DETOUR
US, 1999, 95 minutes, Colour.
Jeff Fahey, James Russo, Michael Madsen, Gary Busey, Tim Thomerson, Evan Rachel Wood.
Directed by Joey Travolta.
Detour is a straight-to-video thriller, a crime caper that goes wrong, a semi-innocent hero who goes back to his roots and tries to start again but is haunted by the ghosts of the past. Jeff Fahey has performed in numerous films like this. James Russo has been a villain in films like this. Ironically, Michael Madsen is something of a good guy as is Tim Thomerson. However, Gary Busey is the brains behind the things going wrong with the robbery. The film was directed by John Travolta's brother Joey, director of a number of small-budget films and television shows.
1. The popularity of this kind of thriller? Conventional characters and situations? Sharply produced?
2. The title, the focus on Danny, his participation in the robbery, his getting caught up in the trouble, his return home?
3. The initial robbery, in the dark, Ziggy and his leading the group, Mo and his phone call to Grasso? The robbery itself, the young man on guard, the group coming, the shoot-out? The escape? The rendezvous? The dividing up of the money? Each going their own way?
4. Grasso, his henchmen, his brother and looking after him, his being taken hostage? The confrontation with Ziggy and memories of the past? His wanting vengeance? The information given by Mo?
5. Mo, his double-dealing, his girlfriend, the lies, the giving of information, the necklace and her giving him away, their deaths?
6. Grasso, his henchmen, criminal background, wanting the money back, the brooch, getting information, sending his brother, his brother being blown up after killing the informant? Going to the town, the shoot-out? Ziggy blowing himself and Grasso up in the car?
7. Danny, his character, easy money, return home, his mother's death? His having left his girlfriend behind, her marrying Burl? Back home, making acquaintances, Mel and his offer of money for the farm, Ziggy and co arriving, believing that he was not guilty, helping with the farm work? His looking after the little girl? The possibility of a new start? The clashes with Burl, Burl's apology? Ziggy and his planning another robbery during the parade, Danny and his not wanting to be involved? The shoot-out, his saving the little girl, Burl letting him go, the girl from the diner going with him?
8. Ziggy, the clash with Grasso, his gang, their brutality in shootings, discovering Mo and his betrayal, going to the town, helping with the farm, the shoot-out and deaths?
9. Burl, the clash in the family with Danny, his stepfather, his mother, the will, his looking after the girl, discovering it was his daughter? His former girlfriend, her marrying Burl? Burl and his drunken mouthing off, his apology, his help in the shoot-out, his letting Danny go?
10. The criminal world, violence, money, shootings? The hurt to innocent bystanders?
