Second in Command

Second in Command
Second in Command
	DVD cover
Directed by	Simon Fellows
Written by	Jonathan Bowers; David Corley; Jayson Rothwell
Story by	Milt Bearden; Jonathan Bowers; David Corley
Produced by	Brad Krevoy; Donald Kushner; Pierre Spengler
Starring	Jean-Claude van Damme; Julie Cox; Alan McKenna; William Tapley; Raz Adoti; Velibor Topić
Cinematography	Douglas Milsome
Music by	Mark Sayfritz
Production; companies	Clubdeal; Castel Film Romania; MPCA
Distributed by	Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release date	May 2, 2006;
Running time	92 min.
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$12 million

Second in Command is a 2006 American action film starring Jean-Claude van Damme and directed by Simon Fellows. The film was released direct-to-DVD in the United States on May 2, 2006.

Plot

Commander Sam Keenan (Jean-Claude van Damme), a decorated US Navy SEAL, is sent to the Eastern European nation of Moldavia to become the new security attaché at the US Embassy.

When he arrives, Keenan learns that Moldavia is in the middle of a civil war. At the embassy, Keenan meets with Ambassador George Norland (Colin Stinton), who makes Keenan the deputy ambassador. Recently, the US installed a new government in Moldavia, which is led by Moldavia's newly elected president Yuri Amirev (Serban Celea). However, Amirev wants the nation to be run as a democractic republic, but under the command of Anton Tavarov (Velibor Topić), communist insurgents have caused a riot at the presidential palace, threatening the fragile stability of the country. The insurgents are loyal to Alexei Kirilov (Costel Lupea), the former brutal communist dictator of Moldavia.

When the palace guards start firing on the insurgents without Amirev's authorization, the insurgents storm the palace, demanding Amirev's head. Keenan volunteers to bring Amirev to the embassy. But events reach critical mass, and the insurgents open fire. Keenan barely makes it back with Amirev, but the fight isn't over yet. Fifty Americans are holed up in the embassy, and Tavarov and his massive army have arrived at the gates, with plans to crash the building and drag Amirev out by any means necessary. To add to Keenan's problems, Norland is killed by a rocket that was launched by one of Tavarov's men.

To defend the embassy, Keenan has only 15 Marines, CIA bureaucrat Frank Gaines (William Tapley), limited ammunition, and his martial arts skills to hold Tavarov's army off until American reinforcements arrive. To make matters worse, Keenan's girlfriend, reporter Michelle Whitman (Julie Cox), is one of the hostages. With Tavarov's crew getting in position for attack, a power struggle takes place between Keenan and Gaines; with help hours away, it will be up to Keenan to rescue the hostages.

When the supposedly loyal General Borgov (a personal CIA "asset" claimed by Gaines) arrives he turns out to side with the insurgents but Keenan rescues the surviving personnel with help from arriving American military reinforcements.

Cast

Jean-Claude van Damme as Cmdr. Sam Keenan
Julie Cox as Michelle Whitman
Alan McKenna as Capt. John Baldwin
William Tapley as Frank Gaines
Raz Adoti as Gunnery Sergeant Earl Darnell
Velibor Topić as Anton Tavarov
Warren Derosa as Mike Shustec
Ian Virgo as Cpl. Will Butler
Raffaello Degruttola as PFC Zanger
Serban Celea as President Yuri Amirev
Vlad Ivanov as RSO John Lydon
Emanuel Parvu as Cpl. Chevantón
Razvan Oprea as PFC Devereaux
Mihai Bisericanu as Marshall Geller
Elizabeth Barondes as Jennifer Lennard
Colin Stinton as Ambassador George Norland
Dan Radulescu as PFC Pazzini
Catalin Paraschiv as PFC Burke
Eugen Cristea as Gen. Borgov
Costel Lupea as President Alexei Kirilov

Reception

The film opened in the 24th place with $1.04 million in the rentals chart.^[1] The film currently holds average rating 5/10 stars on Internet Movie Database.^[2] Forty percent of Rotten Tomatoes users liked the movie.^[3]

Production

It is set and filmed in Bucharest, Romania in 50 days on June 7 and July 27, 2005.

Home media

DVD was released in Region 1 in the United States on May 2, 2006. It was released in Region 2 in the United Kingdom on 15 May 2006. It was distributed by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

References

^ Strowbridge, C. S. (2006-05-13). "Home market numbers bounce back". The Numbers. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
^ "Second in Command (Video 2006)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
^ "Second in Command". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 7 August 2011.

External links

[1] Strowbridge, C. S. (2006-05-13). "Home market numbers bounce back". The Numbers. Retrieved 7 August 2011.

[2] "Second in Command (Video 2006)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 7 August 2011.

[3] "Second in Command". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 7 August 2011.

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