Homeland Security (2004) (TV)

User Rating:

4.4/10   

Director:

Daniel Sackheim

Writer (WGA):

Christopher Crowe (written by)

Release Date:

11 April 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | War

Tagline:

The days that changed our world

Plot:

Homeland Security and the September 11th disaster

Plot Keywords:

Terrorist | FBI | CIA | Afghanistan | September 11 2001

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Scott Glenn	...	Joe Johnson
Tom Skerritt	...	Admiral Ted McKee
Grant Show	...	Bradley Brand
Marisol Nichols	...	Agent Jane Fulbar
Kal Penn	...	Harrison
Ross Gibby	...	Agent Frank Heinhoff
Leland Orser	...	Sol Binder
Stephi Lineburg	...	Melissa McKee (as Stephanie Lineburg)
Beth Broderick	...	Elise McKee
Nicholas Guilak	...	Saif Khan
Michael Cudlitz	...	Agent Tango 12
Megan Gallagher	...	Margaret
Chuma Hunter-Gault	...	Agent Frank Johnson
Ben Youcef	...	Yusef Adel
Tracy Scoggins	...	Catherine Adel

MPAA:

Rated R for some violence.

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

UK:15 | Argentina:13 | USA:R | Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Craftsman Films

In Extreme Bad Taste

Why must every network jump the gun in releasing tv-movies based on recent events. First there was the DC sniper movie. Then you have the Lacy Peterson movie. Both of which came out BEFORE the trials had been completed. And now, barely two years after 9/11, we have a 9/11 movie. Before the (un-necessary) War in Iraq and the abandoned War on Terror (or, according to our esteemed Mr. Bush, "War on Terra") have even accomplished their goals, before the investigation of the government's mess-ups has been completed, and long before the conspirators behind the attacks have been brought to justice (I'm even starting to doubt they'll ever be brought to justice).

Anyway, network greed and my own personal opinions on the events don't have any bearing on this movie. So, I digress and must comment on the movie.

All things considered, the plot of the movie goes all over the place. The direction and writing is short-sighted at best. We're given various twisting plotlines, that, by the end of the movie, leave tons of loose ends with no real solution (maybe its because the real-life plotlines haven't found a solution either...).

We're presented with Scott Glenn, a veteran FBI or CIA or something agent, who's on the border of retirement. Following 9/11 those plans go out the window (obviously). We're also shown another CIA agent, Marisol Nichols (most notably the scatter brained Griswold daughter in 'Vegas Vacation'), who's on stake-out outside a terrorist hide out. Needless to say, the FBI rains on her parade and kills one of her suspects. But, she takes the other one, giving the FBI a friendly greeting as she goes. Then we have Beth Broderick (the aunt of MJH in 'Sabrina: The Teenage Witch') and Tom Skerritt, who's daughter almost gets on one of the doomed planes. We are also shown various scenes from Afghanistan, which contribute almost nothing to the failing plot. Thankfully NBC didn't completely sell their soul to the devil. They didn't actually show planes crashing into buildings... just news footage of smoking buildings.

Overall, this is a short-signed, quickly done, low budget movie that tries to capitalize on fear and headlines: stock footage, low grade actors, and all. I guess I could've forgiven the greedy pigs at NBC, had they not further trivialized the events by including product placement (don't we all want to chug Minute Maid Orange juice when we find out girlfriend might be dead?).

I doubt NBC, or any other network, will re-air this turkey. But, if by chance they do, skip this. Well, unless you do want to see your two/three-year old nightmares interpreted by a bunch of greedy network execs and thrown back at you.

Rating: 3/10