BAD COMPANY
US, 2002, 118 minutes, Colour.
Anthony Hopkins, Chris Rock, Gabriel Macht, Peter Stormare.
Directed by Joel Schumacher
Bad Company is a film by Joel Schumacher. Schumacher, a writer and director, who was prolific from the early 80s (The Incredible Shrinking Man, Lost Boys) and into the 90s (his Grisham adaptations The Client and A Time to Kill with his two Batman films, Batman Forever and Batman and Robin, along with such films as Falling Down) has made a significant career. In the late 90s and early part of the 21st century, he started to make small-budget films including Tigerland, Phone Booth and Veronica Guerin. He took time out, however, to go to Prague to make this broad comedy spy adventure, an unwitting twin having to take the place of his suave secret agent brother, controlled by a veteran who wanted to retire. These two characters are played by Chris Rock, taking advantage of his comic style, and Anthony Hopkins who does this kind of part without particular effort.
There are enormous complications as the pair try to entice Russian sellers of arms and buyers to come together so that they can be caught. However, the traders in arms are particularly shrewd and are able to abduct the girlfriend of the twin and move the action to New York City where there is a final confrontation.
This is recreation for all those involved, a spy comedy with plenty of action and a light touch.
1. An entertainment? Serious/comic? A star vehicle?
2. The New York settings, the Czech Republic, Prague? Authentic atmosphere? Musical score, songs, rap?
3. The stars and their screen presence, careers, combination? Odd couple?
4. The focus on the CIA, the critique, the title and its reference to the CIA and the two leads?
5. The credibility of the plot, CIA operatives, cover, rogue groups in Europe, the aftermath of the fall of the Soviet Union? Bombs for sale? Fights, assassinations?
6. Kevin and his situation, the Czech Republic, his cover, Vaz and the deal, the discussions, Oakes' presence, the discussions, further set-up, the rules of telephoning? Kevin being gunned down after pursuit in the street, saving Oakes?
7. The new situation for the CIA, Jake as Kevin's twin but not knowing it? Surveillance on Jake, playing chess and winning speedily while selling tickets on the phone? His relationship with Julie, promising to marry her, her leaving? Her sister against him? The CIA watching, the necessity for recruiting him, his decision?
8. Taking Jake, Oakes and the discussions, the proposal, the information about his brother, the argument about money, going to the hotel, under surveillance, woken up at 5 am - and throwing water on Oakes? The videos and the lessons, his progress, his possibilities?
9. The test in New York City, the assassination coming, his running, phoning Oakes, going to Julie, the bar and Oakes finding him, the decision?
10. In Prague, the swanky hotel, his passing the tests, people recognising him as Michael Turner? The manicure and the phone calls? The arrival of Nicole, the past relationship, the meal together, her detecting that he was not Kevin? Blowing his cover? The assassins in the hotel, the chases and the shooting, Nicole and Jake in the laundry chute? Vaz and the telephone call, going to meet him?
11. The meetings with Vaz, in the open, further testing, the information from the mobile phone where Jake had been - altered by the CIA? Vaz, his henchmen? The CIA surveillance of the monastery? The preparation of the deal, the computer? The rival group of thugs, their leader, rogues, the deal with Vaz's henchman, killing him, being killed? Jake and Oakes, the escape, the car chase through the streets, the fields?
12. Julie, Jake's phone call, the group discovering her, abduction, holding her? The CIA allowing her to be held as bait for Jake to come back?
13. New York and Julie, the decoy truck, the operatives following it? Grand Central Station, finding the bomb? Jake and the decoding?
14. The wedding, the happy ending, Oakes' joke about recruiting him?
15. The other characters: the authorities at the CIA, objective, ruthless? Seale and Swanson, their loyalty to Oakes, the relationship of Oakes and Swanson, coming to the wedding? The personalities of CIA operatives, having to detach themselves from ordinary life? The necessity of espionage in a terrorist world?
