BLACKJACK

US, 1998, 90 minutes, Colour.
Dolph Lundgren, Kate Vernon, Fred Williamson.
Directed by John Woo.

Blackjack is an average action telemovie, a better role than usual for Dolph Lundgren as a bodyguard. Veteran Fred Williamson also appears as a veteran bodyguard.

The film is a psychological thriller (with Kate Vernon as a psychologist trying to overcome Lundgren's fear of white - all connected with his sense of betraying his gambling father who was murdered in the Nevada desert). While it starts with casinos and a casino boss wanting protection for his children, the film moves into the area of high fashion and a vengeful ex husband wanting to assassinate his successful wife.

The action sequences bear the mark of John Wu's Hong Kong and Hollywood skill. The personal action aspects of the film and the drama are more commonplace. John Wu was doing some filling in with this film between Face Off and Mission Impossible 2.

1.Entertaining action drama? Psychological, human? John Wu and his specialising in action sequences, their staging, choreography? Their fitting into the action - taking over the action? The contrast with the human and psychological drama? Musical score?

2.The title, the focus on Jack - gambling and blackjack, his phobia of white?

3.The opening with the casino manager, his being threatened, the attempt on his daughter? Jack and his friendship, his ability to confront the criminals - even with the phobia about the colour white? The irony of the parents being killed and his having to look after Casey? Her forthrightness, dependence on Jack, her skill in evading the brutal criminals?

4.Jack and his job with the model? Jim and his friendship, the memories of the past and their work together? The entourage around Cinda? The fashion firm and the importance of the contract, desperate to sign? The security firm and their arrogance?

5.Cinda in herself, her glamour, dependence on drugs after her injury? The initial assassination attempt while walking on the catwalk? The gradual revelation of the truth about her husband, the money she sent him, his jealousy? Jack and his protecting her, her growing dependence on him, the truth? His finally saving her - her driving to attack Rory? Her final success?

6.Jack, dependable, tough, martial arts skills? Friendships and loyalties? The pursuit of the criminal, the confrontations with him, his using white against Jack, especially with the white curtains in his house, the factory and the set piece with the milk? The final confrontation and shooting?

7.The ingredients of popular action - the sympathetic good characters, the unsympathetic bad characters, the set-ups? The world of casinos, of fashion, of security?

8.Dr Stern, her treatment of Jack, her help with Cinda and the drugs, her support of Jack and confronting him and helping to overcome his phobia?