THE GUARDIAN
US, 2006, 139 minutes, Colour.
Kevin Costner, Ashton Kutcher, Sela Ward, Melissa Sagemiller, Clancy Brown, John Heard, Neal Mc Donough, Brian Geraghty, Dule Hill, Bonnie Bramlett.
Directed by Andrew Davis.
The Guardian shows that they do make films like they used to. From the propaganda war films of the World War II era, through the stories of training for the various armed forces, to 80s blockbusters like An Officer and a Gentleman and Top Gun, as well as the tough Vietnam War films, Platoon and Full Metal Jacket, there has never been a shortage of the old story of the experienced older expert training the cheeky young recruit, the hardships of the training, and the bonding between the two.
The Guardian offers a significant difference in that it is a film about the US Coast Guard and their swimming rescue unit. As is eventually highlighted, the military are trained for combat whereas the Coast Guard are not. Their training, as their motto says, is for saving lives.
The heroics in this film should mean that The Guardian serves as an effective recruiting film – and would probably have much of the same effect beyond the US.
The film has been directed by Andrew Davis who, from early Chuck Norris and Steven Seagall action films in the 1980s moved much more up-market and serious with his version of the old popular TV series, The Fugitive. While always interested in action, he has still diversified with his updating of Dial M For Murder, A Perfect Murder, and the film about teenage boys, Holes. He stages the action scenes here – rescues in dangerous seas – quite impressively.
The film is also a star vehicle for Kevin Costner. Fifteen to twenty years ago, Costner was riding high with The Untouchables, No Way Out, Field of Dreams, Dances with Wolves and Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves. During the 90s and to the present, he has not been held in such high esteem, despite such interesting films as Thirteen Days, about the Kennedys and the missiles of October 1962 and the western, Open Range. Here he is back on form.
Costner is initially shown in action, lowered into mountainous Alaskan seas from a helicopter and rescuing survivors from a stricken cargo ship. However, he is getting old and suffers some injuries. Unwillingly, he is transferred to Louisiana to train new recruits. He is tough and demanding, relying on experience rather than theoretical learning. Costner is perfectly believable in this macho American heroic role.
The recruit is Ashton Kutcher. This is surprise casting as Kutcher’s career has been in comedies and romances. In fact, he fits the bill quite well and shows that he is capable of a wider range of performances than we might have suspected. He goes through the expected gamut: self-confident and defiant, having to learn team work, becoming involved in a casual affair with a local teacher and his having to take responsibility for the consequences, an opening up about his life and past sadness, his coming through to leadership and graduation.
There is one scene of bar fisticuffs, defending the honour against the taunts of drinking navy personnel – a bit of a surprise in a film which is light on violence and bad language.
It is easy for non-Americans to deride this kind of earnest ra-ra patriotic heroism which wears its heart on its sleeves, especially the opening and end with a story of a legend of a presence in the sea who keeps people afloat in accidents at sea until they are rescued: The Guardian. For those who don’t like it, they say it is full of cliches. For those who like it, it is simply using a tried and true formula. And this is something that the public quite enjoy, comfortable with what is familiar though different.
1. An entertaining tribute to the Coast Guard, swimming rescue, ra-ra propaganda film? Impact for Americans? Beyond America?
2. The Alaskan settings, Kodiak, the Coast Guard base, homes, the sea, the ships? The contrast with the South, the training centre, the town, the bars? The musical score?
3. The title, the reference to Ben Randall after his death and the helping of people in the sea?
4. The action sequences, the stunt work? The helicopters, the swimmers, the high seas, the rescue of the woman and her fear of the box, her aggressive husband, saving them both? The wife lashing out at her husband? Ben Randall using this as an image of his own life and relationship with his wife?
5. Ben Randall, a Kevin Costner character? The command, his relationship with Randall? Randall and his friends? His strong reputation, saving lives? The second episode, the accident, the explosion of the helicopter, his being the only survivor? Images recurring throughout the film for his dreams and memories?
6. The final rescue, Jake and his heroism, the commander sending Ben Randall out to help, their hanging onto the line together, the past the story of Ben holding on for 20 minutes and dislocating his shoulder, Jake holding on, Ben and his falling into the sea?
7. Ben and his wife, no children, the tension between them, his being devoted to his work, the decision to leave? The phone calls? The divorce papers? His finally visiting her at the end?
8. Ben and his decision, wanting to stay in action, accepting the teaching post? His reputation, records? The new recruits, in the dormitory, the big tough man, Hodge put down, trying three times? Jake, athletic, defending Hodge?
9. The commander of the base, his inspiring speech, welcoming Ben? The other offices? Skinner and the touches of resentment?
10. Ben and his methods, putting the recruits in the water, testing them instantly, the details of the training, hard, exercises, the elimination of those who could not keep up? The tough man with the bunk and his cramp?
11. The young men, their spirit, the work? Jake and his wanting to break Ben’s records? The swimming and his breaking them?
12. Going into town, the wedding dinner, the bet about Jake the girl, her shrewdness and wanting half the money? The later meeting, finding the money in his pocket? Going home, the relationship? Her working in the town, his graduation, the separation?
13. Maggie, at the bar, showing Jake Ben’s record? Talking with Ben, the discussion about age and her being satisfied with the life that she had led?
14. Jake and Hodge in the bar, the sailors, the fight, finishing up in jail, Ben and his return, the fight with the sailor? Their talking, Ben and his looking up Jake’s history, the deaths in the accident – and Jake’s tattoo on his arm?
15. Ben having no children, Jake as a son-figure? Ben as a father figure for Jake?
16. Ben’s expectations of Jake, testing him out, Jake and his group holding his breath underwater…?
17. Hodge, the tests, is punching Skinner, Skinner congratulating him, Ben congratulating him?
18. Graduation, allotment of destinations, Jake going to Kodiak?
19. Jake and Ben serving together, Ben noting only the 22 deaths of people who could not save? Ben and his work with Jake, the rescues? His resignation, going swimming? His visit to Helen?
20. The buildup to the final climax, Ben’s death? Jake returning south and meeting Emily?
21. The overall effect, American action, recruitment for the Coast Guard?
