BLOOD TIES
US, 2013, 127 minutes, Colour.
Clive Owen, Billy Crudup, Marion Cotillard, Mila Kunis, Matthias Schoenaerts, James Caan, James, Noah Emmerich, Lili Taylor, Griffin Dunne.
Directed by Guillaume Canet.
Blood Ties is based on a French film, Les liens du sang. It is directed by French actor and director, Guillaume Canet, who also directed the French adaptation of Harlan Coban’s, Tell No One. Here, he collaborated on the screenplay with American director, James Gray (who, then went on to direct Canet’s wife, Marion Cotillard in The Immigrant).
The film is set in the 1980s in New York City, the world of police and the world of crime. It focuses on two brothers, one criminal,Chris, getting out of prison, and the other, Frank, on the police force. The former is played by Clive Owen and the latter by Billy Cruddup. They have a chequered past, especially with their father, James Caan, and the absence of their mother. Lili Taylor plays their sister.
The film begins with a raid which is unsuccessful, Frank, participating, and the result disappointing to his police superior, Noah Emmerich. The film then shows Chris leaving jail, dependent on his brother who has not visited him for years, settling into his apartment, his brother getting him the job in a garage, their going to visit their father in hospital.
Subplot involves Zoe Saldana, formerly involved with Frank, but now married to a criminal, played by Matthias Schooaerts, who was arrested, jailed, with Zoe Saldana separating from him and reuniting with Frank.
Chris goes back to see his wife who is now prostituting herself to support the family. She is played by Marion Cotillard, resentful towards Chris, then depending on him for setting up a house as a brothel, leading to difficulties and his arrest after he becomes involved in several crimes, including shootings, and pursued by his brother, Frank.
The film ends with blood ties being strong, Frank warning Chris about his impending arrest, but Chris hearing that Zoe Saldana’s husband was about to shoot them, going to Grand Central Station and shooting the husband, saving his brother. The complexity of Blood Ties.
An interesting and quite arresting crime drama, family drama.
1. The title, two brothers, family ties?
2. New York City, police and crime, lives of families, the world advice and crime, brutality, prisons? The musical score?
3. Introduction to Frank, the criminals telling jokes, the raid, shootouts, the getaway? Connellan and his leading the raid, his attitude, Frank and his
behaviour, the results? The interrogation of Scarfo, his arrest, imprisonment? The irony of his wife being present, the former relationship with Frank, the consequences? Her own past, memories, the reasons for Frank breaking with her, his change of heart?
4. The introduction to Chris, in jail, Marie and Frank coming to meet him? Visiting his father, the hospital? The return to jail, Frank moving for the job, Chris moving in with his brother? The menial work at the garage? His encounter with Natalie, the missing cash, his giving her the money, the lift in her car and the growing relationship?
5. The story of the past, Chris and Frank and their father, his character, hard, Frank enquiring about his mother, the father’s description, so negative on his wife? His kicking her out, Frank and his age? His confessing that he probably favoured Chris? Chris and his crimes, Frank and his running away and watching, Chris and the arrest, jail?
6. Chris and Monica, his return, her sitting glumly, the children not recognising their father, his gifts to them, the little girl dancing, with Frank? Monica and her anger? Coming to the bar, address, prostitution, the motivations, the need for money? Helping Chris after he was shot? Chris and his setting up, the house, the girls, the cash? Her former drug taking and her being clean? Going to the bar, Chris upset? Leading to her arrest, interrogation?
7. Frank, his life, his career, the past relationship with the Vanessa? Her angers, the confrontation, the sexual encounter, their living together, her son? Christmas, going to Frank’s home at the dinner? Going to visit her husband in jail? Separating, saying that he could not be trusted?
8. Chris, his old friends, the bar, the prospect of the job, his agreement, on the bike, the murders, no mercy? Taking the cash? Other jobs, the preparation, his garage being robbed and his reaction to the boss, leaving? The friendship with Miko? The plan for the kiosk? The inspector and his promises, breaking the promises after the renovations? Angers and burning it down? Cars, vans, shootouts? The robbery, following the van, the confrontation of the robbery?
9. Frank watching, guessing about Chris, the pursuit, wounding him, looking into his eyes, later touching his shoulder and verifying the wound?
10. Their father, thanksgiving, Marie cooking, the two sons and their jibes at each other, fight? Chris and the gift of the television for his father, the ring for Natalie? New clothes?
11. The father, his illness, trying to make peace, his death?
12. Chris, the arrest at Christmas, the charges? His harsh treatment of Natalie, her being hurt, his later apology, the ring, the plans for the wedding, inviting Frank, Frank not going, Chris saying he understood this, requesting him to be his son’s godfather?
13. Frank, the authorities, suspicions, his being suspended, his resigning? At home, with Vanessa, the renovations?
14. The plan to arrest Chris, Frank on the phone call, the knocking signal, flashback to the past and Frank’s behaviour at Chris’s arrest, Chris getting away, meeting up with Miko? Getting the information about Vanessa’s husband and his being freed, vengeance?
15. Frank and Vanessa, the plan for the holiday, at Grand Central Station, the husband pursuing, Chris following him, the confrontation with Frank and Vanessa, Chris shooting the husband? Arrested, smiling, Frank’s final look?
