Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe
Encyclopedia
Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe is a 2011 American television special
based on the USA Network
television series Burn Notice
. It was the first official Burn Notice spin-off
, and was directed by Jeffrey Donovan
. The show was broadcast in the United States
on April 17, 2011, on the U.S. television network USA Network
. The film, while not an episode of the show, introduced plot elements for the show's fifth season
.
, the film is narrated by Sam Axe
(Bruce Campbell
), who is being questioned about a mission in Colombia. Sam reveals that he had had an affair with a superior's wife (Chandra West
). After being caught, Sam was assigned a dangerous mission: to track down a terrorist group known as the Espada Ardiente.
Sam travels to Colombia, where he meets his new team, which includes Comandante Veracruz (Pedro Pascal). He tells a local clinic that they are in danger. However, he is ignored by the two people there, Ben Delaney (RonReaco Lee
) and Amanda Maples (Kiele Sanchez
). Later, while Sam is scouting the area, he discovers that Veracruz and his men are preparing to betray him. Sam once again attempts to warn the clinic, but they continue to ignore him. After Veracruz realizes that Sam is gone, he plans to destroy the clinic. A local girl, Beatriz (Ilza Rosario) tells Sam what is about to happen. Sam finally succeeds in convincing Ben and Amanda of the danger, and persuades them to leave, taking all of the clinic patients with them. Sam and Ben stay behind to blow up the clinic themselves to create a distraction. The plan works, and all escape.
Beatriz suggests fleeing to the Espada Ardiente, Sam's original assignment. Having no other option, Sam agrees. Upon their arrival, Sam discovers that the Espada Ardiente are nothing more than mostly elderly goat herders on a small farm. Disappointed, Sam returns to Veracruz's camp in an attempt to call for support. After he makes the phone call, Veracruz captures Sam. Fortunately, the Espada Ardiente arrive to save Sam. Sam, Ben, Amanda, and the "goat herders" travel to a CIA outpost to ask for help. Along the way, they are attacked by Veracruz and his men, but due to previous training by Sam, they make it to the outpost. When they arrive, they find it empty, save for two men and some radio equipment. When the men are told about the situation, they call for help. The men tell Sam that nothing will be done until Sam travels to the base first. Sam and the two men leave on a helicopter, promising Ben, Amanda, and the Espada Ardiente that they will return. Once the helicopter is in the air, however, the two agents confess that nothing will be done. Sam then forces them to land at gunpoint, and takes them hostage.
The story flashes back to the present. Admiral Lawrence (John Diehl), the man questioning Sam, asks if he wants a lawyer. The inquiry has taken a bad turn for Sam. Sam continues his story. Back on the ground, the CIA men are forced to call for help. They learn that the nearest help is three hours away. Sam, the doctors, and the Espada Ardiente are forced to fight Veracruz and his men. They run out of ammunition, and are forced to retreat back to the outpost. Sam asks again how long it will be before help arrives, using the alias "Chuck Finley." He learns that it won't be enough time.
Sam leaves the outpost to distract Veracruz. They assault him and open fire on the outpost. Fortunately, help arrives, and Veracruz and his men are captured. Sam and Amanda kiss, and Sam is escorted back to the base, where Sam begins his testimony.
Admiral Lawrence evaluates the situation, and, due to Sam's actions in Colombia, threatens Sam with a court martial. However, Sam reveals that Beatriz photographed the entire operation, and planned on giving all of the evidence of the operation to Colombia's largest newspaper. Sam then graymails Lawrence into giving him an honorable discharge, a full pension, a first-class ticket to Miami, a change of clothes, and a beer.
. Jeffrey Donovan
, star of Burn Notice
was later announced to be the director of the film. Donovan had made his directorial debut one year earlier with the Burn Notice fourth season
episode "Made Man".
, Chandra West
, RonReaco Lee
, Kiele Sanchez
and John Diehl
. Jeffrey Donovan
made a small, previously unannounced cameo appearance as Michael Westen
, the main character of Burn Notice.
Television special
A television special is a television program which interrupts or temporarily replaces programming normally scheduled for a given time slot. Sometimes, however, the term is given to a telecast of a theatrical film, such as The Wizard of Oz or The Ten Commandments, which is not part of a regular...
based on the USA Network
USA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
television series Burn Notice
Burn notice
A burn notice is an official statement issued by one intelligence agency to other agencies. It states that an individual or a group is unreliable for one or more reasons...
. It was the first official Burn Notice spin-off
Spin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
, and was directed by Jeffrey Donovan
Jeffrey Donovan
Jeffrey Donovan is an American television, film and stage actor. He plays the lead Michael Westen on the American cable television series, Burn Notice. Notable starring roles in film include: Hitch, Believe in Me, Changeling, and Come Early Morning. He portrayed Robert F. Kennedy in Clint...
. The show was broadcast in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on April 17, 2011, on the U.S. television network USA Network
USA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
. The film, while not an episode of the show, introduced plot elements for the show's fifth season
Burn Notice (season 5)
The fifth season of the American television spy drama Burn Notice premiered on June 23, 2011 on the cable television channel USA Network...
