NEXT OF KIN

US , 1989, 108 minutes, Colour.
Patrick Swayze, Liam Neeson, Adam Baldwin, Bill Paxton, Helen Hunt, Ben Stiller, Michael J.Pollard, Ted Levine.
Directed by John Irvin.

Next of Kin is an effective police thriller. Directed by John Irvin, whose credits range from Turtle Diary to Arnold Schwarzenegger's Raw Deal, the film is a good study of characters, the clash of societies (Chicago urban with Kentucky hillbilly) as well as a portrait of police and gangsters. There is good attention given to detail and character which makes the film above average of its kind. Patrick Swayze has a good role as the Kentucky hillbilly-become Chicago policeman. Helen Hunt is good as his wife. But Liam Neeson (Mission, Lamb, Good Mother) is excellent as the vindictive brother from Kentucky. Adam Baldwin is sullen as the arrogant mobster type.

Familiar material, but quite effectively done.

1. Satisfying police thriller? Action thriller?

2. The realism of the Chicago locations? The contrast with the Kentucky locations, the hills, the family and Kentucky society? The musical score, the songs? The contrast between the two cultures?

3. The title, focus on family, relationships? The Gates family? The mobster family? Jessie and Truman and the baby?

4. The opening with Truman at work, fearless, talking down the killer, anger with rough police? Introduction to his skills, his type?

5. The visit to his brother, arguing with him, the background of the family? Jessie and her violin-playing, talking with her? Establishing the family tensions?

6. His brother and his friend, in the truck, the race with Joey and the mobsters, the brutality of his death in cold blood? The friend as witness, running away?

7. Johnny Isabella as a Chicago mobster, his wanting his son to find his place? Mobster type? Joey, the underling, the code of loyalty? Callous? Showing Laurence the ropes? The chase, the shooting of the brother? Isabella and his lawyer, the contacts, his club and the cooking? Laurence and his office? Joey's jealousy? The ducks, the gunmen, the atmosphere of '80s mobsters? The warehouses, the break-ins? The shooting?

8. The funeral in Kentucky, the family gathering, meeting at the railway station, the ceremony and the community singing? The talk after, Jessie playing the violin? The meeting about the vendetta? The boy with the arrows? Audience knowledge of the family, their later coming to Chicago, hunting in the cemetery in Chicago?

9. The character of Briar: type, clashes with his brothers, in the caravan, challenging Truman? The law and justice? His decision to go to Chicago? Friendship with Harold, the room, stalking the Isabellas, the warehouse, the dogs and letting them out, the attack, the security guards, the explosions in the warehouse? Making his own ammunition? Truman's coming to him, in the bar, the arrest, in jail? The deal about information, the taking of his guns, his being framed? The vengeance, his death and its pathos? Reconciliation scenes with Truman?

10. Truman upholding the law, the investigations? Following Joe, luring him in the car? Information about Laurence? Going to see Isabella in his club? Finding Briar in town, the talks, the deal? The attack on Jessie with the paint? Saving her? The build-up to the confrontation, Briar's death? Giving in his badge, the arrows, hunting in the cemetery, the confrontations? Isabella threatening him, killing Joey?

11. Laurence's death, Briar being framed, the funeral and Joey's grief, the tape-recording, Joey boasting? The cemetery, the underlings, the violence, the deaths? Isabella shooting Joey?

12. The characters of the mobsters, their abilities, stupidity, violence? Their deaths?

13. Jessie pregnant, the happy ending - a new life, family and kin?