DEAD BANG
US, 1989, 101 minutes, Colour.
Don Johnson, Bob Balaban, William Forsythe, Penelope Ann Miller.
directed by John Frankenheimer.
Dead Bang is a type of police thriller directed with flair by John Frankenheimer (French Connection II). It is a star vehicle for Miami Vice's Don Johnson. He gives a better performance than might be expected.
While the film has the expected presentation of the police investigation, violence and tough confrontations, it also has its attack on the by-the-book F.B.I. investigators and their taking the credit for all missions. It also uncovers a contemporary theme of the late '80s, white supremacist groups and the raising of fascist and racist fears.
1. Interesting police thriller, the title and tone? The white supremacist theme?
2. Los Angeles locations, Arizona, Oklahoma, Colorado - and Canadian settings standing in for all these states, both open plain and Rockies? Musical score and atmosphere? Songs?
3. The film as a portrait of Jerry Beck: initially seedy, the court order restraining him from his children, going to the school and looking at his daughters, the phone call to his wife, Christmas and his anger, breaking the phone? Being called to the murder investigation, the murder of the
policeman? The Christmas party, the encounter with Linda, the night with her, finding her photo, debating with her, her motivation for being with him? The suspect, the computer investigations, ringing the parole supervisor, getting the file on Christmas Day, going to interview the bikies, the long chase, his vomiting? The contact from Arizona, his arrival, the police chief staking out his territory, the sudden shoot-up? Discovering the box with the letters? Going to Oklahoma, the encounter with Kressler and the sombre F.B.1. man? The complaints about his swearing? The cold and his overcoat? Going to the police sheriff and the notice about niggers? The racism and the F.B.I. arrival? Going to see the Reverend-Eberhardt? and his racist church? The talking with his boss, the order to go to the psychologist, the interview with the psychologist and his laughing at him because he looked like Woody Allen? The intensity of the interview? The spite of the psychologist? Going to Colorado, the local authorities and the black policeman going with him? The F.B.I. arrival? The mission, the search of the property, the entry, Beck's stubbornness, discovering the underground arsenal, the gang and the shoot-out, the irony that Bobby Burns was not the killer? The arrival of John, his madness, death? Jerry watching the F.B.1. take the credit? The effectiveness of Don Johnson in the central role?
4. Kressler and the F.B.I., prim, clean-cut, going by the book, objecting to Beck's language, in Colorado, giving information before it was needed, surrendering his gun, the clash with Beck, the credit at the press conference? The irony of the attack on the F.B.I?
5. The parole officer, Christmas, his anger, the file, the interviews with the bikies, following in the chase?
6. The bikies, background in jail, Bobby and his convictions, John and his studies, the racist symbols and attitudes, the murders, the massacre in the Arizona cafe, the ambush, the shoot-outs in Arizona? In the arsenal in Colorado? The truth about John and his relationship with his brother?
Violent madness?
7. The supremacists, the small groups around the country, the attitude of the F.B.1., the Arizona massacre, the Reverend Eberhardt and his Arian church, the letters, the meeting in Colorado, the arsenal? The F.B.I. decision to attack the white supremacist groups?
8. Effective action, chases, tough style, policemen doing their job?