.
Plot
Set two years before the pilot episodePilot (Burn Notice)
Pilot is the first episode of Burn Notice, an American television drama series created for the USA Network.A spy kicked out of the agency is stuck in Miami, where he helps locals who can not rely on the police. In the opener, Michael Westen finds himself cut off from his contacts and his cash, so...
, the film is narrated by Sam Axe
Sam Axe
Commander Samuel "Sam" Axe, USN is a fictional character in the television series Burn Notice and TV movie Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe, played by Bruce Campbell. He is the best friend of Michael Westen, the main character in Burn Notice.-Overview:Sam served several years as a U.S...
(Bruce Campbell
Bruce Campbell
Bruce Lorne Campbell is an American film and television actor. As a cult movie actor, Campbell starred as Ashley J. "Ash" Williams in Sam Raimi's Evil Dead series of films and he has starred in many low-budget cult films such as Crimewave, Maniac Cop, Bubba Ho-tep, Escape From L.A. and Sundown:...
), who is being questioned about a mission in Colombia. Sam reveals that he had had an affair with a superior's wife (Chandra West
Chandra West
-1990s:West's career began in 1991 when she played a small part in the television series True Confections, a 1950s conservative drama about a woman with an ahead-of-her-time awareness...
). After being caught, Sam was assigned a dangerous mission: to track down a terrorist group known as the Espada Ardiente.
Sam travels to Colombia, where he meets his new team, which includes Comandante Veracruz (Pedro Pascal). He tells a local clinic that they are in danger. However, he is ignored by the two people there, Ben Delaney (RonReaco Lee
RonReaco Lee
RonReaco Lee is an American television and film actor.-Television:Lee began his acting career in 1983 as the host of the short-lived television show Kids Beat...
) and Amanda Maples (Kiele Sanchez
Kiele Sanchez
Kiele Michelle Sanchez is an American actress who stars in the A&E Network drama The Glades. Previously she starred as the second-eldest Sorelli sister, Anne, a therapist in her mid-twenties, in The WB's comedic ensemble drama, Related. She was cast as a co-star in the third season of the ABC...
). Later, while Sam is scouting the area, he discovers that Veracruz and his men are preparing to betray him. Sam once again attempts to warn the clinic, but they continue to ignore him. After Veracruz realizes that Sam is gone, he plans to destroy the clinic. A local girl, Beatriz (Ilza Rosario) tells Sam what is about to happen. Sam finally succeeds in convincing Ben and Amanda of the danger, and persuades them to leave, taking all of the clinic patients with them. Sam and Ben stay behind to blow up the clinic themselves to create a distraction. The plan works, and all escape.
Beatriz suggests fleeing to the Espada Ardiente, Sam's original assignment. Having no other option, Sam agrees. Upon their arrival, Sam discovers that the Espada Ardiente are nothing more than mostly elderly goat herders on a small farm. Disappointed, Sam returns to Veracruz's camp in an attempt to call for support. After he makes the phone call, Veracruz captures Sam. Fortunately, the Espada Ardiente arrive to save Sam. Sam, Ben, Amanda, and the "goat herders" travel to a CIA outpost to ask for help. Along the way, they are attacked by Veracruz and his men, but due to previous training by Sam, they make it to the outpost. When they arrive, they find it empty, save for two men and some radio equipment. When the men are told about the situation, they call for help. The men tell Sam that nothing will be done until Sam travels to the base first. Sam and the two men leave on a helicopter, promising Ben, Amanda, and the Espada Ardiente that they will return. Once the helicopter is in the air, however, the two agents confess that nothing will be done. Sam then forces them to land at gunpoint, and takes them hostage.
The story flashes back to the present. Admiral Lawrence (John Diehl), the man questioning Sam, asks if he wants a lawyer. The inquiry has taken a bad turn for Sam. Sam continues his story. Back on the ground, the CIA men are forced to call for help. They learn that the nearest help is three hours away. Sam, the doctors, and the Espada Ardiente are forced to fight Veracruz and his men. They run out of ammunition, and are forced to retreat back to the outpost. Sam asks again how long it will be before help arrives, using the alias "Chuck Finley." He learns that it won't be enough time.
Sam leaves the outpost to distract Veracruz. They assault him and open fire on the outpost. Fortunately, help arrives, and Veracruz and his men are captured. Sam and Amanda kiss, and Sam is escorted back to the base, where Sam begins his testimony.
Admiral Lawrence evaluates the situation, and, due to Sam's actions in Colombia, threatens Sam with a court martial. However, Sam reveals that Beatriz photographed the entire operation, and planned on giving all of the evidence of the operation to Colombia's largest newspaper. Sam then graymails Lawrence into giving him an honorable discharge, a full pension, a first-class ticket to Miami, a change of clothes, and a beer.
