Cover Up

Mike Anderson (Dolph Lungren) is an ex-marine reporter sent by the LA time to Tel Aviv to investigate the recent bombing of a US army base. There he meets his mate Cooper, who has now hooked up with Mike's ex. Mike sense that something isn't right with this attack, and he's right. A nerve gas has been stolen that can kill up to a square mile of people and it seems a shadowy group called Black October have stolen it. Mike sets out to find out what's up with the whole deal, and just exactly what Lou Gossett Junior has to do with it all.

Low on action but high in covert shenanigans, Cover Up is helped greatly by the fact that Lungren, unlike a lot of action stars, is also quite a likable actor to boot. Here he doesn't have too much to do except snoop around, avoid the CIA, and avoid being killed by assassins, but he does find time to sleep with his widowed ex, get into a car chase, and seemingly get into a very violent fight with an actor who greatly resembles Italian b-movie star John Stiener (who, in some sort of time slip, travelled forward in time from a movie set in Rome to kick Dolph's head in - weird).

There's your usual double and triple crosses, plus, for an action hero, Dolph really takes his licks here. I liked it for what it was, and when violence appears it's quite strong. Not bad for something to pass the time.

Dolph Lundgren used to be a Marine. Now he's a journalist and best-selling author on his way to Israel to cover a new group called "Black October.' That doesn't sound cozy, does it? And to see if he can reconcile with his girl friend. But while he's there, he discovers CIA station chief Lou Gossett Jr. Is tracking something odd and gets caught up in something that seemingly random assassins will garrotte him for.

The most impressive thing about this movie is Lundgren's pretty good, if occasionally wavering accent. Most of the time he sounds vaguely Midwestern, but he occasionally falls into a vaguely Southern drawl. Otherwise, its a compendium of thriller-type shots shot in monochromatic light. Gossett tries to do something with his lines, infusing them with some emotion.

'Cover-Up' starts with a slow title sequence meant to build atmosphere, but it's a low budget tactic. Prolong the running time and give you the sense that the following flick is going to be intriguing. It's really not. Ultimately Dolph Lundgren & Lou Gossett Jr reteam after 'The Punisher' for a thriller going thru the motions light on fun.

An attack at a US Naval base in Israel supposedly by the terrorist group "Black October" leaves servicemen dead, but is really a cover for a high grade bio weapon to be stolen. Reporter Mike Anderson (Lungren) then covers the story and when he starts to get too close to the bottom of things attempts are made on his life. Its unclear too what side Jackson (Gossett) the local US official in charge is on.

There's some b-movie charm here ... cliches you would say. Mike is a well known, likable guy. Plus he's an ex marine. He's good friends with Col. Cooper (John Finn) the man in charge of running the US base. He's also the ex lover of a civilian bureaucrat Susan Clifford (Lisa Berkely). He loses a game of pool purposely to gain info and after its shown how he's actually really good at the game. That sort of nonsense.

If you follow the trail, you can figure out who the bad guy is early on. Strictly mediocre, but not like 'Cover-Up' ever tries to be something it ain't. Fans of Lundgren & Gossett don't have much to sink their teeth into. Although the element of watching Dolph try to talk and bribe a hotel desk clerk who's already dead was amusing.

Mike Anderson (hunky Dolph Lundgren) is a known American reporter dispatched to investigate a mysterious and fatal attack on an overseas US naval base, Anderson, a leading investigative journalist and ex-US marine, finds himself back on familiar ground. Instinct makes him question the official CIA explanation told by CIA chief Jackson (Oscarized secondary Louis Gosset Jr) that cites an unknown terrorist group called Black October (Black September-alike) . Terrorist attacks on US military based in Israel are just the smokescreen for a great threat . Alone, and armed only with his combat training and determination to uncover the truth, the journalist attempts to find out a risked political web . Renewing a fiery affair with his ex-Iover Susan Clifford (Lisa Berkley , in her first and last film), now the US Embassy press attachee, he soon finds himself taking on an old adversary . And when his former marine colleague Colonel John Cooper (John Finn of Cold case) suffers a terrorist attack after a secret rendezvous with him, Mike realises he holds the pieces to a deadly plot . If the lies don'd kill you , the truth will will ¡ .

This exciting though below-par Actioner packs suspense , car chases , thrills , noisy action , political intrigue and violence . Boring pace with its ups and downs ; stands out only for ending scenes when takes place the attempt terrorist in 11th station , ¨Via Crucis¨ and Holy Tomb . Picture reveals an alarmingly realist insight into US-Middle Eastern politics and terrorism since the 2000s, dealing with a al-Qaeda-esque terrorist organization and the conspiracy theories that some believe the US government is using the Middle East as a cover-up . The highlights of the movie result to be the battles to save the lives of thousands of innocent people, in a desperate attempt to prevent a deadly plan to create an international disaster of catastrophic proportions , as in a race against time Lundgren confronts a terrorist scheme in the God Friday climax , including hokey religious symbolism . The scene where Dolph Lundgren's character runs through the mass of people during the Easter celebration was shot during an actual enactment by pilgrims of the twelve stations of Christ. Hidden cameras were used to get the footage, and a pair of incognito Israeli National Squad paratroopers followed Lundgren for his protection. None the less pilgrims and tourists thought his fake blood was an actual wound, and "real" soldiers pointed M16 guns at Lundgren and got him down on the ground as they had not been well informed of the film production .

Regular acting by Dolph Lundgren as a two-fisted American journalist on a dangerous foreign assignment, finds his own life in jeopardy when he uncovers a deadly labyrinth of political intrigue , better is Lous Gosset Jr as CIA boss Lou Jackson. William Tannen, who had written the script and was in the final stages of preparation in Israel to begin shooting in one week, was replaced because the lead actor decided that the script he signed on to do was no longer viable and that he began to do a major rewrite ; Tannen actually said the word "No" and was excused by the Israeli producer, a former prop man. The picture failed at box office and released theatrically worldwide except in the United States and United Kingdom . The movie was incidentally produced before the Gulf War started . In France, the distributor delayed the release by six months because of the conflict . The motion picture was middlingly directed by Manny Coto ; writer William Tannen was to direct the film, director Manny Coto got hired only one or two weeks before principal photography . Manny is a notorious producer , writer an occasionally director as TV as cinema , such as ¨Zenon¨, ¨Star Kid¨, ¨Dr Giggles¨, ¨Red Schizo¨and this ¨Cover up¨

Reporter and former marine Mike Anderson (Lundgren) investigates following a deadly assault on a US military base which the CIA attributes to a terrorist organisation. However, with a powerful weapon missing, Mike believes something more sinister is afoot and soon finds himself coming face-to-face with an old foe, CIA man Lou Jackson (Gossett Jr), with the lives of thousands of people at stake.

Action-wise, 'Cover Up' is quite limited. A a couple of explosions, a couple of punch-ups and a decent car chase, that's it. It's more of a thriller with some drama and intrigue. Lundgren gets to play a slightly different type of character, and acts quite well; his interplay with Louis Gossett Jr. Is good. There's some good scenery, and a surprising twist at the end, but the film lacks pace, it's a bit too dullish, unexciting and talky - needed more punch, however it was slightly diverting with its intrigue and Lundgren's performance. Otherwise it's not something I would watch again in a hurry. A one time watch I would say.