RICOCHET

US, 1991, 102 minutes, Colour.
Denzel Washington, John Lithgow, Ice T, Kevin Pollak, Lindsay Wagner.
Directed by Russell Mulcahy.

Ricochet is a tough police thriller with a genial hero, Denzel Washington, and an over the top villain, John Lithgow. The film highlights the black hero - it is in line with a number of films of 1991-92 which were designed for a black audience (Rage in Harlem, New Jack City, The Boys in the Hood). Ice T appears in the cast, as does John Amos. However, with Lindsay Wagner as the district attorney, the film aims for a wider thriller audience.

The film is full of action, shows Washington as a daring rookie policeman who confronts a psychopath. When the psychopath escapes from jail and fakes his own death, he goes after the rookie who has become a prominent policeman in the city. The struggle between the two, especially with dirty tricks and video manipulation by the villain, Washington's reputation is ruined. However, there is a final, almost literally over the top, finale on towers with the villain getting his comeuppance - or coming down. The film is directed by Australian Russell Mulcahy, director of video clips and the film Razorback as well as the two Highlander films.

1. For what audience was the film made? American audiences, overseas? For American black audiences, sympathetic to the hero and the situations?

2. The flashy style of the film? Action sequences, stunt work and effects? The American city, ordinary situations, violent situations in the streets? The finale?

3. The title, the indication of theme - Nick Styles and his gun? Earl Blake and his revenge? Firing and the danger of ricochet?

4. The focus on Nick Styles and Denzel Washington's screen presence? Rookie, working and the police, the basketball - and his friends with their drug-running connections? The confrontation with Earl Blake, calming him down, Blake taken hostage, Styles stripping and having the hidden gun? The video and the response of the district attorney? Her interview with him in the locker room? The decision by the authorities to use him for promotion? Advertising? His meeting with Alice, the marriage, the daughters? His budding career? His city rejuvenation work? His colleagues?

5. Blake, John Lithgow and his manic style? In prison, fellow prisoners, getting his collaborators? The neo-fascist Arian Brotherhood? His observation of Styles? His vengeance? The escape plan, the police finding the body, Blake believed to be dead? His hiding out and planning the revenge?

6. The telethon, the success of Styles? His father's presence? The phone call from Debbie, the babysitter upset? The arrival of the power man? Blake and his sinister presence, drugging the babysitter, making a video of himself with the axe and the sleeping girls?

7. Blake and his manipulation of Styles, the murder of Farris, hanging, in drag, suggestions of involvement in child pornography? The missing money? Styles under suspicion? The district attorney and the authorities questioning him? His being kidnapped, Blake injecting him with drugs, the incriminating video with the prostitute, the dubbed voices? His being dumped in the courthouse?

8. The reaction of the authorities, the district attorney and her scepticism? Styles trying to prove his innocence, the video with Blake wielding the axe being substituted by Styles with the prostitutes? His having contracted venereal disease, Alice and her reaction?

9. The role of the media, the commentaries, criticisms of Styles? The expose with the video?

10. Styles' final decision, the confrontation with Blake? Hiding his wife and children with Odessa - the crack dealer? His setting up the crack house roof? The suicide threat? On the media? Blake and his anger, mania? Climbing the tower? The confrontation between the two, the fight? The electrifying of the tower? Blake's death?

11. Styles and his rehabilitation, his reconciliation with his wife and children? His ruining the television reporting and getting his comeuppance on the treatment by the media? The flip ending?

12. Popular entertainment, urban violence, the role of the police, criminals, framing police and making them victims? Violent confrontations and solutions?