THE COLD LIGHT OF DAY

US, 2012, minutes, Colour.
Henry Cavill, Sigourney Weaver, Bruce Willis, Caroline Goodall, Roschdy Zem, Rafi Gavron.
Directed by

A thriller which did not please public or critics. However, it has strong credentials with its cast. It is a star vehicle for Henry Cavill before his becoming Superman Man of Steel. Sigourney Weaver is the villain. While Bruce Willis has some star billing, he appears in the first thirty minutes and then is killed. Caroline Goodall appears as his wife, Rafi Gavron as his son.
The setting is Spain, and the film takes advantage of the coast, water, the drive to Madrid, the city of Madrid and its landmarks.
The film also has an espionage background, Willis and Weaver as CIA agents, a mysterious briefcase, betrayal, shootings and pursuits. However, the film requires Henry Cavill to spend a day and a half, at least, running through the streets of Madrid, being pursued by the police, by the CIA, by mysterious group who have abducted his family… and all this without benefit of food or toilet breaks!
While the film might not stand up to rigorous analysis, it has a certain pace which should keep action fans interested.
1. An action thriller? International espionage? US, Spain, Israel?
2. The film not successful on release, critics and public? Justified or not?
3. The title, the opening day, the dark night, the rest of the film over 24 hours in the cold light of day?
4. Strong cast, playing type and against type?
5. The Spanish settings, the coast and the water, the road to Madrid, Madrid itself and the variety of scenes, tourist venues, the American embassy, the streets, markets, more sinister venues? The musical score?
6. The introduction to the film through Will? His flight, his business, the phone calls, the news of his bankruptcy? The effect on him? His holiday with his family? His father meeting him, the initial tensions? Their lack of communication? The boat, his mother, the welcome, his brother and the brother’s girlfriend? The beginnings of the holiday?
7. On the sea, those enjoying it, Will and his discussions with Josh about their family? The jokes at Will’s expense? His ignoring the steering wheel, the danger, his father’s reaction? The injury to the girlfriend? His father throwing the mobile phone into the sea? Will swimming ashore?
8. His return, the boat destroyed? The family absent? His bewilderment? His father finding him, explaining his job, Will and his reaction? Phoning Jean, the meeting with her?
9. Jean, her job, her background, the arguments with Matt, the issue of the briefcase? Matt disagreeing with Jean? His being shot? Will and his reaction, trying to escape?
10. The long night, the pursuits and the chases, Will using his wits, further encounters with Jean, in the car, her driver, his escape? The police and his having a gun, the death of the policeman, his being wanted for murder? Going to the embassy, the official unable to give him any help, avoiding the issues? The interview with Jean? Threats, his family?
11. His continued escapes, the mobile phone, ringing Diego, Lucia and the information, going to the apartment, the men with guns? The elaborate escape over the roof?
12. Lucia, her uncle, her going to the club, getting help, the guns? The revelation about Matt, his two families? The shock for Will?
13. The abductors of his family, their taking him, torture, questions, seeing his family momentarily? The deal?
14. Traveling with Lucia, sending her back to the club? The confrontation with Jean and her driver? His sinister behaviour, the shots, Lucia fixing the bullet wound at the club?
15. Jean, the traitor, the revelation of the truth about his father, the briefcase, the Israelis? Shootouts, car chases, crashes, Jean and her being shot after taunting Will? The abductors and the execution of Jean?
16. The freeing of the family, the reconciliation?
17. The credibility of the plot, the behaviour, far-fetched or not?