MIKE'S MURDER
US, 1984, 109 minutes, Colour.
Debra Winger, Mark Keyloun, Darrell Larson, Paul Winfield.
Directed by James Bridges.
Mike's Murder is a story of '80s Los Angeles - the world of drugs, crime. The focus is on a young man caught up in this world, trying to be bigger than he actually was and falling victim to the organised drug syndicates. The events are seen through the eyes of a Young woman who works in the bank, played by Deborah Winger.
The film was written and directed by James Bridges who made such interesting films as The Babymaker, Paper Chase, 30.9.55, Urban Cowboy, The China Syndrome. The film preceding Mike's Murder was Perfect - a blend of expose of health centres and pop journalism with John Travolta and Jamie Lee Curtis. It was a rather sensationalised film. Mike's murder is the opposite in style - very slow moving, evenly paced, a focus on detail which seems uneventful but which permeates the audience consciousness. In this way it is very similar to European film-making.
The film was only a moderate success on release. However, it is interesting as an American attempt to make a Continental style thriller.
1. A Los Angeles story? Images of contemporary America?
2. The use of Los Angeles for locations, the atmosphere of the city: banks, apartments, tennis clubs? The world of affluence, drugs and vice? Police investigation? An ordinary story - the difference in film style?
3. The screenplay and its style: slow paced, tracking shots, close-ups, lingering on detail? Demands on audience patience and attention - yet the audience permeated with atmosphere and character? The parallels with European film-making? The challenge of the pace - especially with the portrayal of violence which is suggested rather than explicit?
4. The film's building up of Mike's character and personality: likable or not? Audience sympathy? His identity? Seeing him as tennis coach, relationship with Betty, sexual liaison? His disappearing? The drug dealing and the pursuit by the drug-dealers? His friends? Pete and company? Steve at the restaurant? His fear? The bond with Sam and his help? Philip and his friendship? His appearing and disappearing in Betty's life? Getting the lift with Betty, the car chase? The phone call to Betty and the sexual atmosphere? The passing of time, promises? The promise of a date, his being late? Going to the wealthy drug-dealers? The decision to steal the drugs? The chase? The violence of his (off-screen) death? Philip's story about Mike: the pick-up, homosexual companion, heterosexuality? The home video and his behaviour? Mike as a person, interest and sympathy, death? A typical victim of Los Angeles society?
5. The contrast with Betty and her focus? Deborah Winger and her personality and style? Work at the bank, promotion? Her parents and the phone calls, her father's lectures and caution? Her friendships? Going out, talking, meals? Alone? Her phone service and her answering style? Mike and the tennis coaching? Sexual relationship? The lift and the chase? Not seeing him for months? The phone call? Her being stood up? The puzzle? The news of his death and her grief? Her decision to follow up? The visit to Philip's home, his assistant, the behaviour on the video and her watching it? The reflection on her relationship with Mike? The introduction to the drug world? Pete and the phone call? Her going to the meal with her friend, her return to the house, Pete and the slow pursuit, the knife--terror, disappearance? The trauma of the events? The advice of her parents? Her coming back, resuming her life? Her assessment of her relationship with Mike?
6. Philip and his wealth, the manager of the rock group, the entrepreneur? His home, entourage, homosexuality? Relationship with Mike? Supporting him, money and debts? His identifying the body? The pathos of his telling the story to Betty, his love for mike?
7. His household? His assistant? Guests, sexuality, video, drugs?
8. Pete and Steve and friends? The drug deals, the contacts, small time, the stealing of the drugs, their fears, being chased? Pete and his being abandoned, his being stoned? Hiding, friends in pursuit, going to Betty, his madness?
9. A world in Los Angeles, the reality of the drug world and Consequences?
10. The emotional effect of the film? Audiences identifying with characters and issues? Sharing the situations? A challenge rather than an action and exploitive presentation of characters and issues?
