THE PACKAGE
US, 1989, 108 minutes, Colour.
Gene Hackman, Joanna Cassidy, Tommy Lee Jones, John Heard, Dennis Franz, Pam Grier.
Directed by Andrew Davis.
The Package is an entertaining conspiracy thriller directed by Andrew Davis (Chuck Norris in Code of Silence, Above the Law). It opens with East German settings and then moves to Washington and Chicago.
Tommy Lee Jones worked with Andrew Davis in Under Siege and won his Oscar with him in The Fugitive.
Gene Hackman is very good in this type of role, the professional soldier who is alert to the conspiracy and tries to stop it with the help of his ex-wife (Joanna Cassidy) and an ex-Vietnam buddy, now Chicago detective (Dennis Franz). Tommy Lee Jones is the assassin and John Heard the chief plotting general.
The film here has an atmosphere of realism with glasnost, the signing of nuclear treaties, look-alikes for Mikhail Gorbachev and George Bush.
While there may be flaws in the plot and lack of realism, while it is on the screen it is quite exciting.
1.Interesting and entertaining conspiracy film? Glasnost and the cold war? Nuclear issues?
2.East German settings, Chicago and Washington? The cities as part of the plot? Authentic? The cities and their styles? Musical score?
3.The plot and its structure: the characters introduced, the emergence of the plan? The audience keeping pace? The build-up to the assassination? The thwarting of the assassination?
4.The 1980s and American- Soviet relationships? Politics, accords, the military, nuclear war? Deterrents? Military loyalties and plots? Secret Service? The plausibility of such a plot?
5.East Germany: the American- Soviet meeting, Gallagher and the security guards, the couple trespassing, the threat to the general and his reluctance, the killing of him? The Americans rescuing the killers? Going into East Germany, the taking of Hinkel and bringing him before Whitacre? Setting the tone for the plot?
6.Gallagher and his work, Gene Hackman and his style? Relationship with his men, job and efficiency? The ambush in the park, the death? Whitacre and his rebuke? His taking Hinkel, the trouble with the MPs? On the plane, interest in Hinkel? Washington, the phone call, the bashing in the toilet, the disappearance of Hinkel?
7.Gallagher going to see his ex-wife, the brittle relationship, friendliness? Interaction between the two? Her help? Inquiries, the documents? Ruth and her help - and her murder? Going to see Hinkel's wife, the different identity? Her being killed? Gallagher under arrest for the killings?
8.The killer, his getting away, dressed as a clergyman, going to his apartment, photographs, his assistants, his attitude to Whitacre? The preparation for the assassination? The explanation of his background in Vietnam, the Middle East, etcetera?
9.Hinkel and the Nazi group, their office, meetings, bigotry, the leaflets, the protest march? The group setting up Hinkel in the real estate office, having him killed as the fall guy?
10.Gallagher's escape, going to Chicago with Eileen? Hinkel's mother and tracking him down, the neo-Nazi meeting? Milan and his debt, helping in the investigation, getting information? Hinkel's arrest at the protest? His disappearance? The setting up of Milan and Gallagher, the shoot-out in the cafe?
11.Gallagher and the killer, tied up, the possibility of his being burnt, attacking the guard, his escape, the drive through the city, getting Milan, breaking into the office, Eileen running to warn the Secret Service? The assistant shot by Milan? Finding Hinkel? Gallagher and his running to the spot, killing the assassin at the last moment? The confrontation with Whitacre?
12.Eileen, her role in the army, her help and contacts, relationship with Gallagher? Going with him to Chicago, tracking down people, going home, getting the children out of the home? Running to the Secret Service?
13.Milan, buddies in Vietnam, his family? Investigations, the set-up and his being shot, in the finale?
14.Secret Service, security regulations, ceremonials? Photo opportunities? Possibilities for assassination?
15.The conspirators: the American generals and their wanting nuclear power, Whitacre's views, their ruthlessness, murders? The Soviet betrayal of Gorbachev? The end and the two generals in the car and their being shot by their own agent? Gallagher testifying to the tribunal?
16.The overall effect of the drama? Excitement? Themes of world peace?
