RAINBOW DRIVE
US, 1990, 100 minutes, Colour.
Peter Weller, Sela Ward, David Caruso.
Directed by Bobby Roth.
Rainbow Drive is an entertaining police thriller with a Los Angeles setting. In the tradition of the film noir, it presents the city of Los Angeles, the police and the media as corrupt. The plot is complex, focusing on Peter Weller as an acting police chief, investigating a crime and finding himself thwarted. Sela Ward is a psychologist who is also an FBI agent. The film shows the work of the LA police, nightclubs designed for laundering money for corrupt wealthy press barons, international criminals, the world of drugs. The film is full of action but concentrates on the character of the central policeman, his relationship with his partners and with the psychologist. There is more depth than might be expected in this kind of drama.
1. The world of the police, Los Angeles, corruption? The traditions of the film noir? The '80s and '90s portraits of the big American cities and social corruption?
2. The Los Angeles settings, Hollywood, wealthy mansions, the drug world, clubs, the media, police precincts? The musical score? The range of songs performed at the club?
3. The title, the Los Angeles focus, the street and the neighbourhood?
4. Peter Weller's portrait of Mike Gallagher: type, his relationship with women, the affair with Christine? His ability with his work, deputy head? The finding of the dead bodies, the chase? Getting the information about the car? A man of professional integrity? His relationship with Dan, their discussions, investigation? With Marvin? The clashes with Hammond and his being banned from the murder site? The missing body? The press conference of Cutler and his relationship with the media owner? The campaign for mayor? The clashes with Hammond? His being warned? The club, Maxwell, Rory? Discussions with Ira at the morgue and the mystery about Val's body and its being moved? Dan and the flashback to the case concerning Val, the $25,000? The meeting with Laura, the discussions? The exchange of information? The impact of Dan's death, his grief, going to see Dan's wife? The funeral? His discussing with Laura and her allowing him to weep? The confrontations with Hammond and other authorities? His room being bugged? His getting help from Marvin, their discussions? His going to the club, getting the information about Maxwell, taking him to the shower and getting the information? The video and the truth? The confrontation with the paper owner? The chase, the shoot-outs, Hammond's death? The arrival of the FBI?
5. The murder mysteries, the deaths, the background of the drugs, Val's death? The cover-up, Hammond moving the body, in charge of the investigation? Cutler and his ambitions to be mayor? The money-laundering? The press owner and his arranging his own daughter's death?
6. Laura, personality, work? Giving of information? Support for Gallagher? The information about the FBI?
7. Dan, his background, his story, the money, his death? The grief of his wife? Marvin, his background, his electronic skills? Saving Gallagher?
8. The club, the clientele? Rory, the laundering of the money, the murders and the violence, the confrontation - and the photo of the dead Christine?
9. The police, Hammond, Cutler, corruption and honesty? The influence of the media baron? His explanation of money turnover? His comments about his daughter - as a drug addict and his abandoning her?
10. The themes of the American cities, police, crime, drugs, power? A portrait of an American city in the '90s?
