SLAMDANCE

US, 1987, 99 minutes, Colour.
Tom Hulce, Virginia Madsen, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Harry Dean Stanton.
Directed by Wayne Wang.

Slamdance is a late '80s film noir. It is reminiscent of some of the thrillers of the late '40s. It is also a picture of corruption in Los Angeles reminiscent of such movies as Chinatown.

The film was directed by Wayne Wang, director of such enjoyable Chinese- American movies as Chan is Missing, Dim Sum, Eat a Bowl of Tea.

The film has a strong cast of character actors and relies on Tom Hulce (Amadeus, Parenthood) as the central character. Everything is seen from his point of view.

There is a strong atmosphere of Los Angeles - a touch of the offbeat Los Angeles. Nevertheless, the film in its complexity is quite interesting, good characterisations, a satisfactory resolution.

1. The popularity of the film noir? The bleak outlook? The throwback to the '40s? Police work, detection and corruption? Los Angeles?

2. The Los Angeles setting: the world of Charlie Drood, the police world, the world of ordinary people, of affluent society? The style of the film, editing and pace, flashbacks? Musical score and songs?

3. The title, for a thriller?

4. Drood and his perspective, work as a cartoonist, his phone, tired? His relationship with Helen and his daughter, their separation? Visit to the nursery, the joke with the teeth? His relationship with his landlady, her deafness, taking his letters, the postal conspiracy? His later attacking her on the bed, trying to get the photos? The attack on him in his apartment, searching of his apartment? In the car, thrown onto the road? His friendship with Jim, going to the parties, the memory of the parties, the dancing, the drinking? The effect of the attack, going to the police, the comedy in the station with the handcuffs? Meeting Smiley, the discussions, under suspicion for murder?

5. His memories, the relationship with Yolanda, meeting her, love, the affair, painting her? The pain of her death? The photos in the mail? The attack by Buddy and the burning of the photos? His suspicions, painting the scene? Reliance on Helen, going to her house, her putting him off, the revelation that Jim was there? His ringing the agency, the girl coming as secretary, sex, her murder?

6. Drood's nightmare, on the run? Going to the police and seeing Smiley with Gilbert? Suspicious of police? His researching the newspapers? The attack on his landlady? Getting the names, changing his appearance, deceiving Jim?

7. The Hollywood lookout, finding the fountain, the party, gatecrashing, meeting Bobby Nye? Her recognising him, the explanations of the murder? Buddy taking him to the Hollywood sign, his confession, the threat, killing himself? In touch with Helen? Going to the hotel, Smiley arriving, Gilbert arriving, the confrontation, the death of Smiley, the struggle and Gilbert dead? The realisation of Jim the betrayer?

8. His decision to be dead, his funeral, his becoming the chauffeur? Helen and his daughter at the funeral, in the car? Their future?

9. Helen, her work, her trying to cope with the marriage break-up, relationship with Jim? Helping him, telling the police? His love for his daughter? Jim and his style, the nightclub, in Helen's house? The parties? Using Helen?

10. Bobby Nye, her place in society, the party, the social success, affluent people, politicians? Corruption, the photo of sex perversions? The lesbian relationship with Nancy? Her orders and murder? Hold over the police?

11. The police, investigations, corruption? Gilbert and Buddy? Smiley and his trying to investigate truthfully?

12. Buddy, violence, the attack on Drood? Working for Bobby Nye? Yolanda being nice to him? The accidental death? His confession and killing himself?

13. The landlady, the eccentric characterisation, loneliness, taking the post?

14. The bleak aspects of the film? Civic corruption? Manipulation, violence? Relationships? Nightmare?