GET CARTER
US, 2000, 102 minutes, Colour.
Sylvester Stallone, Miranda Richardson, Rachel Leigh Cook, Michael Caine, Mickey Rourke, Rhona Mitra, Johnny Strong, John C. Mc Ginley.
Directed by Stephen Kay.
Get Carter is a remake of Mike Hodges’ classic gangster drama, the British version of Get Carter. It was a significant film for Michael Caine in the central role.
30 years on, the action is transferred to the United States and the film given an American flavour despite the presence of Michael Caine himself and Miranda Richardson. Caine seems to be relishing his role and is offering support for this film version.
Sylvester Stallone is strikingly different from Michael Caine in his screen presence. This is a typical Stallone performance, a tough man, bent on vengeance, not afraid to confront people, to be bashed himself as well as bashing and killing others. He is investigating the death of his brother, allegedly drinking and in an accident, but ultimately revealed to be murder. There is a strong supporting cast of characters, especially Rachel Leigh Cook as his brother’s daughter, caught up in the pornography racket. Mickey Rourke appears as a quite despicable gangster character.and John C Mc Ginley turns out to be sinister as Stallone’s partner. Also in the film is Alan Cumming as a young IT expert, very rich, easily corrupted.
The film is as expected, a vengeance film with some brutal violence, Stallone moving through it with a kind of inevitable nemesis, and with a strong supporting cast. The film was directed by Stephen Kay, who directed such films as Angel Eyes and The Mod Squad.
1. The remake of the 1970s thriller with Michael Caine? Transfer into the United States? Vehicle for Sylvester Stallone? Michael Caine in a supporting role?
2. The world of drugs, pornography, use of the Internet, gangsters?
3. American cities, ordinary, homes, funerals? Bars, the streets, pornography? The musical score?
4. The violent tone, revenge film, touches of brutality?
5. Sylvester Stallone as John Carter, the background of his life, leaving the city, leaving his brother and his family, his work, partnership with McCarty?, news of his brother’s death? His return, his brother’s wife and the discussions, his brother’s daughter, meeting the gangsters, old friends and associates, his investigation? suspicions about his brother’s death?
6. His search, the interrogations, confrontations, building up information, people lying to him, the fights, deaths?
7. His brother’s wife, friendship in the past, the tension in the marriage, the brothers drinking? Discussions with Carter, her being hurt?
8. The daughter, her age, seeming to ignore Carter, coming to talk with him, his reassurances, the revelations, the discussions on the roof, the experience of the pornography, the clubs? The relationship with her mother? Brumby and his wanting the disk with the pornography?
9. Brumby, his role, the club, information, his knowledge of Carter, smooth talk, the links, with Cyrus Pace, with Jeremy Kinnear? The pornography industry? Wanting the disk? Eddie, working in the bar, talking with Carter? The revelation that he was the partner in the film? Carter confronting him and his fall out the window?
10. Cyrus Pace, past friendship with Carter, the prostitution, pornography, arranging the parties, the lies, the confrontation? The role of Kinnear? Hired killers? The fight with Carter, his death?
11. Mc Carty, the deals, his arrival, the thugs, the confrontation?
12. The lead to Jeremy Kinnear, his being intimidated, his fears, his wealth, information technology expert, his connection with Pace, Brumby? The confrontation with Carter, the threats, his fear, being let off? His presence at Pace’s parties?
13. The combination of the investigation, the vengeance? Carter and his moving off to a new phase in his career?
