PASSENGER 57
US, 1992, 87 minutes, Colour.
Wesley Snipes, Bruce Payne, Alex Dachter, Tom Sizemore, Elizabeth Hurley, Bruce Greenwood.
Directed by Kevin Hooks.
Passenger 57 is a brief, action-packed thriller on board the jumbo jet. It is in the vein of the Die Hard series, the individual who is able to confront the criminals and save people.
Wesley Snipes was in his heyday at this time, appearing in many action films. He is matched by Bruce Payne as an insane villain, with a cohort of associates including, of all people, Elizabeth Hurley posing as a flight attendant. Tom Sizemore and Bruce Greenwood appear as executives of the aviation company.
Bruce Payne is a ruthless terrorist, arrested, organising his escape as he was escorted by FBI agents on a flight. In the meantime, Wesley Snipes is John Cutter, a security expert, grieving over the death of his wife in a hold-up in a store. He coaches crews in security methods and finds himself on a plane to take up an official job with the aviation company. He handles the situation on the plane but also, on landing, he is out of the plane and coordinates activity for the final confrontation.
The film was well paced, even though it is just another of the airline terrorism dramas.
1. An exciting air adventure? Hijacking planes? Security officers? Pilots and attendants? Handling the situation? The activity of the terrorists? On the plane, on the ground? All in a brief running time?
2. Wesley Snipes as action hero, screen persona, strong character, the touch of vulnerability with the death of his wife, his anger at himself, his friends persuading him to take the job, on the flight, rising to the occasion, heroics?
3. John Cutter and his situation, the training situation being filmed, the reaction of the attendant? Sly, the discussions about his taking up the job, his meeting with the CEO? Agreeing to take the job? To fly to Los Angeles? The discussions with Sly?
4. The introduction to Rane, the plastic surgery, killing the surgeon, escape from the hospital, the chase, his violence, ruthlessness? The arrest? The interrogation? His arrogance? The background of his family, his father, madness? His lawyer, his attacking him and making him say that he was not insane? In the cell? The sudden transfer to Los Angeles, being put on the plane, the FBI agents, not notifying the aviation company?
5. On the plane, Cutter and the edge, his apology to Marti, her putting him with the talkative passenger? his going to the toilet? In the toilet when the hijack began? Rane in the plane, sardonic remarks, playing games with a little boy and shooting, his co-passenger? The attendance, Marti and her poise, chatting with Sabrina, English, the first flight? The plane taking off as normal?
6. The hijacking, the violence, Rane shooting the passenger, his associates? Sabrina and her relationship with him? With the gun? Cutter and his shrewdness, the phone call to Sly, the company on alert? The CEO and his reaction? Silence if it was a failure? Press release if Cutter succeeded?
7. Cutter and Marti going below, the encounter with Vincent, his attack? Cutter and his idea of jettisoning the fuel? Rane and his shooting the pilot, the plane coming down, the landing? Cutter and his getting off the plane? His going to the police, not being believed, arrested?
8. The deals, half the passengers leaving, Rane and his associates going to the fair, pursued by Cutter? The chase, the hijacker and his climbing the tower, falling? Rane and his being taken?
9. Rane, his plans, arrogance, the deal for him to be back on the plane, the flight taking off? Vincent and his becoming a sniper? Cutter coordinating, the shooting of the agents? The local sheriff and giving Cutter his wife’s gun, driving him, Cutter getting on the wheels and back into the plane?
10. The confrontation with Sabrina, with Foget, the fight with Rane? Marti participating? The door opening, Rane falling to his death?
11. The FBI, the police, the agents, the head being wounded? The sheriff and his joke about the gun? Sly and the CEO happy? Cutter going off with Marti?
