Filmic Friday 234: Murder at 1600

Murder at 1600
1997

A few weeks ago, I saw a movie called Murder at 1600. Now, I'm a big Wesley Snipes fan because Z showed me the Blade trilogy early on in our relationship, so finding out that there was a 1990s murder mystery starring Snipes in the White House was pretty exciting!

"Sex. Wealth. Power. The combination is murder."

I find it hilarious that it's just Snipes and Lane on the cover, considering who else is in this movie, but aside from that, this was a great, great time!

I mean, it opens with Snipes punching out an armed, dangerous, and distraught Charlie Rocket,
so you know it's going to be bizarre.

Snipes is a good cop in DC trying to keep his home, which is being taken over by eminent domain. The big reason he doesn't want to move? He has a bunch of Civil War miniatures filling the whole apartment. It's weird, but it also pays off. Which is weirder. Anyway, he and his partner are hanging out when he gets dragged into solving the murder of a secretary at the White House.

I like his partner. He's such a weirdo. Also, they act more married than most married people in movies.
I dig it.

So we've got Snipes in the White house, trying to solve a crime, and no one is cooperating. At least there's Diane Lane, who's trying to do her job as a Secret Service member.

While looking like Dana Sculley.

So Snipes and Lane eventually have to form what amounts to a two-person team fighting the White House, assassins, and even the rest of the Secret Service. The movie gets pretty wacky.

But it has great lighting and Snipes is hilarious.

My favorite part of this movie, though, is who isn't on the poster.

Why yes, that is Alan Alda taking a walk with Wesley Snipes while they discuss
whether or not the President's son is a murderer on top of being a philanderer.

Yeah, Alan Alda is one of the major roles in this flick.

If you've ever wanted to see a movie where Wesley Snipes and Alan Alda interact a whole bunch, here you go. Seriously though, it's awesome to watch these guys trying so hard in a movie with so little going for it, story-wise.

While all of the parts interlock appropriately, this story is a little too overburdened with detail, and it can be easy to get lost trying to follow the plot, such as it is.

Murder at 1600 is best enjoyed for what it is: a made-for-tv movie starring some awesome actors with some great cinematography.

So if you're looking for a movie to watch, check your local library for a copy of Murder at 1600, because it's worth its weight in popcorn!

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