NEXTpage MOVIEreviews



Most Wanted (1997)

Keenan Ivory Wayans - action star?

I must say I was really surprised with Most Wanted as I've never expected much out of Keenan Ivory-Wayans in serious roles. He pulls it off, though, with this film also written and produced by him. It's a simple idea, but a complex story (another thing I didn't expect from Wayans) - Wayans plays an ex-Marine sharp-shooter sentenced to death after accidentally killing his commanding officer. A secret government organization big on assassinations busts him out of his imprisonment and brings him into their team. But on his first assignment he's given an order to shoot an escort of the first lady, however, the first lady is shot before he pulls the trigger. He's finds himself abandoned by his team and hunted by a military fraction - which, conspicuously enough, are the same people that set him up. Along the way, Wayans hooks himself up with a little help: a doctor (Jill Henessy) who has video of the real shooter (also hunted by the military guys), Paul Sorvino and Eric Roberts as CIA officials trying to find out the truth aobut the death, and a CNN reporter.

The movie gets deeper and deeper into conspiracy, which Wayans is trying desparately to uncover in order to clear his name. Of course you know he does, but the great plot twists and secrets make the film fun to watch. Particularily good is Jon Voight playing the leader of the military men, in one his meanest s.o.b. roles to date. It's nothing earth shattering, and it's not going to make Wayans a big time movie star (yet) but it's definitely entertaining and a great action/conspiracy film.




back