STAKEOUT

US, 1987, 116 minutes, Colour.
Richard Dreyfuss, Emilio Estevez, Aidan Quinn, Madeleine Stowe, Forest Whitaker.
Directed by John Badham.

Stakeout was a big box-office success in the United States in 1987, another success for the more adult branch of the Disney Studios, Touchstone Pictures. It is an enjoyable police buddy film with a very strong performance by Richard Dreyfuss. Emilio Estevez has to act as the straight man for Dreyfuss's performance. Aidan Quinn also gives a strong performance as a killer. The setting is Seattle, there is some tough police action, the Rear Window-like drama of the stakeout and the surveillance of the gangster's girlfriend and Dreyfuss's character falling in love with her. There is also an action-packed finale. The dialogue is witty - including film quizzes with Dreyfuss not knowing who said 'This is no ordinary boating accident' (his line from Jaws).

A familiar genre, but entertainingly done. Direction is by John Badham (Saturday Night Fever, Dracula, Blue Thunder, Short Circuit - and, with Richard Dreyfuss, Whose Life Is It Anyway?)

1. Audience familiarity with and enjoyment of the buddy film? Police buddies? Thriller? The blend of the serious and the comic?

2. The American atmosphere, the use of the city and harbour of Seattle? Police precincts, apartments, shops? Musical score?

3. The police in action on the harbour, the setting, Bill and Chris and action? The elaborate chase - and Chris with the fish? The details of Seattle port life giving authenticity?

4. The precinct, the members, the banter, jokes, the boss? The situation and the FBI, the assignment? The rivalry and the continued practical jokes between the two teams?

5. The breakout, the ambulance, the violence in the prison, the attack on the doctor and the guards, the escape and its timing?

5; The criminal and his escape, his cousin helping, hiding, robbing, the phone call to Maria, the drive to Seattle, the police chase, the river? The cousin dying? Audiences expecting that the criminal was dead?

7. Maria and her relationship with the killer, the breakout, her watching the news? her split from him? Her lifestyle, work, her brother and his being in prison, her concern? The effect of her being under surveillance, the audience sharing the prurient curiosity about her?

8. The teamwork of Richard Dreyfuss and Emilio Estevez as Chris and Bill? Seeing them work together, buddies? Bill's relationship with his wife? Chris and his girlfriends? The FBI and the surveillance? The elaborate technology, the techniques? The rivalry with the other team - grease-on faces, cats with dogs etc.? Their becoming fascinated with Maria? Their greater daring, Chris's going to the door, going in, meeting Maria, the phone man impersonation, the encounter at the supermarket, the irony of his driving her home, the meal? Bill looking on? The warnings by radio? The growing attraction, the sexual encounter, the early morning, the disguise and the police chasing him, the video? The tape of the phone call at home? The growing involvement? Bill covering? The police chase and the briefings?

9. Maria and her personality, attraction towards Chris? Her concern about him being a criminal? Chris and his emotional involvement? The alleged capture of the criminal? His decision to break, tell her the news and the truth? her looking at the surveillance equipment and disgust? The shock of the criminal arriving, Chris's pretence, the violence, Maria's decision to help, Bill on the roof, going to wharf, the boat and the criminal they were pursuing, the fight and the chase?

10. The reconciliation between Maria and Chris?

11. Crime, police themes, the violence of criminals, the techniques of the police, the expectations of the public on police and the pressures and their relief?