SHORT TIME

US, 1990, 97 minutes, Colour.
Dabney Coleman, Teri Garr, Matt Frewer, Barry Corbin, Joe Pantoliano.
Directed by Gregg Champion.

An entertaining police story, routine material injected with some emotion. Dabney Coleman is enjoyable as a policeman on the verge of retirement. However, he gets medical results that indicate that he has a terminal disease. With little insurance, he would be able to bequeath his estranged wife and son some money if he were killed in the line of duty. This he tries - but the results are that he becomes a much more efficient and effective cop.

The film has the usual police ingredients, confrontations and chases. It also has some sentiment as Coleman disarms a bomber in a supermarket and listens sympathetically to his plight and gives him a homily on family values.

Matt Frewer is his assistant, Teri Garr his wife. The film has the usual ingredients plus some ironies as the policeman who thinks he is doomed to die tries to hasten his death with heroic deeds.

1. Popular police material? Police buddies? Themes of death, duty, heroism?

2. The Seattle locations, the city? The action sequences and stunts? Musical score?

3. The title, police retirement? Police careers, pensions, future? The irony of the information about the disease and death?

4. The traditional police material: station and precinct, authorities, police in action, partners? The police work?

5. Simpson and Dills? Their work, the chases, the rooftop jump and Simpson hesitating? Stopping his pursuit - and the subsequent mockery?

6. The results of the test, the question of insurance? His relationship with his son, hopes for him to go to University? The estrangement from Carolyn? The black bus driver and his test, changing the samples, the results?

7. Simpson and his decision, his going into action, the car chases, pursuing the gang, the shoot-outs, the siege? The irony of his getting medals?

8. The picture of Carolyn, her relationship with Simpson, her son? The estrangement?

9. Dills, working with Simpson, change, the meal, the kiss?

10. The irony of the truth, its effect on Simpson?

11. Action sequences: weapons, styles, deals, chases, hospital, Matthew connections, confrontations, shoot-outs?

12. The finale on the building, the lift - and both men falling? Expectations?

13. The funeral, the black bus driver? The car chase? Simpson and his retirement? The final joke?

14. The point being made about police, their work, retirement? Illness and terminal illness? Insurance? Being freed from fear and confronting danger?