Con Games

CON GAMES (2001) Syn: An ex-soldier is hired to infiltrate a corrupt jail.

This is a straight-to-video movie starring an interesting Jean-Claude Van Damme imitator named Tommy Lee Thomas. It also stars Eric Roberts, Martin Kove, Katherine Parks, Sheila Campbell and the late Matthew Ansara. Incidentally, Ansara died of an overdose of heroin in June 2001 at the age of 35. He had been friends with costar Katherine Parks, who maintains that her friend did not do drugs, although foul play was ruled out by the coroner. Matthew Ansara was the son of actor Michael Ansara and Barbara Eden, of TV's I Dream of Jeannie.

Storyline: A senator's grandson is murdered while incarcerated at California's Doscher State Prison. Gulf War veteran John Woodrow infiltrates the prison to find the murderer, and finds that the grandson was killed by corrupt guard Lt. Hopkins, played by Eric Roberts. After discovering Woodrow's true identity Hopkins has him tortured, but Woodrow escapes following an arduous shooting chase through the desert.

The movie has fair production values and pretty solid acting. It was Matthew Ansara's last appearance before his tragic death.