Second in Command

Second in Command is a 2006 American action film starring Jean-Claude van Damme and directed by Simon Fellows. The film was released direct-to-DVD in the United States on May 2, 2006.

Second in Command
DVD cover
Directed bySimon Fellows
Produced byBrad Krevoy
Donald Kushner
Pierre Spengler
Written byJonathan Bowers
David Corley
Jayson Rothwell
Story byMilt Bearden
Jonathan Bowers
David Corley
StarringJean-Claude van Damme
Julie Cox
Alan McKenna
William Tapley
Raz Adoti
Velibor Topić
Music byMark Sayfritz
CinematographyDouglas Milsome
Production
company
Clubdeal
Castel Film Romania
MPCA
Distributed bySony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release date
  • May 2, 2006 (2006-05-02)
Running time
92 min.
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$12 million

Plot

Commander Sam Keenan (Jean-Claude van Damme), a decorated US Navy SEAL, is sent to the Eastern European nation of Moldavia to become the new security attaché at the US Embassy.

When he arrives, Keenan learns that Moldavia is in the middle of a civil war. At the embassy, Keenan meets with Ambassador George Norland (Colin Stinton), who makes Keenan the deputy ambassador. Recently, the US installed a new government in Moldavia, which is led by Moldavia's newly elected president Yuri Amirev (Serban Celea). However, Amirev wants the nation to be run as a democractic republic, but under the command of Anton Tavarov (Velibor Topić), communist insurgents have caused a riot at the presidential palace, threatening the fragile stability of the country. The insurgents are loyal to Alexei Kirilov (Costel Lupea), the former brutal communist dictator of Moldavia.

When the palace guards start firing on the insurgents without Amirev's authorization, the insurgents storm the palace, demanding Amirev's head. Keenan volunteers to bring Amirev to the embassy. But events reach critical mass, and the insurgents open fire. Keenan barely makes it back with Amirev, but the fight isn't over yet. Fifty Americans are holed up in the embassy, and Tavarov and his massive army have arrived at the gates, with plans to crash the building and drag Amirev out by any means necessary. To add to Keenan's problems, Norland is killed by a rocket that was launched by one of Tavarov's men.

To defend the embassy, Keenan has only 15 Marines, CIA bureaucrat Frank Gaines (William Tapley), limited ammunition, and his martial arts skills to hold Tavarov's army off until American reinforcements arrive. To make matters worse, Keenan's girlfriend, reporter Michelle Whitman (Julie Cox), is one of the hostages. With Tavarov's crew getting in position for attack, a power struggle takes place between Keenan and Gaines; with help hours away, it will be up to Keenan to rescue the hostages.

When the supposedly loyal General Borgov (a personal CIA "asset" claimed by Gaines) arrives he turns out to side with the insurgents but Keenan rescues the surviving personnel with help from arriving American military reinforcements.

Cast
  • Jean-Claude van Damme as Cmdr. Sam Keenan
  • Julie Cox as Michelle Whitman
  • Alan McKenna as Capt. John Baldwin
  • William Tapley as Frank Gaines
  • Raz Adoti as Gunnery Sergeant Earl Darnell
  • Velibor Topić as Anton Tavarov
  • Warren Derosa as Mike Shustec
  • Ian Virgo as Cpl. Will Butler
  • Raffaello Degruttola as PFC Zanger
  • Serban Celea as President Yuri Amirev
  • Vlad Ivanov as RSO John Lydon
  • Emanuel Parvu as Cpl. Chevantón
  • Razvan Oprea as PFC Devereaux
  • Mihai Bisericanu as Marshall Geller
  • Elizabeth Barondes as Jennifer Lennard
  • Colin Stinton as Ambassador George Norland
  • Dan Radulescu as PFC Pazzini
  • Catalin Paraschiv as PFC Burke
  • Eugen Cristea as Gen. Borgov
  • Costel Lupea as President Alexei Kirilov

Reception

The film opened in the 24th place with $1.04 million in the rentals chart.[1] The film currently holds average rating 5/10 stars on Internet Movie Database.[2] Forty percent of Rotten Tomatoes users liked the movie.[3]

Production

It is set and filmed in Bucharest, Romania in 50 days on June 7 and July 27, 2005.

Home media

DVD was released in Region 1 in the United States on May 2, 2006. It was released in Region 2 in the United Kingdom on 15 May 2006. It was distributed by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

References
  1. Strowbridge, C. S. (2006-05-13). "Home market numbers bounce back". The Numbers. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
  2. "Second in Command (Video 2006)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
  3. "Second in Command". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.