SHATTERED

US, 1991, 98 minutes, Colour.
Greta Scacchi, Tom Berenger, Bob Hoskins, Joanna Whaley Kilmer, Corbin Bensen, Theodore Bikel.
Directed by Wolfgang Petersen.

Shattered is quite an entertaining murder mystery: fatal crash, amnesia, ambiguity, identity... and a twist that may not be picked by most audiences.

Tom Berenger is the architect who cannot remember his life. Bob Hoskins the private detective who helps unravel the tangle of clues. Hoskins gives an enormously entertaining performance, full of clever detail. Greta Scacchi is Berenger's beautiful wife who nurses him back to himself. Joanna Whalley Kilmer and Corbin Bensen are a husband and wife friends and business associates.

The film was written and directed by Wolfgang Petersen, the German director of such films as The Boat, The Never Ending Story, Enemy Mine. The novel, by Richard Niele, is called The Plastic Nightmare. Petersen brings a German sensibility to this Californian story. The musical score and song are by Angelo Badalamenti (composer for Twin Peaks and other David Lynch films).

Excellent and the audience hasn't time to notice too many holes - although the screenplay tries to cover all of them. An enjoyable mystery.

1. Title of the film? The shattered car, the shattered glass, the shattered personality?

2. Entertaining psychological thriller - in the Hitchcock vein? Amnesia, murder, conspiracy?

3. San Francisco, city locations, mansions, office buildings, the picture of San Francisco society? The musical score and the theme song: `Love Explosion'?

4. The work of Wolfgang Petersen, the German perspective on an American story? The original title, The Plastic Nightmare? Plausibility of the plot, holes, coincidences? Covering the holes of the plot? Satisfying result, twist?

5. The impact of the car crash, the fall? Judith tossed free? Dan and the destruction of his face? The plastic surgery, the reconstruction with his photos around? Judith and her help?

6. Dan and his memory, momentary glimpses? Judith and her care, rehabilitation? The return home - and unease at home? Jeb and Jenny, the social, tensions, Jenny examining his hand - and this later being the cause of her death? The discussion about work? His return to work, the enigma of the secretary and his wondering whether he was having an affair with her? The plans, the detail, trying to get himself back into the swing of things? The building of the marina, the contracts? The possibility of selling out his share? Suspicions? The toxic waste and his putting on hold its being got rid of?

7. Talking with Jenny, the revelation of the affair? The discovery of the photos and Judith's affair? The puzzle? Trying to reconstruct the night of the accident? Judith seeming beyond suspicion?

8. The marina, the toxic waste, suspicions, following Judith? Evoking memories?

9. The discovery of the photos, the name of Gus Kline and the money? The phone call, the visit - and the comedy about the pets, the swearing parrot, his co-workers? The pictures, discussing issues with Kline, the reconstruction, the discovery of Stanton and Judith's affair? The pursuit of his identity and background?

10. The visit to the hotel, the hotel assistant recognising him? The presence of Judith and Stanton at the hotel, himself and Jenny?

11. The phone tap, the set-up, listening to Judith's phone call? Kline and Dan watching, taking photos at the hotel? Judith's arrival, Stanton's arrival, her departure? The chase in the woods, Gus and his love for his car, its being damaged? Judith revealing that she was pretending to be Stanton?

12. Her story about the shooting, the shooting of Stanton, getting rid of the body? The plan to leave for Mexico? Jenny's phone call - and their finding her dead? Gus and Dan going to the toxic waste, the shipwreck - the preservation of the body - and literally face to face with himself? The effect of the shock?

13. The true story, the night, Dan as boorish, his treatment of Judith? Her shooting him? Her wanting to get rid of the body? Forcing Stanton to get rid of the body, his unwillingness? His not being a murderer?

14. The showdown, Judith confessing the truth, Kline being shot? Judith taking Dan/Stanton in the car, the helicopter pursuit? The crash and Dan jumping free?

15. The theme of amnesia, loss of identity, wondering about the past, being trapped in a criminal past and taking the consequences?

16. Characters, situations? Pace and plausibility?