END GAME

US, 2006, 99 minutes, Colour.
Cuba Gooding Jr, Angie Harmon, James Woods, Patrick Fabian, Peter Greene, Jack Scalia, Anne Archer, David Selby, Burt Reynolds.
Directed by Andy Cheng.

End Game is a routine conspiracy thriller involving the president, his wife, the Secret Service and special agents.

Cuba Gooding is a confidant of the president and his wife, on active service when the president is assassinated. James Woods is in charge of the Secret Service. As the plot emerges, ex-CIA agents are involved in the assassination. Peter Greene, a villain in so many films, is the agent here. In supporting roles are cameos by Jack Scalia as the president, Anne Archer as his artist wife, David Selby looking rather decrepit as an alcoholic tramp and Burt Reynolds as a general. Angie Harmon portrays a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigator on the job.

The film is quite routine in its presentation of characters, dialogue and interactions – but not all that bad for those wanting an enjoyable hour and a half thriller. There is something of a surprise at the end. As the president’s wife remarks, it all depends on what perspective you are looking at.

The film was directed by stunt director Andy Cheng.

1.The popularity of this kind of thriller? Conspiracy? American president? Secret Service? Agents and reporters, heroics?

2.The Washington settings, the president and his entourage, the Secret Service, officers? Firms, warehouses? Homes? The water? Musical score?

3.The focus on the president, his cheerfulness, the cheque to Alex Thomas, with his wife? Greeting the crowds, the sport? His being shot? The television footage and its being played over and over? Alex Thomas and his wound in the hand? Being approached by Kate Crawford? The hospital, being congratulated by Vaughan Stevens? The other agents? Consoling the First Lady?

4.The background of the president, the revelation that there was to be a divorce? (The post-Clinton era?) The president’s wife greeting the crowd? At the hospital, a moment to herself? Her mourning, the funeral? Her painting, the mysterious woman? Relationship with Stevens? Alex visiting her? Her painting – and her advice to look from a different perspective?

5.Alex, the loner, his reaction to Kate? The evidence? Their working together, the threats on the boat, the explosion? Going to Vaughan, asking for more men? The support of Brian Martin? The clues about Jack Baldwin, following through, the warehouse, the shootout? The deaths of the agents? Going to the president’s wife? The final revelations, the confrontations? The death of Stevens?

6.Vaughan Stevens, the James Woods character, his friendship with the president, the relationship with his wife, his supervision, the TV evidence that he gave the gun to the killer, his suicide or murder?

7.Jack Baldwin, his team, the assassination, the killing of Shaky Fuller, the blowing up of the assassin’s mother’s house? The pursuit of Alex and Kate, blowing up the boat? The car chase? His being identified, the information, the confrontation in the warehouse? The hospital? The final attack, in the water, his death?

8.Shaky Fuller, the evidence, getting the money, taking Kate to the caravan site? His death?

9.The general, friendship with the president, confidant of Alex, his support, giving information about Stevens?

10.Kate, with her editor, questions, with Shaky, going to the site, going to the sister and the mother? The deaths? The attempt on her life? Working with Alex, persuading him? Her investigations, writing the article? The information about Baldwin? His trying to kill her?

11.Popular ingredients, audience interest in the president, Secret Service, assassinations, conspiracies?