THE HARD TRUTH
US, 1994, 95 minutes, Colour.
Eric Roberts, Michael Rooker, Lisette Anthony.
Directed by Kristine Peterson.
The Hard Truth is a B budget film noir of the '90s. It has the tough cop who was rejected by the authorities, caught up in schemes by a femme fatale and employing an arrogant criminal. There is also the background of corruption and extortion and deals in a big city, council decisions about building projects. It is also a robbery thriller.
These three elements combine with an above average cast, Michael Rooker as the disillusioned policeman, Eric Roberts as the arrogant scientist, Lisette Anthony as the seemingly sweet secretary.
1. Entertaining B budget melodrama? City corruption, police investigations, heist drama? A romantic triangle? The combination of all three elements?
2. The city locations, the shootout at the station, the chases? The interiors with the offices, the council, the scientific establishments? Musical score?
3. The corruption theme: Hamilton Nicholls and his running of the council, being paid off by criminal interests, quashing extortion charges? Collecting money? His relationship with Lisa? His pressurising his council? The irony of his being robbed after his decision? His presuming that he had been double crossed?
4. The police background of the city: Jonah Mantz and his skills, the siege at the railway station, the massacre, his chasing the criminal, killing him? Denounced by his superiors? The interrogation? His disillusionment? Motivation for joining with Lisa? The background of the precinct and the other members of the staff?
5. The robbery: Mantz relying on his contacts with former criminals, the connection with Chandler Etheridge, trailing him, visiting him, blackmailing him? The agreement to plan the robbery? The photos of the safe? Mantz's mixed motivation with vengeance and love for Lisa?
6. Etheridge and his air of superiority, criminal contacts, his personal cover? The approaches to Lisa with the gun? The clashes with Mantz? His going to the bar, being exposed and chased, rescued by Mantz?
7. The actual robbery, the timing? The getting of the numbers of the safe? Success? Mantz and his being wounded but going with Etheridge? The dividing of the money? Lisa's phone call, her plans? Assuming that Etheridge had killed Mantz? Mantz following her and overhearing? Her shooting Etheridge? The irony of the criminal bodyguards and the past membership of the police, friendship with Mantz, owing him and shooting Lisa dead?
8. Pot boiling, hardboiled detective and crime material?
