BAD COMPANY

US, 1995, 108 minutes, Colour.
Ellen Barkin, Laurence Fishburne, Frank Langella, Michael Beach, Gia Carides, David Ogden Stiers, Daniel Hugh Kelly, Spalding Gray, James Hong.
Directed by Damian Harris.

Bad Company is a film about ex-CIA operatives. Most of the characters are evil, exploitative, greedy.

Frank Langella plays the organiser of a company which blackmails victims like judges. His main assistant is played by Ellen Barkin. He hires former CIA agent, played by Laurence Fishburne, who is still under the thumb of the CIA (especially the chief, Michael Murphy). The film becomes more complex in its plotting as the operatives attack the judge, he commits suicide, leaves his money to his mistress (Gia Carides). The film is also complicated by the plots to kill the manager of the firm – a mutual conspiracy with Fishburne and Barkin. It all comes to a violent end.

The film is well acted, quite well written – and an ugly look into the world of manipulation, exploitation and greed.

1. The title? The CIA? The company and its career of crime? The individuals and their evil?

2. The American atmosphere, the skylines of the city? Wealth, the company rooms, apartments? The contrast with the countryside and its peace, the violence committed there? The musical score?

3. The narration by Nelson Crowe? The introduction to Margaret and Nelson, the comments of the voice-over, Nelson’s character, the recruiting, the audience opinion of him? Grimes, his company, exercise of power? Margaret in his employ? The introduction to Crowe, his summing up his character and possibilities, employing him?

4. The situation of the photos, incriminating, the blackmail? The perpetrators having no scruples?

5. Margaret and Crowe, their meeting, the apartment, Margaret’s seductive behaviour, the sexual relationship, the plans, Margaret as devious? The plotting against Grimes?

6. Walter Curl, his company, the suit against him? Giving the money, the bribe for the judge? His personally being nervous? The introduction to the judge, his gambling habit, the debts? His friends, the markers? Their being available, the company buying them? Crowe and his meeting with Todd Stapp, their discussions, the past work together, visiting Bobby Birdsong and the issue of the markers and the money deals? The encounter with Les Goodwin, his giving them leads, wanting what he could get out of it? The plan, the pain, the control? Goodwin and the betrayal of the judge?

7. The visit to the judge, following the judge, the elevator, the issue of the markers, Janet and her being present? The interviews, the discussions, the decision, the blackmail? The judge taking the money? His relationship with Janet, with his wife, leaving, getting her to go to the Bahamas, opening the account? The decision about his children and wife, his killing himself?

8. Walter Curl, the reaction? The damages case, the high court vote? Margaret and Crowe and their visit and dominating Curl?

9. The picture of the agency, Crowe and his visit, the hold over him, the non-delivery of the gold, Iraq? The manager and his assistant? Stapp and his wanting in? The plan, the agency wanted to take over Grimes’ company?

10. Grimes, relationship with Margaret, the weekend fishing, her deceiving him, killing him?

11. Margaret, the agency and their control of her? Setting up Margaret against Crowe?

12. Janet, her return, the travel, her wealth, her vengeance, the elevator, Margaret and the warning, confronting Margaret and Crowe, the shootout? Her emerging as victor?

13. An immoral, amoral world? The loss of values? And the violent end? The moralising end that no good came for the protagonists?