FLED

US, 1996, 98 minutes, Colour.
Laurence Fishburne, Stephen Baldwin, Will Patton, Robert John Bourke, Robert Hooks, David Dukes, Salma Hayek.
Directed by Kevin Hooks.

Anyone who knows their movies will immediately think of Sidney Poitier and Tony Curtis in The Defiant Ones as they watch this updated actioner of two escapees from a chain gang. (And one of the characters keeps referring to movies in case audiences didn't notice.) The setting is Atlanta, the stars are Laurence Fishburne and Stephen Baldwin. While there are holes in the plot, the action and pace are what matters. For one who has seen a lot of similar movies, I still did not anticipate the twist in the middle of the film! It's all about Mafia, DAs and Governors, computer hacking and larceny, typical enough of this kind of testosterone action.

1. The throwback to The Defiant Ones and the black and white convicts chained together? The escape, their relationship, their different perspectives, their different missions? Combining for an entertaining action film?

2. The Georgia settings, Atlanta, the atmosphere of the south, the open roads, the countryside, the city? Atlanta and the public buildings, the strip joints etc? The musical score and the wide range of songs?

3. The title, the indication of the escape, the pursuit?

4. The focus on Piper and Dodge, their working in the countryside, the escape, the search? Gibson and his being in charge, the orders that there be no information given to the media? Piper and Dodge, the ways that they were able to get to Atlanta, the hijacking of the car, Cora and her reaction? Her concern, her getting the chisel, the breaking of the chains?

5. The background on each of the convicts: Dodge, his being a computer hacker, the stealing of the money, the business corporation and its criminal background? His promise to give some of the money to Piper? Piper letting him go to get the money? The harmonica - black(?)? Dodge, his girlfriend, her being a lap dancer, his wanting to make contact with his partner, Puppy? In the room together, the hit man, his connections with the Mafia, the Cuban connection, Mantajano? The irony that Dodge and Puppy had secret information about Mantajano, the information on a disk which was hidden?

6. Mantajano, his sending a hit man, the information on the disk, the incriminating evidence? The killing of Cindy? Dodge and his being taken, tortured for information?

7. Piper, the information that he was formerly a policeman? His decision to return the disk, to get his prison sentence rescinded? The irony that he had the bugging device in the harmonica, following Dodge, being able to rescue him?

8. The hit man ambushing again, his killing Puppy, the attack on Dodge and Piper, their escape? The information of where the disk was hidden? The sports stadium? The agreement to hand over the information to the officer, Schiller (but Schiller being one of Mantajano's associates)?

9. The further attack by the hit man? Gibson and his background, his puzzlement, his understanding what had gone on, rescuing Dodge and Piper?

10. The motorbike race, the disk, giving it to the State Attorney, the shoot-out, the cable car, Schiller and the fight?

11. Piper getting his job back, Dodge and his sentence being rescinded? Their future?

12. The film and its focus on action, chases and fights? Its focus on character, Piper and his being quiet, a strong presence? The fighting each other, badmouthing each other, the bonding with the chains? Baldwin and his attitude towards his skills as a computer hacker, self-confident? The interaction between the two and finally helping each other and giving each other a new future?