who also made the feature film Barb Wire, with Pamela Anderson).

The supporting cast is very good including Paul Sorvino as the head of the CIA, Eric Roberts as his assistant, Simon Baker in a significant early role as an eager journalist. He is the arch-villain.

1. An action and conspiracy drama? The popularity of this kind of genre?

2. The experience of the 1990s, the first Gulf War, the end of the Reagan era, the presidency of Bill Clinton? Wars? Hawks and Doves? Rogue military?

3. The opening in the Gulf War, the transition to the prison, to Washington? The world of politics, military, police investigations, the CIA? The musical score?

4. The credibility of this kind of plot – and various revelations about conspiracies?

5. The basic underlying plot, chemical warfare, experiments, the costs, the experiments, the death of troops, the failure, the cover-ups, the plan for the assassination to stop the exposure? The blend of greed and patriotism?

6. James Dunn as a sniper, in the war, the approach of the little boy, the orders to kill him, his refusal, fighting with his superior officer, the officer drawing the gun, his death? Dunn and his going to jail? Marked for execution?

7. Going to execution, the bus, the crash? His escape? His meeting with General Woodward? The secret company? His listening to the proposal, the pressure for him to accept?

8. The squad being reactivated, Woodward in command, Braddock as his assistant? The plans? The secrecy? The lies?

9. James Dunn and the job, Bickhart as the target? The setup? The death of the first lady? The second shooter? Doctor Constantini and her presence, the videotape? His escape, disguised as police, disappearing from the street, going to the facility to hide?

10. The hospital, Doctor Constantini and her work, the patients, the first lady’s visit, the nature of the patients? The video, her pocketing the tape, the confiscation of her camera? Going to the hospital, going home, Dunn and his presence in the house, her fears, the bomb, the escape, in the car, the roadblock and her telling the police, his climbing over the bridge span, his taking her to the centre, the phone, her fears, the discussion, the promise of collaboration?

11. Bickhart, his business, with General Woodward, power, orders, the turning of the tables later, the confrontation with Dunn, his giving the information, his death?

12. General Woodward, his ambitions, greed, power, intolerance, over the top? His assistant, Braddock? His men, the plan, Dunn as the fall guy, the cover, Woodward taking charge of the investigation, taking over the police offices, his control of the television, confronting Stephen Barnes for the tape? Bringing things under control? The contact with the CIA? The build-up to the confrontation, the money deal, his intending to kill Dunn – and the irony of Braddock sitting in the chair? His death?

13. Dunn, the phone calls to the CIA, the CIA chief and his being calm, his assistant as cooperative, the investigation? The head saying that he needed the documents from Dunn? The issue of the mole? Dunn and his going to the office, distracting the general, the elevator, his getting the documents? The pursuit, his escape? The meeting with the head of the CIA, the control, the setup with the money, the use of the assistant to persuade the general to come?

14. Doctor Constantini, staying with Dunn, her helping, going to the hospital? Getting the information about the patients, the dossier? Her staying at the facility, the phone call once the TV news gave information? Enabling the final confrontation?

15. The setup, the CIA, the general, the money deal, the talk, the attempt to kill Dunn, Dunn alive, the death of the general?

16. The cover-up? Business as usual? Dunn and his getting a new identity? The plausibility of this kind of conspiracy film?