Customer Reviews

End Game (Frn)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Bad script. You cannot expect Cuba Gooding, a fine actor, to do something with nothing. General Burt Reynolds in full dress uniform smoking a pipe? The always dynamic James Woods is even restrained from his usual machine gun mouth didactic style. Now Angie Harmon does get a chance to act, but with who?
Secret Service Agent Cuba deflects a bullet with his hand which inadvertantly kills the President. It was a magic bullet because, miracle of miracles, no damage was done to his hand. In an overwhelming display of guilt he tries to drink himself to death only to be awakened by reporter Angie to whom he promptly farts in the face. That's just the first 15 minutes folks.
We then get treated to the conspiracy and a whole lotta killing going on. Extreme closeups, handheld cameras, and of course the filtered color to heighten suspense.
The ending is the final lowpoint of the film. How did the killer procure and finance all this? And after all they've been through Agent Cuba punks out and refuses to tell reporter Angie.
Anne Archer, one of my alltime favorites, has a supporting role as The First Lady, who is also a painter. She is lovely and so are the paintings.
It's a shame but it could have a contender thriller.

Viewers seem to be pretty much against this action flick, seeming to put it down because if IS an action flick, a fact that for this viewer prevents looking for the good parts of a movie that succeeds in making us think. Director Andy Cheng (also a co-writer for the script) has a background as a movie stunt coordinator and that talent serves him well in this fast paced, explosive, interesting film.

Alex Thomas (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) is a secret agent assigned to the President when an assassination occurs: Thomas takes a bullet for his beloved President (Jack Scalia) and comforts the First Lady (Anne Archer) when the President is pronounced dead. Thomas works for Head Agent Vaughn Stevens (James Woods) who comforts the grieving Thomas and sends him off duty to recover: Thomas goes off on a drinking binge and is discovered by an aggressive Pulitzer Prize news reporter Kate Crawford (Angie Harmon) and between the two of them they uncover a conspiracy that involves top ranking people. The perpetrator of the assassination is one Jack Baldwin (Peter Greene) who guides the events from is hidden space. Every lead Crawford uncovers is promptly destroyed by explosions or fires until the final confrontation of Baldwin with Thomas and Crawford. And just when the viewer thinks every step is utterly predictable, the ending leaves the truth about the assassination to the viewer...!

Cuba Gooding, Jr. is a fine talent in search of a great role: in this film he does well underplaying his character with some of the subtleties that demonstrate more of his talent. Angie Harmon delivers a fine performance: she deserves more roles. Anne Archer remains a pleasure to watch, even in this small but pivotal role, and James Woods, James Selby, and to an extent the grossly disfigured, post multiple plastic surgeries Burt Reynolds create credible characters. This is not a great movie, but is certainly is one with some fine elements and offers promise for new director Andy Cheng in his stepped up role. Yes, it is a bit predictable until the end, but it is a far better film than many of the movies that had the experience of a theatrical run (this one went straight to DVD!). Worth an evening's watching. Grady Harp, July 06

This movie had some good moments, but overall, there were lots of visual shots that just didn't make much sense, for instance, all the shots of cell phones. The end left much unexplained, so that was a bit frustrating. Plus, it didn't seem realistic that the Secret Service would let a reporter play such a critical role in an investigation, even to the point of dragging her along on interviews. There didn't appear to be any chemistry between Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Angie Harmon, nothing at all. And Burt Reynolds seemed to be wasted; his character didn't add much. But at least James Woods added some spice. I won't watch this movie again, but it wasn't an unpleasant experience.

***
This thriller had exceptional actors, lots of excitement, but really failed to deliver plot, had a totally dissatisfying ending, and in the end really felt like a complete waste of time. In addition, the camera work was erratic and weird (probably some attempt at artistic effect) and jumpy. My husband and I watched it and were so disappointed; we'd wondered why we'd never heard of it, when it starred such great actors. The reason is, it's an empty and incomplete movie.

I rated it three stars instead of one because the actors are great performers and fun to watch, plus the excitement level of the movie is high, even though it pans out to nothing in the end.
***

This very stupid story made no sense. I would like to get back the two hours I wasted watching this. The acting was good, but please give these people a better script. DOOM was more worthwhile than this worthless piece of junk.

Cuba Gooding Jr. plays a secret service agent who is guarding the President of the United States. He is assassinated on Cuba's watch. Of course, he's consumed with guilt. A Pulitzer Prize winning reporter is trying to uncover what really happened and gets Cuba involved.

Sounds like it should be fascinating, doesn't it? It was dreadfully boring. Don't waste your time on this dud.

Cuba Gooding Jr. stars this direct-to-video political/action thriller as Alex, dedicated Secret Service agent. Angie Harmon is Kate, Pulitzer-winning writer working for the newspaper "Washington Insider," who gets wind of a story when President of the United States is assassinated. James Woods plays the boss of Alex; Burt Reynolds is a retired general and Anne Archer is The First Lady.

The cast of "End Game" is reasonable, but none of them is allowed to show what they can do in this meandering, cliché-ridden story where nothing makes sense. Characters (both "good" ones and "bad" ones) repeatedly do what they don't need to do. It's a kind of plot in which a hero and a heroine can find clues as to the mastermind(s) and dodge the bullets of the baddies so easily, but audiences are not interested at all because of the lack of mystery and suspense.

The film (directed by stunt-turned-director Andy Cheng) has several decent action sequences including car actions and shooting, but not enough to make up for the poorly written script.

The Not-Too-Revealing-Synopsis:

Secret Service investigation into an assassination. Conspiracy theories, hit men who is your ally and who is your friend.

Review:

The plot was interesting enough to want to know who did it. The acting was good, characters were above average. The bad guy coverup just seemed half-hearted and full of holes. The interplay between reporter and secret service agent was questionable and the ending is unsatisfying. If you watch it you can enjoy it, if you miss it there is no real loss.

I thought this was a great movie. It's a psychological thriller--and Gooding's character, the "avenging angel", is the subject. Does the movie have that satisfying slap of the handcuffs at the end? No. The mystery is much more subtle. It's about a guy who would go way beyond the call of duty to protect another guy--even after the other guy is dead. And honestly the other guy is a jerk.

In the end, it's a redemption story. Gooding is struggling to become free of his excessive loyalty to a man who is nowhere near as good as himself. That's the satisfaction.

It's the old "Fallen Samurai" plot. Alex Thomas (Cuba Gooding) is a Secret Service Agent who is wounded trying to stop a Presidential assassination. Kate Crawford (Angie Harmon) is a reporter, who's trying to get to the bottom of the assassination.

While Gooding's always 'good', the plot just didn't keep the suspense boiling like it should. I don't think that he and Harmon had the chemistry they needed--and the conclusion was somewhat obvious to me from near the beginning of the movie.

It's worth a rental if you like Gooding, but overall, don't buy the film.