BASTILLE DAY

UK, 2016, 92 minutes, Colour.
Idris Elba, Richard Madden, Kelly Reilly, Jose Garcia.
Directed by James Watkins.

If you are after a brief and brisk, old-fashioned (even new-fashioned) action show with some substance, a conspiracy theory, then why not Bastille Day. It runs for only 92 minutes and doesn’t waste much time at all.

It is a drama of terrorism in Paris, bombs in the streets, the searching of mosques, rabble-roused protesters in the streets of Paris on Bastille Day, urged on by messages on social media. It was actually produced before the real terrorist events of 2015 in the city of Paris and the plot is quite different from those events, a situation where extreme nationalists seem to be the villains but, in fact, the target is more mundane, greed. Muslims are being set up by authorities, bomb-making equipment planted in mosques, faked scenes of police bashing an innocent bystander which are put on Youtube.

For those who know Paris, the opening is at Montmartre, a nude woman walking new down the steps in front of the basilica, an ingenious ploy for a pickpocket to go about his profession amongst the distracted and/or leering onlookers.

But the attention is really on the pickpocket, played by Richard Madden, a vagrant American who quickly learns that he needs to check what he has stolen or it can lead to dire consequences, even deaths.

In the meantime, we are introduced to Briar, a CIA agent who is tough, tends to work alone, subordination not being one of his virtues. As might be expected, he will win the day – not without some struggles, fights, moments of defeat and frustration, but relentlessly using his wits and his fists and guns to right all the wrongs. He is played very effectively by Idris Elba, television’s Luther who also appeared as Nelson Mandela in The Long Walk to Freedom. (There been many rumours that he could be in line to be the next James Bond – and this film is more than a calling card!).

The action takes place over little more than 24 hours, the CIA agent working very quickly, endorsed by his boss, Kelly Reilly, but disapproved of by her associate. It is not long before he picks up the pickpocket who is forced to be a collaborator in the search for the villains and for a woman who had been commissioned to place a bomb in an office as a first strike warning but who changed her mind when the cleaners came into the office. As we might guess, the pickpocket steals the bag which contains the bomb and throws it on a rubbish heap with explosive consequences.

Elba and Madden make an interesting odd couple, touches of banter although Briar is prone to deadly seriousness. As the villains are gradually revealed, the CIA finally decides to give information to the French authorities. The pickpocket finds that his profession can be particularly useful in crises.

The move towards the finale seems to indicate that Briar, the pickpocket and the girl do not have a chance at all. … And there is quite some action in the streets as well as in the French National Bank – Briar is one of those one-man bands that saves the day despite all odds. An effective finale in the basement of the Cathedral of Notre Dame.

In fact, a good action show with better-drawn characters than might be expected and some substance to the plot – and the various plots.

1. The title, France, history, the Revolution? The 21st century and terror?

2. The Paris settings, Montmartre, CIA officers and interrogation rooms? The French government? The shops, the bars? The migrant housing? The atmosphere of Paris in the 21st century? In the light of the realities of terrorism in Paris? The musical score?

3. Michael, his introduction, the nude woman at Montmartre, his picking the pockets, his haul, going to the fence and the payoff? The Metro and his leaving the girl behind? The later interrogation and identifying him?

4. The introduction of the conspiracy, the agent, the bomb, sweet-talking Zoe, the plan, going to the office, empty, to plant the bomb, the arrival of the cleaners, Zoe upset, sitting and contemplating, to throw the bomb in the river? The bag being stolen, her anxiety, her search? Michael, taking the bag, taking the phone, the bag with the rubbish, the explosion and the deaths?

5. The introduction to Briar, Karen as his boss, his working style, loner, insubordination, the disapproval of the assistant director? His background?

6. Michael, his apartment, the information on television, collecting his money belt, to leave? Briar, the photo, tracking Michael down, his identity? Karen and her not giving the information to the French? Not letting the French know about CIA surveillance? Briar and his chasing Michael, the roofs of Paris, getting him to the secret interrogation room, the interrogation, the police squad at the door, the fights, Michael cutting free and his escape, the police and the pursuit, Briar saving him with the car?

7. The fence taking the jewels, his later giving information, his hiding Michael, his being beaten?

8. The French chief, the press conference, reassuring people, Bastille Day, heightened security, the police force, his advisors? The conspiracy, in the offices of the Nationalists? The anti-Muslim activity? The reaction of the public? The video of the police beating the man? On social media? The
initial warning explosion? The use of the social media, the masked leader of the protest, the anti-governments tension, anti-the banks?

9. Briar, the contacts, Karen deciding to meet the chief, not giving information? The contrast with later, the meeting with him on the roof, his shooting her?

10. The plan to find Zoe, her fleeing, her minder being hanged? The tattoo, the clue? The group, pursuing Briar and Michael?

11. The talk, the banter, Michael forced to help, proclaiming his innocence, the deals with Briar? Contact at the address, following the man with blond hair, the photos, the bar, Michael and his setting up the fight, pickpocketing the wallet? Getting Zoe?

12. Zoe, her reaction, response to the danger, regrets, working with Michael and Briar?

13. The police group, the conspiracy, the fights, pursuing the car, the information, contact with the chief?

14. Bastille Day, the public protests in the streets, against the bank? The conspiracy group and their strategy, the memory stick and the robbing of the money? Greed and no higher motivation?

15. Karen arranging the pickup for the three, the van arriving, Zoe recognising one of the guards, Briar noticing the tattoo? Attacking the guards in the back of the van, getting out?

16. Briar, the one-man band, infiltration of the bank, his skills, fighting, the shootouts?

17. The police chief, his advisor, things going wrong, his disclaimer?

18. Michael and Zoe, getting out of the van, joining the protest, the police barrier, charging the barrier, the rallying cries, bursting into the bank?

19. The conspiracy leader, his gun, wanting the memory stick, Michael and his getting away?

20. The criminal, the setup at Notre Dame, Michael, the basement, the sting? The arrest?

21. The couple, Michael’s future – CIA or not?