SURVIVOR
US/UK, 2015, 96 minutes, Colour.
Milla Jovovich, Pierce Brosnan, Dylan Mc Dermott, Frances de la Tour, Robert Forster, Roger Rees, Benno Furman, Malcolm Sinclair, Angela Bassett, James D’Arcy.
Directed by James McTeigue.
Survivor is a contemporary thriller, opening with attacks in Afghanistan and the capture of an American helicopter pilot, rebels using computers to make contact with international criminals because their prisoner is a bargaining chip.
Then the action goes to London, to the American Embassy, to the Visa Department, Kate an expert, played by Mila Jovovich, who is suspicious of an applicant, played by Roger Rees, but is put off the case by her supervisor, played by Robert Forster. She is viewed with hostility by MI6, in the person of James D‘Arcy, under suspicions from the ambassador, Angela Bassett, but supported by her boss, Dylan Mc Dermott, and the officer in charge of surveillance, Frances de la Tour.
The villain of the piece is played by Pierce Brosnan, called the Watchmaker, an expert in preparing bombs which have devastating effect. In the complications of the plot and the deaths of her co-workers, Kate has to go on the run, throughout a recognisable London, Brosnan in pursuit, and her trying to prove her case.
So far, so action thriller. However, when the action transfers to New York City (which she goes to on a plane but seems to take only an hour or so), she confronts the Watchmaker and is able to prevent a mass disaster.
She is something of a James Bond and Brosnan is definitely the kind of villain James Bond used to pursue.
A blogger captured response to the film: preposterous and exciting.
1. The title? Expectations? Thriller? The comment on the film as preposterous and exciting?
2. Contemporary issues, the war in Afghanistan, terrorism, revenge terrorism, greed terrorism? Interconnections?
3. The Afghan locations, the helicopter, the attack, the fighters, the capture of the Americans, interrogation, checking identities on the computer, kerosene and burning? Bargaining with international criminals?
4. London, the city, the landmarks, the attention to detail? The feel of the city? New York, Times Square, the detail? The musical score?
5. London, the embassy? MI6 and the agents? The political connections? Laws and protocols for international organisations and countries?
6. The situation in Afghanistan? Ultimately the connection with the case and the mystery, motivation for betrayal, Talbot and the capture and holding of his son? The situation in London, work at the Visa Department, caution? The meetings and discussions? The role of Sam Parker? Suspicious cases? Kate and her processing? Talbot taking away the applications? Kate and her instincts, support from Sam? Sally and her computer work, surveillance? The presence and of the ambassador?
7. Balan, Romanian background, applying for the Visa, doctor, chemist? His back story and the death of his wife, bureaucracy stopping her to go to the US medical reasons? His revenge? His expertise?
8. Balan’s superior, his control?
9. Kate, expert, strong presence? Instinct? Are going to the president of the company, interrogation, his complaining to the authorities? The British, objections to Kate? Presence of the ambassador for the complaint? Kate taking the files?
10. The list of suspects, their photos, information, Talbot deleting them?
11. The plans for the lunch, Talbot’s birthday, the staff all going to the restaurant, Talbot and is being called back for a phone call, delaying his coming until after the explosion? Kate, the shop, getting the gift? The bomb, the explosion and devastation?
12. Kate, surviving? The Watchmaker? His work, with bombs, the past – and his disguise, his plans, sabotage in the past?
13. Kate, surviving and going through London, eluding the Watchmaker, his gun? Using her wits? The details of London, St Pancras Station, Hyde Park? Ringing her friend for help – in the background her friend with the art show? Coming to St Pancras, the cards and money? Kate and the phone calls? The being pursued, following the protocols? The confrontation with Talbot, his pulling a gun on her, the struggle, his death? The people in the park with the videos, on television? The Asian couple identifying her and her declaring her innocence?
14. The British anger, pursuing her, the official and his associate? The threatening comments to the Americans? Following Kate, especially as she went into the underground, the underground tunnels, using her wits to escape from the tunnels?
15. The Watchmaker, getting Talbot’s card, going to the expert, getting him to enable the Watchmaker to track Kate? The expert and his comment about the Watchmaker’s past and to being killed?
16. Going to the flat, finding Sam? The Watchmaker pursuing her? Plans, the explosion, Sam hurt?
17. The Watchmaker, the connection, the discussions about greed and motivation? His wanting half the money? The background of the businessman and his reason for terrorism, the fluctuating markets? The long distance shot, the explosion, the destruction of the building?
18. Kate, the contact with Sally, helping her to get into the embassy, getting the files, the information? The email, Sally trying to persuade the ambassador?
19. Kate going to New York, her cover, by the ticket, pursuing Balan, on the flight, examining the details? Sending the information to Sally?
20. Kate in New York, taxi, following Balan? The Watchmaker, using her wits, into the building, onto the roof? The Watchmaker and his rifle, preparing the shot for New Year’s
Eve, the crowds? Kate fighting him? Using her wits, his going over the edge?
21. Sam, his congratulations, Kate and her achievement?
