EXECUTIVE TARGET

US, 1996, 100 Minutes, Colour.
Michael Madsen, Roy Scheider, Keith David, Angie Everheart.
Directed by Joseph Merhi.

Executive Target is a routine thriller, an assassination attempt on the president of the US. It shows a right-wing group, law unto themselves, with a plan for kidnapping and killing the president to stop his more social programs and his restriction of defence budget.

The film was co-executive produced by its star, Michael Madsen, who gets to do some tough-guy acting as well as driving. Roy Scheider is a stern president. There is a lot of stunt work (Madsen’s character being a former stunt driver) and a lot of explosions and a high body count. This means that the film works on a very popular level of action and shoot-'em-up rather than the social concerns which it initially focuses on.

1. American action? Patriotism? Social concern? Defence issues?

2. The urban setting, the American cities, the world of the president? The world of defence systems? The action, the stunt work, explosions and special effects? Musical score?

3. The title and its focus on the president? His policies, defying the military chiefs? Press conferences, action, visits? His abduction? The explosions, the deaths? Nick and his driving him to safety? Bargaining with him for his wife? The president's consent? The tracking device and his troops finding him? The pardon for Nick - and the future?

4. The plot: the military, Lamarr and his headquarters, the elaborate underground system, the isolated area? The military equipment and personnel? Television and surveillance? The crash and the taking of Nick, his wife? The confrontation, the plan? Lamarr and his greed? Bribing Nick with the money? His surveillance of the operation? Being deceived, the final confrontation and his death? His assistant, her coolness, the advice, her death?

5. Nick, the prison bus, the crash, his abduction? His wife? The background of his movie stunt work, prison? His being chosen to drive the president's car? The discussions with Lamarr, the money? His patriotism? Taking the president, driving fast, eluding the explosions? Taking him to his friend's? His discussions with the president? He and his friend and the Marines going to rescue his wife? The confrontation and shootout, Lamarr and his assistant? The future and the president leaving him with the money?

6. Nadia, relationship with Nick, being taken by Lamarr, confrontation? The rescue? The old Marine, not knowing what was going on, going with Nick to rescue Nadia, the signal of "Cherry Coke" and the shootout?

7. The conventions of this kind of action thriller? Characters, political situations, military situations, dangers? Stunts and action?