WISH MAN

US, 2019, 107 minutes, Colour.

Andrew Steele, Kirby Bliss Blanton, Tom Sizemore, Frank Whaley, Julian Curtis, Robert Pine, Fay Masterson, Steven Michael Quesada, Bruce Davison, Jason Gerhardt, Dale Dickie, Christian Ganiere, Chris Day, Larry Wilcox, Danny Trejo.

Directed by Theo Davies.

This film has been released sometimes in connection with faith films. While, there is a sense of the presence of God, it is not an explicitly faith film though its story line has resemblances. It is a strong of values film, the storytelling in the emotional American style.

The film is based on a true story. The central character, Frank Shankwitz, established a foundation, described in a Google entry: “Make-A-Wish was founded in 1980 and headquartered in Phoneix. The organization operates through its 59 chapters located throughout the United States. Make-A-Wish also operates in nearly 50 other countries around the world through 39 international affiliates.

The film opens in the backblocks of Illinois and then moves to Arizona, Prescott, and the screenplay veers between the story of the young Frank, his living in a caravan with his harsh mother, resentful of her husband, disappearing with Frank when the husband threatens to sue for some custody. She and Frank move to Arizona, Frank getting some local jobs, being befriended by a store owner, and the mother finally disappearing.

Frank has had to stand up for himself, assert himself, and, when he grows up, becomes a motorcycle cop.

There is some drama when he pursues a couple driving recklessly, violence ensuing, and the need for his calling for help, the difficulty being that the officer who comes to help is antagonistic to Frank. In the violence, Frank is knocked out, not breathing for three minutes but then reviving. This has quite an effect on him, although he is hard-headed, not wanting to be dependent on anyone, either in hospital or out of it.

He has a sympathetic boss and there is a new officer, Kitty, who is seconded to look after Frank and his recovery – with mixed results. However, as expected, a bond does grow up between the two.

There are three dramatic strands which follow. There is a false report about Frank and the violence with the couple he stopped on the road, their suing, and the antagonistic policeman and the boss conspiring with the couple to blame Frank. Frank is saved by a lawyer, friend of the young rookie who works with Frank and is the target of Frank’s putdowns. Frank is vindicated. Then there is the issue of the disappearance and some scenes with Frank’s father, living in Chicago, reading a report about Frank and making contact, leading to a tearful reunion (and a touch tearful for the audience as well).

The key strand is the request by a little boy dying of leukaemia to meet the motorcycle cops, influenced by the popular TV series of the time, Chips, and Frank, initially unwilling, of course, bonding with a little boy, his being welcomed, badges, helmet, on the bikes. The little boy dies and Frank goes to the funeral, moved by the fulfilment of the little boy’s wish – and, so, the origins of Make a Wish.

Frank Shankwitz himself is an advisor to the film, his persuading people in Prescott to provide locations for the filming and some crowdfunding for its completion.

The cast includes quite a number of veteran American character actors but the central role is taken by Australian, Andrew Steel (and the rookie is played by Australian Justin Curtis). Kitty is played by Kirby Bliss Blanton.

Some tough moments and situations, some emotional moments, and an affirmation of faith and hope in human nature and values.

1. Based on a true story? The final credits and the photos of the actual people?
2. The Illinois settings, the countryside, homes? The contrast with Arizona, the open spaces, the police precinct? The sequences in Chicago, streets and homes, the funeral? The musical score?
3. Frank Shankwitz his life, as a boy, as an adult with the police, the crisis of his life, discovering the good, setting up the foundation? Its achievement, its service to so many young people?
4. Frank Is a young boy, living with his mother, the caravan, her severity and dominating, the arrival of his father, friendship,, the hat, the bonding? Frank, the school, the bullying, his mother telling him to stand up for himself, his hitting the boy?
5. Frank’s mother, the background of the marriage, severe, demanding, the visit from the father, the issue of custody, her taking Frank and disappearing? Going to Arizona? In Arizona, the same kind of life for Frank, his mother and her friend, deciding to abandon him? Leaving him to the kindly man at the store? Frank, working, at the diner and washing up, the boss, leaving, Juan taking him in, caring for him?
6. The structure of the film, the continued flashbacks building up the story of Frank and his childhood?
7. Frank, the Arizona police, motorcycle group, the popularity of the TV show Chips at the time? His fellow workers, his sympathetic boss? The episode with the rednecks, pursuing them, their reckless driving, knocking Frank off the bike? His confronting them, calling for support, Tom Wells, animosity, the bashing, Frank’s torch and Tom bashing with it, the arrival of Mason?
8. Frank, knocked out, the attempts at resuscitation, his eventually coming alive, the experience of being technically dead for three minutes?
9. Hospital, hardheaded and not wanting help, his boss and sympathy, Kitty and her arrival at the police station, her being squandered to look after Frank? The ups and downs? His dependence, Kitty and his variety of moods?
10. The investigation, Mason, going to see the rednecks, internal affairs, the interviews with Frank, the plot against him, the testimonies? The issue of suspension?
11. The arrival of Mitch Myers, explaining his work at the Academy, Frank impatient with him, their working together? Mitch rather ingenuous? However, the possibility of the lawyer friend?
12. The lawyer, going to see the rednecks, taping the interview, the fact that the wife thought that Tom was Frank and identifying the photo? Frank and his rehabilitation? Mason and his dismissal?
13. The episode with Michael and his leukaemia? His mother? Chips, the influence, loving motorcyclists and the cops? Frank wary, but agreeing, the experience with Michael, the police making a fuss over him, the helmet, the baggage, on the bike? His going into coma, his death?
14. Frank, deciding to go to the funeral, comforting the mother? The whole experience and its effect on him? Michael enabling Frank for some kind of self-awareness?
15. The scenes with Frank’s father, the newspaper, ringing the police, getting the information, Frank unwilling to take the phone call, Mitch and having to persuade him, taking him into the house, the reunion with his father?
16. The consequences for Frank, the fulfilling of wishes, his setting up the foundation, its success?