BLUE ICE
US, 1992, 96 minutes, Colour.
Michael Caine, Bob Hoskins, Sean Young, Ian Bannen.
Directed by Russell Mulcahy.
Blue Ice is a '90s spy thriller produced by Home Box Office for theatrical release around the world. It was directed by Russell Mulcahy, director of Razorback as well as American films like the first two Highlander features, The Shadow and many music videos. Mulcahy often has quite a flashy style, visually, but here he is much more conventional except in a hallucination sequence with Michael Caine.
Michael Caine is the star and co-produced the film. It is a reprisal of his earlier spy roles - what those spies were like when they eventually retired. He is a former spy who owns a jazz nightclub and acts and literally bumps into Sean Young and becomes involved in a murder mystery. Sean Young is the glamorous wife of the American ambassador. Included in the cast are Bob Hoskins and Ian Holm as the villain.
The London locations are very well used and give the film a sense of authenticity. The plot seems to be farfetched - although, as with movies about former KGB spies trying to find work in the '90s, the film focuses on former spies, their resentment at being sacked and their moving into criminal activities. In this case it is the importing and exporting of illegal weaponry.
The film is conventional although it moves along at a good pace - perhaps signalling its outcomes fairly early. The characters are based on characters from leading action novelist Ted Allbeury.
1.Interesting and entertaining spy story and murder mystery? The perennial popularity of this kind of film?
2.The authentic London settings? Harry's club? The port of London? Homes, restaurants? The scenic material giving authenticity? The musical score - especially the jazz background and the performances in Harry's club?
3.The initial explanation of the title, Harry speaking to the old lady at the funeral? The blue ice falling suddenly from the sky and being destructive? Harry describing Stacey as blue ice?
4.The portrait of Harry? His background of an efficient spy? Recruited and trained by Sir Hector? Friendship with Garcia? The betrayal and his violence and his being fired? His jazz restaurant and his enjoyment of jazz? Keeping order in the restaurant? His early comments about people, especially the man being buried at the initial funeral? Bumping into Stacey? The clash, the pursuit, her talking him out of his attack, going to his restaurant? Going to the opera with her? Returning home, cooking the meal and his philosophy of cooking, their affair? The bond between them? His going to the embassy and meeting her husband, the shock at her being married? Her asking the favour? His going to see Osgood and giving him the bribe? The stakeout, following Kyle, the murderers, Osgood's death, Kyle's death? His being arrested, brutally interrogated? Stacey getting him out of jail? The encounter with Sir Hector at the airport? The growing mystery? Stacey and the information, his going to Sir Hector and giving him the information? His endangering himself and Stacey? His going to Garcia, getting the information from him, setting him inquiring - and his death? His being picked up in the club, his being interrogated by the drugs, his hallucinations - and seeing many facets of himself in his dreams? Going to the port, his evading detection, on the vehicle, the confrontation with Sir Hector, the shootout, Stacey as hostage? The resolution? His toasting farewell to Stacey? An interlude in his retirement? Michael Caine and his ability to depict this kind of ex-spy, wisdom, world-weariness, romantic?
5.Stacey and the phone call to Kyle, getting the information, the crash? Using her charms with Harry, the bar, the opera, going home with him, the seduction? Her relationship with her husband? The elderly man, her love and gratitude for him? The sex with Harry? Asking him the favour? Audience suspicions on her? Her later giving the information, her not being the femme fatale? Her being used as a hostage, shooting Sir Hector? Her decision to go back to America - and her husband being investigated? Standing by him? The American ambassador, his age, love for his wife, doing favours for people? Under investigation for bank deals?
6.Garcia and the staging of the training for security? The ex-spy, friendship with Harry, his wanting to help, his murder?
7.Sir Hector, his being sacked, his welcoming visitors at the airport? His going into deals, making money? His murder of his henchman on the bridge? The confrontation with Harry, the shootout? The spy who turned?
8.Kyle, his relationship with Stacey, phoning through the information? In hiding, his death? His investigations?
9.The emissary from Sir Hector, his jazz collection, talking enigmatically to Harry in the club, driving him to the home, the torture and interrogation? Harry interrogating him and destroying his records? His going to Sir Hector and being killed?
10.Osgood, the contact with Harry, discussing the inquiry, the money, the stakeout - and his murder? The police and their interrogation and resentment towards Harry, especially with Osgood's death?
11.Moral issues - the '90s, arms dealing, turned spies, the breaking of codes of ethics? Double-dealing? Harry emerging as a romantic hero of the past with a sense of honour?
