"Federal Protection", a vanilla middle-of-the-road action/drama with the feel of tv direct production, tells of a swaggering chop shop racketeer (Assante) from Chicago who is ensconced in the federal witness protection program in the burbs of Little Rock, AR where he is too easily recognized by his neighbors one of whom he falls for while the others try to extort money from the mob for giving him up. Obvious, predictable, contrived, and generic with some bloody shootouts, almost no sex, no nudity, and very little chemistry, "FP" is strictly nominal no-brainer entertainment. Keep expectations low and enjoy.
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=G=23 March 2002
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blueboyns5 January 2006This movie is utter cliché, but also an example how one actor can make it worth watching.
Dina Meyer is completely carrying this movie. Even though she doesn't have leading role her scenes are only advantage of this film. Talented actress and stunning beauty. (man, did she look good in that latex dominatrix costume :) )
Sure Assante was cool as always but his scenes were kind of boring. But when story gave attention to Dina this movie was actually interesting.
Movie is complete no brainier, predictable as it can get, but has some charm and is fun watch if you don't expect too much, and especially if you're Dina Meyer fan! -
Theo Robertson12 January 2010On paper FEDERAL PROTECTON just seems a workman like revenge thriller where someone turns stool pigeon and the mob have to hunt him down to keep his mouth shut and perhaps if the plot had been structured like this it might have worked slightly better . The problem is the story gets sidelined with a major subplot featuring someone wanting to make a lot of money by knowing where the stoolie is
Perhaps screenwriter Craig Smith can be excused slightly since my gut instinct is that director Anthony Hickox is more to blame for the film's failings . Hickox father Douglas was a director who could his turn his hand to different types of genre in films as diverse as THEATRE OF BLOOD and ZULU DAWN . Anthony is better known for his early horror films and seems slightly out of his depth as to how he should approach the material here . The film has the look of a lightweight 1980s film which seems at odds with the Taratinoesque dialogue though sometimes it delves in to erotic comedy thriller
That said Hickox has done well to cast Dina Meyer as Bootsie Cavander . She smoulders as a femme fatale who recognises a scheme to make money . Unfortunately the film seems to be pulling in different directions because the screenplay doesn't seem to have Bootsie as the main character but Ms Meyer is undoubtedly the best aspect of the film in much the same way as Linda Fiorentino is the best thing about THE LAST SEDUCTION . Perhaps the director should have insisted on a rewrite after the casting had been done ? -
prydwen18 July 2002Although this movie was not particularily "meaty", I would have to say it was quite entertaining. Firstly, Armand Assante's performance as mafioso can never go wrong. His cocky, charismatic portrayal of an ex-mobster in the witness protection program is definitely alluring.
The redheaded neighbor recognizes and falls for him, you feel happy for her as she's in dead-end marriage, and the chemistry between her and Armand is apparent! (I kept thinking . . . if only that could happen to me).
Like I said, it's not filled with the extreme gritty substance of "Gotti", but it is fun and even has some Pulp-Fiction-like dark-comedic scenes -- that, and Armand's performance along with the sexual chemistry make this - I feel - a very worthwhile watch! -
ghostman162 April 2007Jesus Christ this film was boring an hour and a half seemed like 5 hours and a half.Armand Assante plays Frank Carbone a chop shop worker working for the mob. but when the mob wants Frank dead Frank is put into federal protection. the thing that got me annoyed with federal protection was that it was completely boring.Armand Assante is first billed yet you hardly really see him in the film Dina Meyer steals most of the film as an annoying smart ass character. i admit the fist 15 minutes of the film where quite good but after that i struggled to keep watching it. luckily this was on television so i didn't waste any money buying it.but word of advise if anyone is thinking of buying this film don't you'll want your time and money back. 2 out of 10.
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pluto-1114 September 2003How do these scripts get made anyway? Why would a good actor like Armande Assante agree to this brain-dead piece? I hope he got paid well. This stinker couldn't have read well.
*Spoilers*
This film had so many holes, I won't bore you with them all (each scene seemed to have several) - bad accents (the one head mobster sounded like he was from LA not Jersey, or maybe even Canada) - annoying soundtrack. The "comedy" aspect - like a chick who sticks the heel of her pump into a guy's forehead wasn't funny or believable. This same lady who has absolutely no scruples (she kills her brother-in-law at the end of that scene for some reason or another which isn't really explained *and* she is sleeping with the guy) later on in the film decides she will sacrifice herself for that same sister - huh? There is also a golf bit that is supposed to be funny - it may have been a little funny the first time but when they pulled the same bit at the end all it did was elicit eye-rolling moans in our little audience.
