BLUE CITY
US, 1986, 83 minutes, Colour.
Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy, Paul Winfield, Anita Morris, David Caruso, Julie Carmen, Scott Wilson.
Directed by Michelle Manning.
Blue City is based on a crime story by noted author Ross Mc Donald. The screenplay was written by veteran Lukas Heller and writer-director Walter Hill.
The film is brief, a violent thriller set in Florida. Judd Nelson is the surly young man who comes to his home town to find that his father has been murdered. He decides to find out who did it and to avenge his father's murder. He enlists the help of Ally Sheedy as a department worker. There is also her brother Joey, played by David Caruso. In the supporting cast are Paul Winfield as the police chief, Scott Wilson as a casino owner and Anita Morris as his wife.
However, the film has the marks of Walter Hill's rather violent action thrillers (from Streetfighter and The Warrior through to Johnny Handsome and Red Heat).
1.Interesting crime thriller? Piece of Americana?
2.Florida locations, the city, homes, casinos, the boats? Action and stunts? Musical score?
3.The title, the focus on the American city, police corruption, crime and gambling, violence? The violent tone of the film?
4.Billy and his return home, coming back to the town, the attitude of the police, his surly reactions? The news of his father's death? Reliance on his father to get him out of trouble, the five-year absence? The discussions with the police chief and his support? Meeting Anne and her friendship, her help, the relationship with Joey, arguing with him to help, the violence he received and his reluctance? Anne's detection, Joey going into action? Going to see Malvina and his disdain of her? The finger of suspicion on Burch? Billy and his endeavours, going to the club, confronting Burch, his henchmen, the threats, the violence and the bashings? The getting of the guns? Billy and Joey and their destruction? The chief and his interventions? Jail? Trying to trick Malvina? The truth about Malvina's marriage to Burch? The build-up to the final confrontation, the shoot-out, the irony of the police chief and his killings? The truth? The release from prison and Joey's death? The reconciliation with Anne - a future? Audience interest in, sympathy or lack of sympathy with Billy and his quest?
5.The police chief, smooth, friendship with Billy's father, seeming to help him, the police assistance? The putting in jail, freeing Billy? The death of Joey? The irony of the truth and his greed and seeking power? The portrait of police corruption?
6.Anne, friendship with Billy, her work, attracted to him, the detection, going into the nightclub and the dancing? The dangers? Joey and his friendship, reaction against Billy, decision to help, the derring-do, the violence, being released from jail, his death?
7.Burch and Malvina, the plan, their marriage, the casino, the henchmen, their relationship? Malvina and the siege of the house? Burch's death? The portrait of the toughs?
8.A picture of the corrupt American city, violence, right and wrong?
