FIREPOWER

UK, 1979, 99 minutes, Colour.
James Coburn, Sophia Loren, O.J. Simpson, Eli Wallach, Victor Mature, Anthony Franciosa, Vincent Gardenia.
Directed by Michael Winner.

Firepower, it is said, is film-making by computer. The situation is familiar from television series. The characters are stereotypes. Their motivation seems to change inexplicably as the film goes along. James Coburn is even given a twin brother at two points for seeming furthering of the plot. Sophia Loren's behaviour seems quite inexplicable. The film has the atmosphere of international terrorism, nods in the direction of multinationals exploiting drugs. There is the U.S. Justice Department, the Mafia and private detectives and hit men. The locations are in the Caribbean and attractively photographed. Direction is by Michael Winner who made some telling British comedies and satires, moved to the United States with some hard-hitting violent films with Charles Bronson. The film is another of Lord Lew Grade's multi-starred poor entertainments.

1. The popularity of this kind of entertainment? International crime? The jet set, Caribbean glamour and wealth? Special effects and stunts? Romance? Betrayal?

2. The colour photography, the atmosphere of the United States and of the Caribbean? The islands, the sea? The conventional score? The special effects - explosions, helicopter chases etc.?

3. The conventions of the genre? The violent opening, the ambiguity of motivation, American Justice Department and investigation, contact with the Mafia, the hiring of the hit man? The complications of the hidden industrialist - analogies with Nazi criminals in South America? Romance, adventure, double cross? The build-up to the final confrontation? Did the film offer any more than the conventions?

4. How plausible was the plot? For adventure purposes? For the genre purposes? How credible the characters and their behaviour? Audiences accepting of the contrivance?

5. Jerry Fannon as hero - his Mafia background, his relationship with Sal Hyman, with the Justice Department? The irony of his having an unknown twin brother who could be drawn on for diversions? James Coburn's laconic style? The relationship with Adele? His being used by her? His getting Catlett to help him? The confrontation with Stegner's group? Especially with Leo Celhon? The believing that he had caught Dr. Stegner? Stegner's alleged death? His return to confront Dr. Felix? The pursuit and Adele's betrayal? His reaction to her finally changing sides again? Fannon achieving his mission?

6. Sophia Loren's glamour as Adele? The death of her husband? Relationship with Leo Celhon? Taking the documents to the Justice Department? How did this tie in with her later relationship with Celhon? With Fannon? Her declared love for Stegner? Her involvement in adventures on Antigua with Fannon? Relationship with Celhon? The final meeting with Stegner? Her taking sides? The irony of the ending in her attraction to Harold Everett, one of the world's richest men (a guest spot by Victor Mature!)?

7. The sketching of the minor characters: Celhon and his attraction towards Adele, his liaison with her, his work with Stegner? The final helicopter pursuit? The other members of Stegner's entourage - especially Halpin? The bodyguards in the Caribbean? Sal Hyman and his Mafia connections? Catlett and 0. J. Simpson's portrayal of the athletic thief - destined to die in the Caribbean?

8. Dr. Stegner and the explanations of his evil? His affluent life in the Caribbean? His entourage and bodyguards? The arrest of Dr. Stegner and his assassination in Miami? Dr. Felix being revealed as Stegner? His relationship with Adele? His death? A credible villain?

9. The picture of the police, the Justice Department investigations?

10. The expected mixture of glamour, adventure, romance? The value of this kind of film as entertainment? The influence of television series styles on cinema features of the late '70s?