Cast
- Bruce CampbellBruce CampbellBruce Lorne Campbell is an American film and television actor. As a cult movie actor, Campbell starred as Ashley J. "Ash" Williams in Sam Raimi's Evil Dead series of films and he has starred in many low-budget cult films such as Crimewave, Maniac Cop, Bubba Ho-tep, Escape From L.A. and Sundown:...
as Sam AxeSam AxeCommander Samuel "Sam" Axe, USN is a fictional character in the television series Burn Notice and TV movie Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe, played by Bruce Campbell. He is the best friend of Michael Westen, the main character in Burn Notice.-Overview:Sam served several years as a U.S... - Kiele SanchezKiele SanchezKiele Michelle Sanchez is an American actress who stars in the A&E Network drama The Glades. Previously she starred as the second-eldest Sorelli sister, Anne, a therapist in her mid-twenties, in The WB's comedic ensemble drama, Related. She was cast as a co-star in the third season of the ABC...
as Amanda Maples - RonReaco LeeRonReaco LeeRonReaco Lee is an American television and film actor.-Television:Lee began his acting career in 1983 as the host of the short-lived television show Kids Beat...
as Ben Delaney - Chandra WestChandra West-1990s:West's career began in 1991 when she played a small part in the television series True Confections, a 1950s conservative drama about a woman with an ahead-of-her-time awareness...
as Donna Maitland - John Diehl as Admiral James G. Lawrence
- Pedro Pascal as Comandante Veracruz
- Ilza Rosario as Beatriz
- Jeffrey DonovanJeffrey DonovanJeffrey Donovan is an American television, film and stage actor. He plays the lead Michael Westen on the American cable television series, Burn Notice. Notable starring roles in film include: Hitch, Believe in Me, Changeling, and Come Early Morning. He portrayed Robert F. Kennedy in Clint...
as Michael WestenMichael WestenMichael Westen is a fictional character played by Jeffrey Donovan in the television series Burn Notice. Michael, a spy, was abruptly blacklisted while on an assignment. Forced to go back to his hometown of Miami, Florida, he finds himself cut off from the United States Intelligence Community...
(cameo)
Production
Development
The film was announced in the summer of 2010 at the annual San Diego Comic-Con, and it was revealed that it would serve as a lead-in to the show's fifth seasonBurn Notice (season 5)
The fifth season of the American television spy drama Burn Notice premiered on June 23, 2011 on the cable television channel USA Network...
. Jeffrey Donovan
Jeffrey Donovan
Jeffrey Donovan is an American television, film and stage actor. He plays the lead Michael Westen on the American cable television series, Burn Notice. Notable starring roles in film include: Hitch, Believe in Me, Changeling, and Come Early Morning. He portrayed Robert F. Kennedy in Clint...
, star of Burn Notice
Burn notice
A burn notice is an official statement issued by one intelligence agency to other agencies. It states that an individual or a group is unreliable for one or more reasons...
was later announced to be the director of the film. Donovan had made his directorial debut one year earlier with the Burn Notice fourth season
Burn Notice (season 4)
The fourth season of the American television spy drama Burn Notice premiered on June 3, 2010 on the cable television channel USA Network...
episode "Made Man".
Casting
The full cast was confirmed by January 2011, and included Bruce CampbellBruce Campbell
Bruce Lorne Campbell is an American film and television actor. As a cult movie actor, Campbell starred as Ashley J. "Ash" Williams in Sam Raimi's Evil Dead series of films and he has starred in many low-budget cult films such as Crimewave, Maniac Cop, Bubba Ho-tep, Escape From L.A. and Sundown:...
, Chandra West
Chandra West
-1990s:West's career began in 1991 when she played a small part in the television series True Confections, a 1950s conservative drama about a woman with an ahead-of-her-time awareness...
, RonReaco Lee
RonReaco Lee
RonReaco Lee is an American television and film actor.-Television:Lee began his acting career in 1983 as the host of the short-lived television show Kids Beat...
, Kiele Sanchez
Kiele Sanchez
Kiele Michelle Sanchez is an American actress who stars in the A&E Network drama The Glades. Previously she starred as the second-eldest Sorelli sister, Anne, a therapist in her mid-twenties, in The WB's comedic ensemble drama, Related. She was cast as a co-star in the third season of the ABC...
and John Diehl
John Diehl
John Diehl is an American actor, particularly known for his roles as Charles Kawalsky in the 1994 film Stargate, Det. Larry Zito on the 1980s cop show Miami Vice, Assistant Chief Ben Gilroy on The Shield, and as "the Cruiser" in Stripes. His other notable roles include Pvt...
. Jeffrey Donovan
Jeffrey Donovan
Jeffrey Donovan is an American television, film and stage actor. He plays the lead Michael Westen on the American cable television series, Burn Notice. Notable starring roles in film include: Hitch, Believe in Me, Changeling, and Come Early Morning. He portrayed Robert F. Kennedy in Clint...
made a small, previously unannounced cameo appearance as Michael Westen
Michael Westen
Michael Westen is a fictional character played by Jeffrey Donovan in the television series Burn Notice. Michael, a spy, was abruptly blacklisted while on an assignment. Forced to go back to his hometown of Miami, Florida, he finds himself cut off from the United States Intelligence Community...
, the main character of Burn Notice.