POWER
US, 1986, 105 minutes, Colour.
Richard Gere, Gene Hackman, Julie Christie, Denzel Washington, Kate Capshaw, Michael Learned, J.T.Walsh, E.G. Marshall, Beatrice Straight.
Directed by Sidney Lumet.
Power is a Sidney Lumet film, something in the vein of his satire on television, Network. This time the focus is on media whiz kids, their use of the media to promote their clients, especially for political office. Richard Gere is good in the central role of Pete St. John, an expert in his field. Gene Hackman is the has-been media expert. Julie Christie does not quite register as Gere's ex-wife. There is interesting supporting performance by E.G. Marshall, Beatrice Straight and Denzel Washington.
The film highlights the new technology, the images that the public consumes and their manufacture. While the film is cynical at times, it is earnest in its resolution which is somewhat flat. it basically takes an optimistic note about human nature.
There is an interesting musical score by Cy Coleman (Sweet Charity, Barnum).
1. Interesting entertainment? Topical? Americana? Media? Politics?
2. The work of Sidney Lumet, his critiques of aspects of America? His liberal optimism?
3. The atmosphere of America in the mid-80s, New York, New Mexico, Washington? The world of South America and revolution? The world of media, power and promotion? The new technology?
4. The title and its plain focus? The appearances and the techniques of power? The enjoyment of power? its drive? The use of the musical score ? especially the drum playing to highlight Pete St. John's tension?
5. Richard Gere as Pete St. John: in action, the exploding car, the riot and his directing of the cameras, the bloodstained shirt and his use of it in advertising, the contract, the return to the U.S. to edit the film? Sidney as his efficient secretary? His sexual relationship with her? His reliance on her as a business associate? His company, the staff, premises, technology, ideas? His continually being on the go in and out of planes? With the Governor's candidate for New Mexico, his selling points, his despising the man, his building him up, taking over his life, the cowboy ad (and the possible disaster and his using it for success in the editing room), preparing him for the debate and the techniques? (The irony that he lost the election?) The visits to Washington, the friendship with the Governor, attending meetings, suggesting strategies, the turning up at the social and his pressure about the critic's number plate, the smear ad and the look at the manipulation of an advertisement? The media, PR whiz kid as today's public phenomenon?
6. His past: Will and the walk-out, Will feeling betrayed. snide criticisms of Pete, the performance when he was drunk at the airport, the rival advertisements for his candidate? Ellen and the break up of the marriage, her career, the alienation at the end of the marriage, the relationship, tenderness yet laughing off past infidelities? Her success as an interviewer? The partial reconciliation with Pete?
7. Billings and the international connections, the Arabs, elections, lobbyists in Washington, solar energy and fuel energies? Billings' approach to Pete? Pete's checking him out? Pete's contacts, the computer expert in the wheelchair and his techniques, communication via satellite to the New Mexico candidate, data banks? The bugging of telephones and rooms? The lorry menacing Pete on the road? Billings responsible for removing his plane? The loss of clients? Pete's interview with Cade and taking him on, the visit downstairs to see the Senator's chair? Tactics, advertisements? Tough playing of games?
8. Pete as a man on the move, South America, planes, the hectic life? The intensity of his drumming outlet? His letting it lapse towards the end of the film?
9. New Mexico: the candidate, his wife controlling him, his being pasty-faced and lacking in confidence, the cowboy commercial, his nervousness before the debate? The ad and the editing? The comparisons with his rival ? the advertisements, walking and meeting the people? The sacking of Will?
10. Washington and the Governor, her relationships, ambitions? Success for a new term?
11. The Senator and his friendship with Pete? Pete's respect for him and his integrity? His conservation causes? Clare? The meal, the news of the retirement, preparing his statement? The encounter with Ellen and her story, Pete's hostility? Ellen's information from Clare? The confrontation with the Senator while fishing, his lying? The confrontation, the connection with Billings, the visit to the abandoned development area? The repercussions of lobbying, financial pressure and deals?
12. Ellen and her career, interviews with Clare, with Clare's mother, her techniques for getting information, the encounters with Pete, the assessment of their marriage, sexual liaison, with him at the end?
13. Aarons as candidate, professor, his causes? The confrontation with Cade? His employing Will, Will's techniques ? media, make-up etc.? Pete's arrival, the impact of his direct talk, invitation to tell the truth? His plain statements during the debate ? and the Chairperson not wanting applause? His success and his followers?
14. Themes of money, power, political lobbying, energy and conservation questions, deals, revolutions, corruption, cover ups?
15. Today's world: technology, truth and hype, the role of the media, pressure, private and public lives, images, manipulation? A film of entertainment and insight?
