Murder at 1600 Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Wesley Snipes solves a murder in the White House while dodging Secret Service agents who are probably in on it, until Alan Alda ruins everything by wanting to start a war over some hostages.

🍿 Murder at 1600: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Murder and Initial Investigation

When a young White House staffer, Carla Town, is found murdered in a restroom, D.C. homicide detective Harlan Regis (Wesley Snipes) is called to investigate. He quickly encounters resistance from the Secret Service, headed by Nick Spikings (Daniel Benzali), who seem intent on suppressing evidence. Regis is assigned Secret Service agent Nina Chance (Diane Lane) to assist him, though her initial cooperation is reluctant. As Regis digs deeper, he discovers that the President’s son, Kyle Neil, had a prior relationship with the victim, making him a prime suspect.

Unraveling the Conspiracy

Regis and Chance begin to uncover a larger conspiracy as they discover that evidence is being tampered with and witnesses are being intimidated. The investigation is further complicated by an ongoing international crisis involving American hostages in North Korea. As they get closer to the truth, Regis and Chance become targets themselves. They face attacks and attempts to discredit them, forcing them to rely on each other and go rogue to expose the truth.

Betrayal and Revelation

Regis confronts Spikings at his home to view withheld surveillance tapes, but Spikings is assassinated by a sniper before he can reveal the full story. Regis and Chance escape with the tape, leading them to a shocking revelation: Alvin Jordan (Alan Alda), the President’s National Security Advisor, is behind the murder and the conspiracy. Jordan’s motive is to force the President to resign due to his perceived weakness in handling the hostage crisis, paving the way for a more hawkish Vice President to take charge.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Detective Regis (Wesley Snipes): A determined D.C. homicide detective investigating a murder in the White House, facing obstruction from the Secret Service.
• Nina Chance (Diane Lane): A Secret Service agent initially assigned to monitor Regis who eventually becomes his ally in uncovering the truth.
• Alvin Jordan (Alan Alda): The National Security Advisor who orchestrates the murder and cover-up to force the President’s resignation.
• President Jack Neil (Ronny Cox): The President of the United States, dealing with both a hostage crisis and a murder investigation within the White House.
• Spikings (Daniel Benzali): The head of the Secret Service who attempts to suppress the investigation, protecting the White House’s secrets.
• Detective Stengel (Dennis Miller): Regis’s partner who provides support and comic relief during the high-stakes investigation.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Detective Regis: “I’m an obituary man.” – Detective Regis responds to Jordan about what he turns to first in the morning paper.
• Jordan: “Harvard did a study. It said you could measure a man’s longevity by the first thing he turns to in the morning paper.” – Jordan tries to make small talk with Detective Regis about reading habits.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $40,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $25,804,707
• Worldwide Gross: $25,804,707

💥 Murder at 1600 Reviews

Personal Review

I remember seeing this in theaters and being entertained. Snipes and Lane had good chemistry, and the whole ‘murder in the White House’ premise was intriguing. It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s a fun, suspenseful ride with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. I liked seeing Alan Alda in a villainous role.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of Wesley Snipes action thrillers”
  • “Viewers interested in political conspiracy movies”
  • “Audiences who enjoy crime dramas with a fast-paced plot”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Violence”
  • “Sexual Content”
  • “Strong Language”

Professional Reviews

• Rotten Tomatoes: “A competently made thriller that suffers from a predictable plot and stock characters. While Wesley Snipes and Diane Lane have decent chemistry, the script gives them little to work with beyond generic action movie tropes.
• IMDb: “Standard political thriller, made more interesting by Snipes’ character’s interest in history. A well-made film that rests on a solid plot and direction.
• Film.com: “Competently crafted action-thriller, even if it doesn’t reach the highest levels of its genre.

Audience Reactions

Wesley Snipes and Diane Lane’s chemistry and performance keep the viewers engaged.: Entertaining and a good way to spend a few hours on a Friday night.

The plot twists and red herrings provide a good level of suspense.: A thrilling ride that holds suspense till the very end.

Overall Consensus: A decent, entertaining thriller, with a somewhat predictable plot, elevated by the lead actors’ performances and a few engaging twists.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Bruce Willis was originally cast as Detective Harlan Regis but withdrew from the movie.”
• “The film’s exterior shots of the White House were created in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.”
• “The movie is loosely based on the novel ‘Murder in the White House’ by Margaret Truman.”

🖥️ How to Watch Murder at 1600?

Murder at 1600 is available for purchase or rental on various platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for cable availability. It is not typically available on subscription-based streaming services.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Murder at 1600, you might like these similar films:

• Absolute Power (1997): Deals with a murder involving the President of the United States and a subsequent cover-up.
• In the Line of Fire (1993): A Secret Service agent haunted by his past must protect the President from an assassin.
• No Way Out (1987): A U.S. Naval officer becomes embroiled in a murder investigation with political intrigue.
• Olympus Has Fallen (2013): Features action and political intrigue within the White House setting.
• The Parallax View (1974): A reporter investigates a political assassination and uncovers a vast conspiracy.

🛒 Murder at 1600 Related Products

• The West Wing: Complete Series DVD: Relive the political intrigue with this acclaimed series, offering a deeper look into the workings of the White House and executive decisions.
• Lego Architecture: The White House: Build your own detailed replica of the White House. A great display piece for fans of architecture and political history.
• The President’s Shadow: A Thriller: A novel by Brad Meltzer with similar thrilling mysteries.

🎧 Soundtrack

Murder at 1600 features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “She’s a River” – performed by Simple Minds
• “Numb” – performed by U2

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

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