SHANNON'S DEAL

US, 1989, 100 minutes, Colour.
Jamey Sheridan, Elizabeth Pena, Alberta Watson, Miguel Ferrer.
Directed by Lewis Teague.

Shannon's Way is a telemovie about an unconventional lawyer, one who has reacted against the big companies and their anti-conservation issues and has taken up private practice. It involves him in a case of a pilot bringing drugs into the country with government connivance and shipping arms to the Contras in Central America.

The screenplay was written by John Sayles (Baby It's You, Matewan, Eight Men Out) as a pilot for a television series. It was directed by Lewis Teague, director of some of Sayles' action scripts including Battle Beyond the Stars, Alligator, as well as Cujo and Jewel of the Nile.

The telemovie is quite well made, has quite a range of characters who interact with Shannon. It also raises issues of the law, justice. It also has '80s political implications with the focus on Central America and government deals as well as the drug situation.

1. Interesting telemovie? A lawyer at work? The people that he meets? Issues? Law and justice?

2. The world of the city, the world of the law? International issues, Central America? Musical score?

3. The title, the focus on Shannon, his way of doing law? His reaction against his past career?

4. The portrait of Jack Shannon: explanations of his past? His setting up work, his new secretary and her abilities, her boyfriend and the use of his skills in rigging the car, acting the voice on the phone? His ex-wife and the responsibility for the break-up of the marriage, his love for his daughter, meal with her, the concert? His defending Scott Powell and Powell's going to jail, meeting him in jail and writing the communications, the drug issues, the gun-running? Gwen and the contacts with her? The clashes with government officials and his being warned off? Todd and his friendship, the DA's department? Friendship with Mollie, meal with her, her ambitions? The boxer and the collecting of the debts, the humorous byplay between them? The policeman and his wanting Shannon to coach his son? The discussion about rock and roll and Shannon leaving them to their parental and son discussion? His work, his skills, knowing the system, gathering information, being taken to Honduras, the photos and the identities, his setting up the phone call? The deal with the government? The journalist and her bargaining for the story, disgust with him?

5. The sketch of minor characters - well-delineated: Shannon's daughter, the meal, the concert, her relationship with Shannon's friends? Mollie and the meal, his relationship with her, her ambitions? Todd, his ambitions, threats? Scott Powell and his being in prison, his arrest, communications, the deal? Gwen and her love for Scott, helping Shannon? The government officials, the warnings, the final deal? The Honduran overlord, the golf course, the kidnapping, the threats? The killer and the attempt on Shannon's life? The Chinese bail bond man, the money, his contacts? The kidnappers? The secretary, her skills, the boyfriend? The policeman, his ambitions for his son, not being a good cop? His son and rock and roll? The boxer, his vocabulary, the attack on Shannon, the attack on the boxer? His being paid off?

6. Popular issues for television stories? Portrait of characters? Portrait of the law?