Plot: What’s it about?
Jenna (Kristy Swanson) works as an assassin, rubbing people out for the Alpha Section, who trained her in the arts of calculating murder. Now, I know, what you’re thinking here, this seems a lot like another movie out there with a female assassin, but just relax, this is not just a rip off flick. Anyway, Jenna’s next assignment is to put a famous television journalist six feet under. The journalist, Jordan Roberts (David Dukes-Not the KKK guy, BTW), knows a little too much about some underhanded dealings, so that’s why the dogs are after him. Jenna decides better of the mission, and refuses to kill Jordan, which trigger the Alpha Section to put an order out on her. One agent in particular, Dalton (Michael Madsen), is really pissed about it, and he’s looking to shut up Jordan for good, while making an example of Jenna. But Alpha trainer her to be a slick agent, so it won’t be easy for them, while running from all the Alpha agents won’t be easy for Jenna either. Jenna enlists the help of Marcus (Donald Faison), who is a gadget master, kind of like Jenna’s Q. Anyway, Jenna has top make sure Jordan stays alive, while an entire army of agents is hunting her down. But we soon learn that Dalton has an ace up his sleeve, he has kidnapped Jordan’s daughter, so they must infiltrate Alpha headquarters themselves. Can Jenna pull off her toughest mission to date, or will Alpha make sure that their secret dies with our heroes?
Supreme Sanction seems very much like Le Femme Nikita, but regardless, it’s a nice action movie to spend a couple hours with. While this is not a $100 million budget action flick, it has good production values and a decent cast. Kristy Swanson (Big Daddy, The Chase) is decent, but she’s not the perfect choice for a trained killer. She’s too soft, I don’t see her wanting to get blood on her dress or get dirty. But, she’s a good actress, and does her best with the role. Michael Madsen (Reservoir Dogs, Species 2) steals the show, giving his usual solid performance as a ruthless, slightly loopy, hothead. He is also on the commentary on this disc, which is hilarious. The disc’s asking price is justified by Madsen’s work, and fans of his will not want to miss this movie. Bringing some comic relief to the film is Donald Faison (Clueless, Trippin’) who plays Marcus, the gadget man. Faison keep the role light in nature, and we can easily see why Jenna is so trusting in him. Also appearing in Supreme Sanction are David Dukes (Gods and Monsters, Fled), Ron Perlman (The Island of Dr. Moreau, Alien Resurrection), and Tiny Lister, Jr. (Friday, No Holds Barred, The Fifth Element).
While this movie is not for everyone, it is a well done, low budget action movie. It uses stock footage and other means of lowering cost, but the finished product turned out quite well. I didn’t really know what to expect with this movie, but I got more than I anticipated. The locations for the movie are great, and the camera work is also very good. I thought I was getting a “B” movie, but the only thing in this movie that is “B” caliber is the budget. I know some of you out there will leave this movie on the shelf in favor of more visible titles, but for the price (24.99) and the total presentation, you can’t go wrong here. If you’re an action fan, or a Michael Madsen fan, I recommend this disc for purchase next time you’re at the store or shopping on-line. For all others, a rental should come first, then decide on a buy option. If you do choose to watch this movie, make sure you aren’t in a serious mode, as the movie is not to be taken all that seriously. Just expect a decent action movie with a couple good performances, and you won’t be disappointed.
Video: How does it look?
This disc looks great! Sterling has given Supreme Sanction the royal treatment, with a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. The colors look great, no bleeding, and the colors are rich and vibrant. The blacks levels are overly dark in some scenes, which lowers the detail level somewhat. A very sharp visual impression, no compression errors to be found.
Audio: How does it sound?
I was suprised at how well this disc sounded. There was good use of the surrounds, and sub woofer was heavily used as well. A very good disc, even the dialogue sounds clear, but some scenes have a higher dialogue volume than others, so some volume adjustment may need to be made.
Supplements: What are the extras?
Included are cast/crew bios, the theatrical trailer, and a running commentary. The commentary is very funny, and the speakers are director John Terlesky and actor Michael Madsen. This is a must listen, as it is a great commentary, with nice information, but less boring empty space. Usually, the two discuss how cheaply made the movie was, and how the crew scrimped on stuff to stay under budget. Madsen has some very entertaining moments, including an impersonation of Marlon Brando, which had me in stitches.
