HALF PAST DEAD
Year: 2002
USA: Columbia Pictures
UK: Columbia Tristar Films (UK)
Cast: Steven Seagal, Morris Chestnut, Ja Rule, Nia Peeples, Tony Plana, Kurupt, Claudia Christian, Stephen J Cannell, Bruce Weitz, Matt Battaglia, Richard Bremmer, Art Camacho, Joe Cook, Yasmina Filali-Bohnen, Hannes Jaenicke, Alexandra Kamp-Groeneveld, Ross King, Michael McGrady, Don Michael Paul, Eva-Maria Schönecker, Jed Sutton, Michael Taliferro, Linda Thorson
Director: Don Michael Paul
Countries: USA / Germany
UK: 98 mins
USA Rated: PG-13 for pervasive action violence, language and some sexual content
UK Certificate: 15 contains frequent strong violence
USA Release Date: 15 November 2002
UK Release Date: 2 May 2003
Synopsis
Sascha Petrosevitch (Steven Seagal), a widowed undercover agent posing as a tough, international car thief, has many friends - on both sides of the law. One of them, career criminal Nick Frazier (Ja Rule), has been like a brother to him. While on a job one night, Sascha and Nick are intercepted by a female FBI agent named E.Z. Williams (Claudia Christian) who, unbeknownst to Nick, is working in tandem with Sascha. Nick refuses to surrender and the Feds open fire. Sascha takes seven bullets for Nick - saving his life. Sascha's heart stops for 22 minutes - "half past dead" and he's almost pronounced dead before being revived.
To maintain his cover, Sascha is sentenced with Nick to the newly refurbished, high- tech Alcatraz, where inmates are fitted with a special implanted security chip to prevent escape. The prison also boasts a brand new, state of the art execution chamber, which will be used for the first time on legendary prisoner Lester, who is charged with robbing an armored vehicle and stealing $200 million worth of gold. The gold has never been recovered and Lester refuses to tell anyone where it is, including the Supreme Court Justice who sentenced him to die and who is now present to witness his execution. With one hour left to live, Lester summons Sascha from his cell to see him. Lester wants to ask him what it's like to be so near death, but the callous Sascha doesn't have much to share.
Moments before Lester's sentence can be carried out, a group of ten mercenaries, "the 49ers," wearing black combat gear break into the prison. Led by the psychotic and ruthless 49er One (Morris Chestnut), who has an in-depth knowledge of the prison's security and communications systems, they have come for one reason only: to find out where the gold is buried. When Lester refuses to cooperate and the 49ers begin taking hostages, including the Supreme Court Justice, Sascha must rally his fellow prisoners to take on the expertly trained commandos. Nick's loyalty is tested when he learns the truth about Sascha's identity, and he must choose sides for the final showdown with the 49ers...
In a blisteringly paced, action-packed battle of high tech criminals versus hardened prisoners, Alcatraz becomes a battleground with the sentenced men fighting for the system that put them there. When the 49ers escape, taking Lester and the Supreme Court Justice with them, Sascha gives chase with help from Agent E.Z. Williams. Sascha and 49er One go head to head to the bitter end, a breathtaking skydive rescue from a helicopter bound for freedom....
