Federal Protection

"Federal Protection", a vanilla middle-of-the-road action/drama with the feel of tv direct production, tells of a swaggering chop shop racketeer (Assante) from Chicago who is ensconced in the federal witness protection program in the burbs of Little Rock, AR where he is too easily recognized by his neighbors one of whom he falls for while the others try to extort money from the mob for giving him up. Obvious, predictable, contrived, and generic with some bloody shootouts, almost no sex, no nudity, and very little chemistry, "FP" is strictly nominal no-brainer entertainment. Keep expectations low and enjoy.

This movie is utter cliché, but also an example how one actor can make it worth watching.

Dina Meyer is completely carrying this movie. Even though she doesn't have leading role her scenes are only advantage of this film. Talented actress and stunning beauty. (man, did she look good in that latex dominatrix costume :) )

Sure Assante was cool as always but his scenes were kind of boring. But when story gave attention to Dina this movie was actually interesting.

Movie is complete no brainier, predictable as it can get, but has some charm and is fun watch if you don't expect too much, and especially if you're Dina Meyer fan!

On paper FEDERAL PROTECTON just seems a workman like revenge thriller where someone turns stool pigeon and the mob have to hunt him down to keep his mouth shut and perhaps if the plot had been structured like this it might have worked slightly better . The problem is the story gets sidelined with a major subplot featuring someone wanting to make a lot of money by knowing where the stoolie is

Perhaps screenwriter Craig Smith can be excused slightly since my gut instinct is that director Anthony Hickox is more to blame for the film's failings . Hickox father Douglas was a director who could his turn his hand to different types of genre in films as diverse as THEATRE OF BLOOD and ZULU DAWN . Anthony is better known for his early horror films and seems slightly out of his depth as to how he should approach the material here . The film has the look of a lightweight 1980s film which seems at odds with the Taratinoesque dialogue though sometimes it delves in to erotic comedy thriller

That said Hickox has done well to cast Dina Meyer as Bootsie Cavander . She smoulders as a femme fatale who recognises a scheme to make money . Unfortunately the film seems to be pulling in different directions because the screenplay doesn't seem to have Bootsie as the main character but Ms Meyer is undoubtedly the best aspect of the film in much the same way as Linda Fiorentino is the best thing about THE LAST SEDUCTION . Perhaps the director should have insisted on a rewrite after the casting had been done ?

When we get a film that has the cliché of federal protection and the like we always wonder what interpertation will be given and even though you can see the cliché it holds a certain cool and simple story telling with the minor CHARACTERS MEYER AND LIPPER who outshine FEATHERSTONE AND ASSANTE. this has some of the funniest scenes and you are so rooting for the TALENTED DINA MEYER to out do the MOB that it becomes more interesting watching it. 3 a. GREAT SCENES meyer not liking her new fetish b. THE sarcastic killer who gets over emotional and pushed, also the look its SHANIA TWAIN gag c. social statement .THE mob using a Chinese hit-man in their ranks

The plot was silly, the husband was silly, some scenes were silly, but it fun to watch. Personally I didn't really care about the main story arc, but the secondary one was fun. One thing about the movie is that it left me wondering what in the world did girls see in the husband?

Pretty much everything involving the mafiosos was enjoyable, especially the park scene. I might rent the movie again just for them. If you are looking for something to kill some time while enjoying a brew, this is a good choice.