THE LONG KISS GOODNIGHT

US, 1996, 115 minutes, Colour.
Geena Davis, Samuel L. Jackson, Yvonne Zima, Craig Bierko, Brian Cox, Patrick Malahide, David Morse.
Directed by Renny Harlin.

An action, conspiracy thriller that is fascinating as we identify with the central characters who are trying to combat evil - the villains are the CIA hierarchy and their secret violence, greed and struggles for power. It is true that to confront these villains and expose the conspiracies is necessary and somebody has to do it. What are the repercussions for the individuals and for society?

The Long Kiss Goodnight is complex both on the character level and on the conspiracy level. The conspiracy is an indictment of government espionage in the 90s where authorities secretly stage terrorist acts to justify their requests for funding! The character level is interesting because the central role was originally written for a man, but has been adapted for Geena Davis. She gets the chance to play a split character as the nice Samantha, a small town teacher with a young daughter - and amnesia - gradually recovers her memory to discover she is a highly trained espionage killer. Who is the real woman - the killer or the teacher? She is accompanied in her quest by a small-time con private detective, Samuel L. Jackson. The screenplay explores the expected role reversal with wit and verve. There is also a lot of spectacular over-the-top action. Conspiracy actioner.

1. An enjoyable action adventure? A woman taking the James Bond-style role? The film noir title? The name of the heroine - Sam/Charlie?

2. The credits, the continued writing of the signature, the introduction to Charlie, the opening of the mystery?

3. Geena Davis as Sam, the eight years in domestic life, no back story, meeting her husband, the birth of her daughter, her teaching the school, domestic life, a pleasant life? Giving her friend the lift, his drunken boasting, the car crash, the injuries - and the beginnings of memories coming back? The Christmas pageant, her being seen on television - and the espionage world knowing that she was alive?

4. The effect of the accident on Sam, her moments of memory, going home from hospital, her relationship with husband and daughter, her being very tough with her daughter? Chopping the vegetables, throwing the knives?

5. The story of Mitch, his assistant, the sex scandal, the arrest, the blackmail? The job to find Charlie, tracking her down?

6. Perkins and his role in the secret agencies, his control, access to the president, the discussions about budgets? Timothy, his sinister attitudes, the previous antagonism with Perkins? Now his ally? Their plans, the operation for the explosion in order to get the budget increases? The discovery that Charlie was still alive, their setting out to get her?

7. Sam and her need to search, the encounter with Mitch, not trusting him? The clues? Going off, farewell from husband and daughter? Their tracking down Nathan, the phone call, the information, the rendezvous - the meeting, their not trusting him, his death and his being in the water tank? The fact that the agencies had listened in and were waiting for her? The meeting with Luke, trusting him, going to the mill? The memory that he was the target? His torturing her, the water, under the water, seeing the body of Nathan, getting the gun, killing Luke?

8. The shift from the psychological drama and the search for identity to the action sequences? The various plots, plans, chases and explosions? The impact of the special effects, the editing and pace?

9. Timothy, his madness, his pursuit of Sam? Their past, the irony that he was Caitlin's father? His abducting her? The threats? The pursuit of Sam, the confrontations with her?

10. The man in jail, seeing Charlie on television, the memories of the past, the loss of his eye? His escape, the confrontation? The memory of the past, the scene on the cliff, her disappearance? The reconstruction of the past?

11. Mitch, his abilities and inabilities to help Sam? His being tortured? Attitude, survival? His keeping on coming?

12. Sam in the motel, with Caitlin, the bomb threat, Niagara Falls? Sam and her using her wits, the confrontation with Perkins, with Timothy, the vehicle with the bomb? The fight with Timothy, his fall, climbing up the cliff? The helicopter, the shooting, his falling on the tanker and its exploding? Mitch and his collaboration, wounded but yet his vigorous attack?

13. The warding off of the danger to the civilian population?

14. The president, his wanting Sam to come in? Her deciding to stay away? Mitch and his being interviewed on Larry King?

15. The return to domestic peace, the nice family - but Sam still throwing a knife? The overall impact of this kind of action entertainment? Over the top? Themes of espionage and secret agencies? Renegades and their danger of terrorism? The need for action heroes - and heroines?