PASS THE AMMO

US, 1988, 93 minutes, Colour.
Bill Paxton, Linda Kozlowski, Timothy Curry, Annie Potts.
Directed by David Beaird.

Pass the Ammo is an enjoyable and clever spoof of tele-evangelists. It could be compared with a serious look at evangelists like Angel Baby, The Day of the Locust, The Disappearance of Aimee. It could be compared also with satires like Pray TV and, especially, Salvation.

Written and directed cleverly by David Beaird, the film shows a Bonnie and Clyde-type raid on a tele-evangelist's show and the reaction of the show people, the evangelists as well as the police, the Arkansas rednecks and a sensible sheriff from Louisiana. It all combines humorously and seriously to make comment on American attitudes towards organised and public religion.

Bill Paxton and Linda Kozlowski, (Crocodile Dundee films) are quite good in the central roles. Tim Curry is unctuously smooth as the Reverend. Annie Potts is slightly daffy as his wife. Leland Hooke is excellent as the Cajun sheriff (and gave quite a contrasting performance as the rock singer Dude in Maid to Order).

Much of the scenes are as would be expected - but are forceful nonetheless. A good blend of satire and criticism.

1. An enjoyable satire on organised and public religion, the media? Topical with the scandals of tele-evangelists in the late '80s? A piece of Americana?

2. The Arkansas locations (and help from the Arkansas Film Commission)? The countryside, the town, the Tower of Bethlehem? Special effects for the show, the songs? For the military attack? Special effects and stunts?

3. The musical score, the mood, the range of hymns, the songs about Satan, Samson and Delilah? The lyrics and mood of the final credits song of 'Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammo?'

4. The title and its evocation, God on the side of right? Religion, military, violence, salvation?

5. Clare and the basic situation, relationship with Jesse, with her cousins? Her grandmother's money going to the Reverend? The decision to get it back? The plan, on the go?

6. Ray and Darla as tele-evangelists, the smoothness and glamour of the television show, the unctuous style, the advertisements and the appeals for money, the choir and the angels, Ken and his interview and his change--of life? His becoming Samson with Darla for the Samson and Delilah song sensual, ironic, and the audience applauding? The twins and their advertisements, preaching together? Ray and his sermon? The appeal for money, the million dollars, the phone calls, the excitement, the audience and applause, the counters in their room, the technicians? Stonewall out of place and the irony of his being a technician on such a show?

7. The arrival, the connection outside and his letting the group in (and later being shot), the robbery itself, the alarms, the women counters, the group having to hide, bursting on stage?

8. The beginning of the siege, the audience and their reaction, the threat to shoot hostages, the fat man threatened and his being given money, the police attacking and withdrawing? The sheriff and his arrival, the deal to let them stay on air, to let the audience go, the choir going? Clare and the negotiation for the choir? The whole situation getting bigger? Big Joe enjoying the situation, Arnold relishing it? Ken still tied up as Samson?

9. Ray and his reaction, snarling, his appeal to the television audience (and Stonewall playing technical tricks with his preaching and with his head)? The reaction of the audience? Darla and her shock, fainting? Their arguing about their money, on camera? Joe and his discussion with Ray about investments? The exposure of Ray, his greed, infidelity? The collapse of their empire?

10. Jim- Bob and the money men, their conferring, the checking with their boss and his wanting the group destroyed, not worrying about the money? The pressure on the governor and force? The bombing and the helicopter?

11. The sheriff, from Louisiana, fishing, getting In contact, going to the headquarters, a reasonable man, his talking with Jesse, his reasonable reactions, the police song by Joe, the build-up to the rescue, the arms attack, his final words - and letting the couple go? The sensible focus of the whole proceedings?

12. The police, their attack, the aggressive police, the irony of them enjoying Joe's ballad about the police? The armed forces, the commander, the helicopter?

13. The TV audience at home: involved in religion, caught up in the atmosphere, wanting to see blood, suspicion about Ray and Darla, character assessments?

14. The rednecks, watching the television, against Jesse and co., the fat man with his mother, the weaponry, the shooting, the attack, the satire on redneck attitudes? The consequences of their violence?

15. Jesse and Clare, exposing the phoniness, Jesse's flair on the television and Ray's encouragement, the decision to marry, marrying on TV, the sheriff giving the bride away? Their being filmed as dead, and their escape? Keeping only the lawful money? Hero and heroine?

16. Arnold and his being released from jail, the discussions with Stonewall about reincarnation and the possibilities? Dressed as the Devil, wanting the applause? Interested in the technical side, the encounter with the angel, making love? Joe and his size, the twins, the accusation of their double dealing, shooting their boots, singing the song? His investments and spending the money?

17. Stonewall, stoned, discussions about reincarnation, using the gimmicks of television, his final speech at the end and saving Jesse and Clare?

18. The blend of spoof, satire, attack on TV religion and its phoniness, on the audience, on big business, on politicians, on the military, on the rednecks?

19. The hero and heroine in the American outlaw tradition?