The acting was uniformly awful except for Armande - in fact, the film is almost watchable during his scenes. To think that someone on this forum said this junk was better than "Whole 9 Yards"!
Save your time, watch an episode of "Sopranos" instead, or, better still, watch "Whole 9 Yards". -
FilmCriticBoy25 February 2008This is an average American Thriller.The movie is OK fun for Monday evening entertainment.The direction is decent.The director of this movie is well-known and skilled British director Anthony Hickox.The stars of the movie are: an average but charismatic actor Armand Assante,and sexy actress,Dina Meyer.She is so hot.I enjoyed while i was watching her in this movie.This movie is pretty fun,it is thrilling,but there are a lot flaws in this movie:some holes in the plot,bad screenplay,bad camera work,and some actors are convincing at all.Although it has some bad sides,I enjoyed in the movie because i wasn't expecting too much.And if you are not looking for a brilliant film,you should watch this one,because it is fun,the acting and production are OK,and I promise you won't be disappointed.It is stupid fun thriller for people of all ages.
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tarbosh2200014 May 2010"Federal Protection" is a cool and violent movie.
The plot: Frankie Carbone (Assante) is a small-time hood stealing cars for a living. When a contract on his life gets botched, he is put into the witness protection program. It seems like he's safe, but he's not. Bootsie (Meyer) is a hitwoman who will stop at nothing to find him.
Armand Assante is always worth watching because of his excellent over-acting. Watch "Dot.Kill" to see what I mean. He doesn't disappoint here, with a couple classic yelling moments from Assante. Dina Meyer is very sexy in her role. The action scenes, while silly, are bloody and well-staged.
If you like the actors involved, you'll enjoy "Federal Protection" For more insanity, please visit: comeuppancereviews.com -
merklekranz23 November 2019Armand Assante overacts to the extreme, and believability is non existent. Unfortunately that is not the worst part of "Federal Protection". The script is so lame and derivative it is pathetic. It's as if a four year old wrote this, with no sense of reality. There are zero likable characters, so the mindless mayhem is totally meaningless. Oh and by the way, almost all this chaos takes place in Chicago, with the police rather clueless. This is the type of intelligence insulting drivel that is easy to hate. There are so many better Armand Assante gangster films out there, it is beyond ridiculous to waste time on this nonsense. So, we have characters we don't care about, doing things that make zero sense, and a movie that should be avoided. End of story. - MERK
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poolandrews16 July 2010Federal protection starts in Illinois in Chicago where car thief Frank 'Chop Chop' Carbone (Armand Assante) is double crossed by his partner Pasquale 'Patsy' Dilepsi (Tony Clabretta) who has lead two mob hit men (one played by director Anthony Hickox) to his garage, however Carbone survives the attempt on his life & becomes a witness for the state against mob boss Jospeh Pagnozzi (Mark Camacho) in return for federal protection. Crabone is given a new name Howard Akers & is moved to a nice little suburban house in the town of Little Rock in Arkansas where his sexy neighbour Leigh Kirkendale (Angela Featherstone) recognises him & they both fall in love with each other. Word gets around that the mob has put a one million dollar price on Carbone's head & Leigh's greedy sister Bootsie (Dina Meyer) & her cheating husband Denny (David Lipper) try to contact the mob to collect the reward & once the mob find out where Carbone is they send hit men out to kill him...
Directed by Anthony Hickox one has to say this reasonable yet unspectacular thriller has a few nice moments but overall it can't really distinguish itself from the crowd, an adequate time waster I would struggle to describe it as anything else to be honest. The script is a fairly routine comedy thriller about the mob trying to find someone in hiding & that someone in hiding trying to stay hidden. Funnily enough Carbone barely does anything for the majority of the film except have a soap opera style relationship with his neighbour Leigh which happens far too fast for me to totally buy it & most of the fun to be had with Federal Protection is with Bootsie & Lenny's plan to get a million from the mob & turn Carbone in which is oblivious to Carbone until the end. There's an amusing part in a hotel room as two mob goons burst in on Bootsie & Lenny playing S&M games although there's a really stupid bit here where goon number one opens a window & threatens to throw them both out of it but then decides to stand with his back to them facing the window & actually leaning out of it. I mean what did he expect them to do exactly other than push him out of it first? The plan Bootsie comes up with to get the money by making the drop in the middle of a police convention is also quite cool but apart from one or two moments Federal Protection is quite routine & bland. The relationship between Carbone & Leigh just suddenly happens rather than develops & the happy ending is a little too neatly wrapped up & convenient for me. At about 90 odd minutes long Federal Protection is fairly watchable although there are times it can drag.
