PLAYING GOD

US, 1997, 90 minutes, Colour.
David Duchovny, Timothy Hutton, Angelina Jolie, Peter Stormare.
Directed by Andy Wilson.

Playing God was one of the attempts that David Duchovny made in the '90s to break through from television, The X- Files, into the movies. Other films included Kalifornia and, of course, the screen version of The X- Files itself. He also appeared as a romantic lead in Return to Me. Here he plays a disbarred doctor, being disbarred because of the long hours that he had to work and the drugs that he took to keep him going. He lost a patient on the operating table. He goes to his supplier one night at a bar and through a momentary piece of heroism, saves the life of a gangster who was shot. The boss, played with a touch of oily relish by Timothy Hutton, takes him on, both patronising him and using him. Angelina Jolie portrays his girlfriend.

The screenplay has a voice-over by Duchovny, who talks about providence, coincidence, synchronicity and the consequences of good and bad actions. As a doctor, he was expected to play God. He reflects on the overall plans that God has for human beings.

The film is a mixture of strong moments with some rather flat interludes. It is an interesting though slight time-passer.

1. The title, its reference to Eugene, to Raymond, to God and Providence and consequences of actions in one's life? The emphasis on playing?

2. The American cities, hospitals, hotels, apartments? The seedier underside of the city, the clubs, violence, gangsters, drugs?

3. The credibility of the plot? The focus on Eugene, his past, entanglement with the gangsters, the Russians and the Chinese getting in on American goods after the collapse of Communism? The personal crisis, action, the police?

4. Eugene's voice-over, his character, personality, experiences? The flashbacks to the operation, his tiredness, the drugs, the death of the patient, his being disbarred? His comments on his actions, on characters, on the consequences of his action?

5. Eugene and the drugs, going to the dealer, the club? The shooting at the bar? His decision to act, to help the man, help him live? Raymond sending his henchmen, his going to Raymond, flattered, puzzled? The friendship with Raymond? The attraction to Claire - but her resistance to him while praising his work, not trusting him? The further operations, the conditions? The madman and the dead man? The danger to his life? The Russians? The police and the set-up, wearing the wire? His being attacked by Raymond's thugs? Trying to silence him? Claire and her pretence, her saving him in the car? Their being together? Raymond arranging his assassination? Surviving, going to the hotel, the final confrontation? The consequences of his good action, the bad, the good - and the possibility of a life?

6. Raymond, the city thug, his henchmen, his empire, stolen goods, trying to smuggle goods into Russia and China? The clash with the Russians? The shooting of Vlad, the operation to keep him alive, then killing him after the information was received? Sending assassins after Eugene? The ambiguity of his actions, relationship with Claire, sense of betrayal? Offering to wear a tape for the FBI, double-crossing, shooting the Chinese? The final confrontation, the gun on the bridge, his being run over, Eugene willing to help him - to recover and go to jail?

7. Claire, the relationship with Raymond, acknowledging Eugene's work, not trusting him? Eventually attracted to him, the shootout with the Russians, his saving her, her saving him in the car? Being taken back by Raymond, his control over her, going to the Chinese? The shootout and her escape?

8. The Russians, Vlad and his dealings, Dmitri, the double-cross and the taking of the goods from Raymond, his shooting Vlad, Eugene keeping him alive till he got the information, Raymond killing him? The transition to the Chinese?

9. The police and the investigations, coming to Eugene, wanting him to wear a wire? His opportunity to redeem himself?

10. A popular entertainment about crime in the cities, relationships, violence, the '90s and the focus on new areas for smuggling and deals, especially the communist countries? The role of the police?