BORDERLINE
US, 1980, 95 minutes, Colour.
Charles Bronson, Bruno Kirby, Bert Remsen, Michael Lerner, Ed Harris, Kenneth Mc Millan, Wilford Brimley.
Directed by Jerrold Freedman.
Borderline is a latter-day Charles Bronson vehicle. After emerging in the '60s as a tough, even though ageing, hero, Bronson made his name in many action films of the '70s. By 1980, his popularity had diminished, he had grown older. However, he still continued to make feature films with some popularity, especially on television... This is one of those films.
The plot focuses on the problems of the American-Mexican? border, with so many of the Mexicans finding ways to come across. The film shows American corruption and money-laundering, exploiting the plight of the Mexicans. The film resembles the Jack Nicholson-Valerie? Perrine vehicle, The Border, directed by Tony Richardson. A much more realistic picture of migrants was given in Gregory Nava's El Norte (1984).
1. An interesting and enjoyable action film? The social background of illegal migrants into the United States? The film's observation on social problems?
2. Location photography, San Diego, Tijuana, the difficulties of the border? The pacing for the action sequences? The stunt work?
3. The title and its focus on the border and the difficulties? The film offering maps, statistics? The final comments on the lenient sentences given to Lydell and Richards? The highlighting of the problem? the action-packed, outside the law, solutions?
4. Charles Bronson as hero? Jeb Maynard as a border patrol officer, his work with Jimmy Fante; the explanation about the illegal immigrants? The encounters with Hotchkiss? The killing of Scooter Jackson? the shooting of the witness, Benito? Maynard and his detection, the address from Benito's pocket, the boot print? The FBI investigation, drug-running? Maynard and Fante and their continued work, the boot print, guides? Discussions with Lydell and Richards? Maynard seeking out Benito's mother, her work as a domestic, the retracing of the journey from Mexico? The attack? Arturo, Maynard demanding evidence from him? The Richards farm, the background of Lydell, the confrontation with Hotchkiss? The gunfight? Solution?
5. The film offering background of police - television series style? Jimmy Fante and his background from New York, his work in California, detective work, the boot prints, the tomatoes, the farms, his discovering the Richards farm?
6. The portrait of the businessmen involved in illegal migration: Henry Lydell and his affluence, life-style, ruthlessness? Richards and his supervision? Hotchkiss and his ruthlessness in killing, suave manner, final confrontation? A gallery of television-style villains?
7. The portrait of the Mexicans and their plight, the poverty in Mexico, the route from, Tijuana to San Diego? The difficulties, the violence? The manipulation by American businessmen? The Mexican guides? The ruthless American guides?
8. The film as a tribute to the police, highlighting the dangers, deaths? An attempt at exposing the work of American businessmen?
9. The effect of this kind of film - routinely made and therefore with limited circulation? The film, being taken as merely a routine Charles Bronson adventure?
