CLINTON AND NADINE (BLOOD MONEY)

US, 1988, 95 minutes, Colour.
Andy Garcia, Ellen Barkin, Morgan Freeman.
Directed by Jerry Schatzberg.

Clinton and Nadine (Blood Money) is quite an effective thriller, a telemovie made by Home Box Office. Andy Garcia (Untouchables, Stand and Deliver) has an Al Pacino-like presence as the smuggler who gets involved in Contra arms deals and big money in Florida. Ellen Barkin is effective as the call-girl. Morgan Freeman, who worked so effectively with director Jerry Schatzberg in Street Smart, is the leader of a cartel in Miami involved in supplying arms to the Contras.

While the ingredients are those of smugglers and call-girls and local American crime, the Costa Rican locations and the themes of the support for the Contras spreads the issues to American foreign policy in the '80s. The film is presented with verve and pace. Director Jerry Schatzberg has made a wide range of films including Panic in Needle Park, Puzzle of a Downfall Child, Street Smart.

1.Effective thriller? Americana? Central America and US foreign policy, the Contras and arms deals?

2.The locations and authenticity: Mexico, the US, Florida, Costa Rica? The atmosphere of Central America?

3.The US, foreign policy, the trials of the late `80s, deals with the Contras? The alternate title, Blood Money?

4.The portrait and character of Clinton: in Mexico, his smuggling the birds, smooth talk at the border, his friend and his decision to retire, taking the dog and the guns? The dream of Atlantic City? Going to see his brother, seeing him tortured and shot? Going to the police? Listening to the tape? Tracking down Nadine and finding out about her relationship? The drive to Miami? Listening to the tape, the names? Going to Pratt? The set-up with meeting the general? The room raid at the motel, the death of the manager, Clinton and his car chase? The relationship with Nadine, getting her the piano? Tracking down Rojas? Going to Costa Rica, confronting Pratt and the general? Wounding the henchman? Being put in the prison? His ingenuity with electrocuting the guard, blasting the gate? The escape with Nadine, the swim, taking the car, through the jungle, his friend and the flight back to Miami? Separation from Nadine, getting the tape, confronting the criminals? Trussing them up? Deciding not to kill them and leave them to the law? Reunited with Nadine?

5.Nadine, the call-girl, her relationship with Bobby? The birth of Henry? Encountering Clinton, listening to the tape? Being careful? The truth? James and the set-up in the penthouse? The gift of the piano? Love for Clinton and desperate need for him? The news about Costa Rica, going? Seeing Clinton, handcuffed, killing James? The escape, sharing the adventures? At the bus terminal? The piano, going with Clinton?
6.Pratt, his smooth talk, the lawyer, the deals? Contra deals and money? The general and his serving in two wars? Right-wing patriotism? James and the call-girls, the parties? Going to Costa Rica, the deals and the set-ups? The tapes, the investigations, the callous murders? Imprisoning Clinton? The return to Miami, his catching them, trussing them up - offers of bribes, his leaving them to the police?

7.James and the vice ring? The girls?

8.Rojas, being in prison, contact with Clinton, giving him the leads?

10.Popular ingredients for action adventure? The world of crime? The international overtones?