The Enemy Within (1994)

Such a frustrating disappointment

Please don't spend money on this.

Best movie of this year hands down!

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

A tepid updated remake of John Frankenheimer's 'Seven Days In May' with even for cable television has that television movie sheen about it despite a starry cast.Colonel Casey (Forest Whitaker) discovers his boss, General Lloyd (Jason Robards) with the Secretary of Defence Charles Potter (Josef Sommer) plan to remove President William Foster (Sam Waterston) from office and replace him with Vice President Kelly, who is more willing to increase defence spending. They wish to initiate constitutional somersaults to make the move less like a coup.Colonel Casey only has days to get sufficient evidence to protect the president and gets help from the Russians.The problem here is the president is so weakly presented. The Attorney General is killed and he launches no forensic investigation.On the other hand General Lloyd and Charles Potter are a charmless bunch of fascists who make Richard Nixon look like a pussycat. There was no way people were going to follow them.The film was well acted by Forest Whitaker but lacked drama and tension.

I have seen the original Seven Days in May no fewer than 15 times. I know, I need to get a life. However, the original cast of Lancaster, Douglas, March, Gardner, Houseman, Duggan, etc. was pure magic. The tension was palpable,and the chemistry was awesome.That being said, The Enemy Within was a light, or lite, version of the original. Could there be more of a mis-casting than putting poor old Jason Robards as the Joint Chiefs Chairman. He looked like he had oatmeal drooling on his bib. Don't get me wrong, he was a very fine actor, and perhaps he could have pulled it off when he was twenty or thirty years younger.The rest of the cast with the exception of the sultry Dana Delaney was weak. The plot was John Kerryesque nuanced. The ending was farcical.I enjoy the idea of remaking fine older movies. Perhaps George Clooney can pull it off, as he did with the remake of Failsafe. However, The Enemy Within comes across as a poor man version of a classic thriller.

This was an excellent made for TV movie. It was meant to make you think about what is and was possible. In 1994 the country still wanted to believe such an act of betrayal in this country was impossible...in 2001 we learned different. Yes, it is a make-over of Seven Days in May, which was astounding for its time, but the Enemy Within is an updated version without just being the same movie with updated clothing and actors. Forest Whitaker makes you believe he is who he is portraying. I liked that Whitaker's character was married and was trying to be a responsible parent. Kirk Douglas' character, if I remember right, didn't have personal life shown in the movie. This is definitely worth the time.

Dramatic, Intriguing and Suspenseful, "The Enemy Within" is an excellent political thriller that will appeal to anyone who can think outside the norm. While I haven't seen the original "Seven Days in May", I think that the comments that this movie it is poorly cast and acted are very much mistaken as the actors do the intriguing plot and thrilling scenarios, more than justice. Forest Whitaker is especially good in his role as Colonel Casey and does an outstanding job in bringing a sense of realism and authenticity to his character. Don't let the negative comments put you off, "The Enemy Within" is a great movie that will have your heart pounding and mind thinking.