BEFORE: Enough films about death - I'm transitioning back to the topic of spies and terrorists, there's simply no way anyone will die in that sort of film... Brad Pitt carries over again, and it's not even his birthday. (December 18, btw, but I plan on being on hiatus then)
THE PLOT: A police officer uncovers the real identity of his houseguest, an IRA terrorist in hiding.
AFTER: This is a good time to review what I learned so far this week - don't let a creepy older guy show you his underground playroom, don't go on vacation in Morocco, don't stand in the middle of the street, and don't let a terrorist live in your basement. These seem a bit like no-brainers, I suppose.
Brad Pitt plays Frankie McGuire, a member of the IRA, and I can sort of see this one hinging on whether or not you buy his Belfast accent - I didn't really have a problem with it. He's sent to hide out in the U.S., but also brings a bag of cash which he intends to use to buy some stinger missiles, to help the IRA take down British helicopters. Because that's what they need... And he intends to deliver them by boat, fortunately he's got enough cash and know-how to refit an old tub - they're teaching some valuable skills in Ireland! When he's not working his bogus no-show construction job, he's working on the boat.
Problem is, he gets instructions from Ireland to hold off on the deal, which upsets the arms dealer, who then tries to steal the money. Imagine that, a shady illegal arms dealer - the fact that he only holds meetings in dark bars and abandoned warehouses should have been a tip-off. So he goes after the family Pitt's character is staying with, which includes a NYC cop (Harrison Ford, last seen in "The Frisco Kid").
Love those Irish stereotypes - an Irish man is either a cop, or a terrorist. It's not like Irish people can be bakers, or bankers, or car salesmen - nope, it's pretty much cop or terrorist. And they all drink Guinness and love Irish music, even though, and let's be honest here, it sucks.
NITPICK POINT: Frankie is placed in the home of a police officer because it's "safe" - umm, for whom, exactly? Certainly not him, and not the cop's family, either.
NITPICK POINT #2: Ford's character is involved in a cover-up for a fellow officer, and he feels so bad about it, he decides to retire from the force. But apparently he doesn't feel bad enough about it to tell the truth - why isn't that an option?
NITPICK POINT #3: I realize that the situation in Northern Ireland was complicated, but if a young boy saw his father shot by the IRA, I would imagine he might grow up to hate the IRA, not join them.
This felt like something of a one-trick pony, there's one major deception in the film, which the audience is in on, so it's just a waiting game until the truth is revealed. Everything with the cop's career just feels like window-dressing until he learns the identity of his houseguest.
I'll get back to the IRA in a couple of days -
Also starring Treat Williams (last seen way back in "1941"), Margaret Colin (last seen in "3 Men and a Baby"), Ruben Blades (last seen in "The Two Jakes"), Natascha McElhone (last seen in "Ronin"), Julia Stiles (last seen in "The Bourne Ultimatum").
RATING: 5 out of 10 car stereos
No comments:
Post a Comment