WRONG BET (LIONHEART)
US, 1990, 105 minutes, Colour.
Jean Claude Van Damme, Harrison Page, Lisa Pelikan.
Directed by Sheldon Lettich.
Wrong Bet is a vehicle for martial arts star Jean Claude Van Damme (Cyborg, Kickboxer). The star also wrote the story and collaborated with the screenplay. It is a shrewd screenplay for audiences of the early 90s - the emphasis on fights, bare-knuckle fights, kickboxing: but it also focuses on a wife whose husband is brutally killed the orphaned daughter, the help of the Uncle who selflessly finds money for his sister-in-law and niece - and who is reconciled to them at the end (even being let off by the tough foreign legionnaires who have gone to America to bring him back to the Legion). This mixture of fights and sentiment (perhaps a bit much at the end) seems a sure-fire formula for box office success. The film will appeal only to those who like the star and this type of Chuck Norris genre film - but there may be some compensation in the romance for those who may be dragged along to see it by fans.
1. Entertain blend of fights and romance? Sentiment? Box office appeal?
2. Jean Claude Von Damme and his films, taciturn screen presence, fighting skills? A humanised character in this film?
3. The streets of Los Angeles, New York City, the wealthy of California? The contrast with the world of the Foreign Legion and the African desert? The stunt work, the choreography for the fights? Musical score, songs?
4. Lyon, his relationship with the murdered brother, work in the Foreign Legion, six months to go, the attitude of the superior officer, his insubordination being put in isolation, the fight and the escape, through the desert, on the boat, docking in New York, wandering the streets, hungry, watching the fight, getting involved, befriended by Joshua, the winnings, trying to loose Joshua? Joshua's taking him to the boss, her style, her bets, his winning? His clash with the boss, going to Los Angeles? His sister-in-law and her hostility, the death of his brother? Meeting his niece and befriending her, not as a stranger? Josh finding him? Working with him? The decision to fight and raise money for his sister-in-law? The arranged fights, their fashionable locations - swimming pools etc? The getting of the money? His resisting the boss, her buying him the clothes? His training, going to see his niece? Setting up the bank fund? The Legionnaires and their catching him, the fights, breaking his rib? The decision to fight, the false video and the sense of security? Joshua's warning? The fight, his determination, the victory? Going to see the sister-in-law and the niece, the building up of friendship with them, his going with the Legionnaires, their letting him go and the happy reunion? Van Damme's presence, style, silent hero, fighter, a man with heart? The nickname Lionhearted?
5. Joshua, the black conman from New York, arranging the fights, befriending Lyon, helping him, introducing him to the boss? The clash with Russell? Going to Los Angeles, finding the sister-in-law, supporting him? The fights and the winnings? Going to visit the sister-in-law with the money? The dangers? Betting against Lyon The final fight? Support of him? The Happy ending? The effectiveness of the lively black buddy for the silent white hero?
6. The prologue, the drugs, the gang, the brother and his being burnt alive, hospital, his death? His wife, antagonism towards Lyon? Nicole? Hardships, resistance to Lyon, the money from Joshua, buying the bike, the encounters with Lyon, the drawing for him, the sister-in-law changing her mind? The final farewell, reconciliation?
7. The dragon lady boss, her glamour and style? Russell as her henchman? Infatuated with Lyon, supporting him? In Los Angeles, the clothes, his resisting her, her anger? The winnings, turning against him, the fake video, the fighter from Hong Kong? Her losing? Her being called to account for her money? The arch villainess?
8. The world of illicit bare-knuckle fighters, on the New York streets, with New York and Los Angeles society, the bets? The fighters, the brutality? The henchman?
9. The background of the Foreign Legion, the sadistic chief, his going to Paris, pursuit of Lyon? The two guards, on the wharf, in Los Angeles? The bashing of Lyon? The deal with the boss? Their watching the fight, changing their minds, letting him go?
10. The popular blend of ingredients of story, characters, fight-and sentiment for the 90s box office?
