Anyone seen a movie called "The Enemy Within" with Forrest Whitaker?

[Critters2]

I'm supposed to have watched it for a discussion group tonight, and I can't find it anywhere--Blockbuster, Family Video, anyplace. If you've seen it, tell me about it. Help me not look stupid.

Thanks.

[Spirochete]

1. I saw it a long time ago.

Don't remember too much about it, but I think it involved a renegade army general plotting a coup to remove the president from office. Forrest Whittaker was an army officer who finds about it and tries to stop it. Seems like Jason Robards was in it too, if I remember right. Think he played the bad guy. Sorry I can't be of more help to you.

[Critters2]

2. Well, that's something. Thanks.

That's pretty much what the synopses on some websites had. So, I know I've been looking up the right movie. At the very least, I'll be able to nod knowingly.

[Little Wing]

3. It was made for cable - HBO. It was back when Clinton was in power

so it was okay to talk about that stuff. Robards is using a fake training exercise to build up a military around the Pentagon, Forrest discovers this and is targeted for assasination.

It's a total ripoff of Seven Days in May

[PVnRT]

4. I seem to remember it being made for HBO

With a tagline of "It couldn't happen here, could it?"

[Critters2]

6. This is great help! Thanks!! nt

[sniffa]

5. here's a brief overview

SYNOPSIS

A member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff uncovers a plot by his superior to overthrow the Canadian government and rule it as his fifedom. Loyal to the president despite having caught his wife having an affair with the man, the officer puts everything he has on the line to try and stop the covert invasion across the northern border.

[Critters2]

7. Invasion of Canada, affair with wife. Very helpful! Thanks! nt

[colinmom71]

11. Umm, that's not at all the plot of the 1994 HBO film...

With Forest Whitaker. There was nothing to do with Canada or extra-marital affairs in that movie...

In the HBO movie, the Colonel uncovers a plot to use planned drills as an active military exercize. The city drills were a cover in case martial law needed to be declared during the silent Presidential overthrow being plotted by a senior General and several members of the Presidential Cabinet (think old fashioned "Cold War hawk" types) by using the 25th Amendment. Whitaker plays the Colonel who finds himself in danger when he tries to stop the plot...

[Critters2]

12. Uh-oh.

Critters scratches out previous notes. Wonders if someone's trying to make her look foolish. Critters needs no such assistance.

[colinmom71]

8. Yeah, I saw it several years ago...

Pardon me if I ramble a bit. I have a bad cold. But here's what I can remember from the movie...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109730/

The 1994 movie is about a Colonel who stumbles across a planned military multi-city "drill" that is actually a cover for the Presidential Cabinet and some Pentagon officials to stage a silent coup to oust the President via abuse of the 25th Amendment (Presidential Disability and Succession). Forrest Whitaker plays the Colonel who begins to delve deeper into the oddly planned drills and suddenly finds himself given leave (and informants begin to die) when he asks too many questions. As the plan to oust the President begins to fall into place, the Colonel manages to derail the entire plot by appealing directly to the President, confronting the conspirators who are by then strong arming the President out of office, and threatening to publically confess to treason and name names as a member of the cabal.

"The Enemy Within" is an HBO remake of the 1964 film "Seven Days in May" ( http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058576/ ). If you can find a copy of this film in your video store's classics section, that may help you out. Most reviews say the original is the superior film, though I've never seen it so I can't say. I do know that the 25th Amendment was not proposed and ratified to the Constitution until 1967, so that angle is new to the 1994 film. Essentially in "Enemy WIthin", the Cabinet and Generals sign an order declaring the President mentally unstable and no longer capable of holding the position of Commander in Chief based on their notions that the President is too soft on foreign policy.

Funny that your discussion group has selected this film for this week. I was reminded of it when the 10 city drill for last weekend was announced. Hmm... ;)

[Critters2]

10. This is really great!! Thanks! Very helpful!!! nt

[Rabrrrrrr]

9. Not with my pants on, no.

[AngryAmish]

13. Was that the one where he played the football player who got his car smashed?

[Critters2]

14. No, no. Something about a coup in Washington.

Try to keep up :)

[AngryAmish]

15. oh, its the one where he had the transexual girlfriend...

[Critters2]

16. I believe that was The Crying Game.

I intend to say, at some point in the discussion, "I thought he was better in 'The Crying Game', but I could see him maturing as an actor.'" That'll make me sound like I know what I'm talking about.

[JackBeck]

17. That's my favorite part of the movie.

[Fran Kubelik]

18. Forrest plays a drug-addicted jazz musician who is his own worst enemy.

So he quits playing jazz, takes over Uganda, and eats a lot of people.

It is a fairly uneven film. :)

[Critters2]

19. *Critters scribbles furiously* ...Jazz, you say? nt

[Richardo]

20. Famous for his Homer-esque: "Mmmmmmmmmmmm Long Pig"

:9