RENEGADES

US, 1989, 105 minutes, Colour.
Kiefer Sutherland, Lou Diamond Philips, Jami Gertz.
Directed by Jack Sholdefr.

Renegades is an exciting and involving police thriller. Written by David Rich, it was directed by Jack Sholder (Alone in the Dark).

It is a star vehicle for Keefer Sutherland and Lou Diamond Phillips, after their many successes in the mid-'80s. (They have much better opportunity in this film to create characters than they did in the ensemble work in Young Guns.)

There are Philadelphia settings, rather spectacular chase sequences as well as shootouts - perhaps just a bit too violent for the overall impact of the film. However, Sutherland is very good as a loner undercover policeman who gets involved in a jewel robbery. Phillips highlights the Indian background, some legends about a sacred lance, the response to brutal murders of the Indians - and becoming a buddy with Sutherland. Rob Knepper (Wild Thing) is a sneering sinister villain. Jami Gertz has a brief guest role as his girlfriend. The film has themes of police work, undercover work, corrupt police. There is quite a spectacular and apocalyptic ending. Very good of its kind.

1. Exciting thriller? Police work? Robberies and murders? Racial themes?

2. Philadelphia settings, police precincts, the streets, restaurants, jewellery stores? Authentic atmosphere and use of the city, subway, streets and chases? The contrast with the ranch and the American west? Musical score?

3. Action sequences, spectacular car chases, shootouts and stunt work? The fiery ending? Effective editing and pacing?

4. The title, reference to Buster, to Hank, to the action?

5. The opening with the Indians, the information about the Lakota lance? The ceremony of farewell, the transfer of the lance, the journey, the family and Philadelphia, the Indian exhibition in the gallery, the shooting? Hank in his family, his father breaking the lucky stone? His father's death? The recovery of the lance - and the fiery death of the villain?

6. Buster in the bar, his comments about cops, the hold-up, the shooting with the police, his stunt in wresting the gun from the criminals? Slapping the policeman, the night in jail? Being brought out, the audience discovering he was a policeman, his father's friend saving him, the criticisms of the other officer? Going on vacation?

7. His contacting Mareno, the plan for the robbery, the execution of the robbery in its detail, the intimidating of the people, the jewels, Mareno and the murder? The woman giving the signal, the police arriving, the spectacular car chase with Buster driving, the deaths, the Indian gallery, the shooting of the Indian? Mareno shooting Buster?

8. Hank at the gallery, his pursuit of the car, running through the streets, over the cars, taking the car? Finding Buster and taking care of him, walking him into the hotel, the room, using Indian medicine? Buster and his escape attempts, the reversing of the car and Hank in the engine?

9. The search together, the Indian family, Hank's father? Going to Barbara's shop, the shootout at the shop? Taking them with her, the restaurant, the car, going on the subway? Eluding Hank? His pursuit, in the train, on the roof, stalking them in the street? The joining together again in the shop, Hank and his awkwardness in the store, Buster pretending to have an arrest? The pursuit by the killers, the shootout and Barbara's death? The police taking Hank and Buster? His father's friend giving him 12 hours to find the crooked cop?

10. Buster and Hank, two races, their prejudices, the comments on Indian religion, superstition? Tensions, believing each other, outwitting each other, Hank pushing Buster down, the jump, the fight, one eluding the other, working together?

11. The police and corruption, the supervising officer and his reaction, the story of Buster's father and his going to jail for stolen goods, his companion not going to jail, feeling that he owed something to Buster? His going to Mareno and the clashes between them, giving Buster 12 hours, the irony of his antagonistic officer being also on the payroll? Their going to the ranch, the discussions with Mareno, the final shootout - and Buster talking to him before he died?

12. Mareno at the ranch, his wealth, ruthlessness, his henchmen? Buster and Hank following the police and his shrewdness in tracking the cars? The alarm, the group in the house, the siege? The elimination of the gunmen? The use of flares? Hank and Buster in the barn, Hank getting out with the horses, Buster with the bike? The fire? The death of the police? The confrontation with Mareno, his going to shoot Buster, the fiery lance? The conflagration and the symbolic overtones of such an apocalyptic fire?

13. The portrait of Mareno as the rich thug, the ranch, his ruthlessness, his gang and their attitudes, the murders? The police in his pay?

14. The peaceful ending, Hank back with the Indian lands, the tourist guide? Buster's arrival, thanks, the bond between the two?

15. Strong delineation of character, strong plot about police work and robberies, strong action sequences? Satisfying combination?