Another disappointing aspect of Federal Protection is the action, or rather the lack of it. There are a couple of bloody shootings & a scene set in a junkyard where a few trashed cars get blown up but nothing else of note. There are a couple of kinky S&M scenes although they are tame to say the least & are more funny & playful than anything else. There is a fair amount of profanity & the infrequent violence is quite bloody so it deserves it's 'R' rating but only just. Filmed with no great style Federal Protection looks alright if a little plain.
The IMDb says that Federal Protection had a budget of about $6,000,000 which I find very hard to believe, sure there's a decent cast with familiar faces but little action. Although set in Chicago & Arkansa like many low budget films this was actually filmed in Québec in Canada. Armand Assante barely does anything until the last five minutes while the sexy Dina Meyer looks to be having fun as the vampish Bootsie.
Federal Protection is a comedy thriller that isn't particularly funny or thrilling to be honest, I have seen better but then again I have seen worse. If you catch it on telly for free you might make it through o the end happily enough but I'd advise spending money on it. -
wllatimer25 March 2002This is a very entertaining movie with some great action. It has some good surprises in it and a bit of dark humor. Stay with it. It gets gets more and more interesting as it goes on. It is very violent.The acting is very good. This is not a B movie.Excellent photography, sound track and use of locations.
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It was a Fun cool movie. The Women were hot and sexy and dangerous. the man were mean and tough. the husband and sisters relationship was fantasy status. it was too dope. and any girl who had a bad bf had to have loved the swag of the housewife.
Come back from partying with a girl and watched this movie. eh, watched half of it, we didn't make it too the end. I'm buying this DVD now so i always have it randomly play at the golf club scene to keep pushing the mood along with company. ha ha. must see. great late night creeper move. mood setter. the scene on the park bench was too real. I recommend having this movie set in your DVD player ready to be played before you head out to any happy hour. -
jime-230 March 2002This a very good movie. Armand Assante is great and the new actors are wonderful. The story is good and fast paced. The scenery and settings are beautiful. There are some excessively violent scenes that kept this movie from being a theatrical release. We need more Armand Assante moviea.
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borg9of92356 January 2003The plot was silly, the husband was silly, some scenes were silly, but it fun to watch. Personally I didn't really care about the main story arc, but the secondary one was fun. One thing about the movie is that it left me wondering what in the world did girls see in the husband?
Pretty much everything involving the mafiosos was enjoyable, especially the park scene. I might rent the movie again just for them. If you are looking for something to kill some time while enjoying a brew, this is a good choice. -
yojimbo99916 May 2003On the whole, FEDERAL PROTECTION is a much better movie than NINE YARDS. Despite the lower budget, smaller name recognition, the screenplay is smarter and a hell of a lot more entertaining than NINE YARDS, which was clunky, overwrought, and kinda dull.
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sloppygun2 July 2004When we get a film that has the cliché of federal protection and the like we always wonder what interpertation will be given and even though you can see the cliché it holds a certain cool and simple story telling with the minor CHARACTERS MEYER AND LIPPER who outshine FEATHERSTONE AND ASSANTE. this has some of the funniest scenes and you are so rooting for the TALENTED DINA MEYER to out do the MOB that it becomes more interesting watching it. 3 a. GREAT SCENES meyer not liking her new fetish b. THE sarcastic killer who gets over emotional and pushed, also the look its SHANIA TWAIN gag c. social statement .THE mob using a Chinese hit-man in their ranks
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hardbop-5212522 March 2021What a cool movie....Great performances .... A nice hidden gem
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jimhass26 April 2003I agree with the above comments. The films made up in the Great White North are an accounting trick, caused by a) the dirt-cheap Canadian dollar, and the availabilty of subsidies -- though this may have changed recently, I'm not sure. For this, what happens is that a producer based in NY or Los Angeles takes a project written with some US locale in mind and either shoots Montreal as "New York" or "Paris". It is neither, though it is a beautiful city in its own right. This way of structuring the Deal puts story, local color, regional accents, all of that way down at the bottom of consideration, when it should be near the top. (That's why a movie -- Woody Allen's Manhattan is just an example -- can evoke a time and place better than any other art form, and why all these transplanted cheapies look like they're shot in Vinyl Palookaville.) Americans and Canadians both deserve a better cinema.