The Second Civil War *** (1997, Beau Bridges, Joanna Cassidy, Phil Hartman, James Earl Jones, James Coburn) – Classic Movie Review 13,055

Beau Bridges stars at the head of a top ensemble cast as the Governor of Idaho, in the clever 1997 satirical black comedy film The Second Civil War set in a futuristic America.

Director Joe Dante’s 1997 film The Second Civil War stars Beau Bridges, Joanna Cassidy, Phil Hartman, James Earl Jones, James Coburn, Dan Hedaya, Elizabeth Peña, Denis Leary, Ron Perlman, and Kevin Dunn.

Beau Bridges stars as the Governor of Idaho in this interesting satirical black comedy set in a futuristic America, in which everyone up to the US President (Phil Hartman) gets involved when an immigrant dispute explodes in everyone’s face. James Earl Jones, Elizabeth Peña and Denis Leary play reporters for a cable network called NewsNet. James Coburn plays the President’s chief advisor, William Schallert is the Secretary of Defense, and Brian Keith is a general.

With the targets being hit just a bit off centre in Martyn Burke’s script, it is not always wholly successful or entirely funny. But this clever little cable-movie item is performed with vim by the top cast and made with zest by the talented by Joe Dante for the ever-enterprising Home Box Office cable channel.

Also in the cast are Shelley Malil, Brian Keith, Kevin McCarthy, Dick Miller, William Schallert, Catherine Lloyd Burns, Jerry Hardin, Larry Flash Jenkins, Ben Masters, Roger Corman, and Rance Howard.

It first aired on March 15, 1997.

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 13,055

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