SUDDENLY
Canada, 2013, 91 minutes, Colour.
Ray Liotta, Erin Karpluk, Dominic Purcell, Cole Coker, Michael Pare, Gary Chalk, Brendan Fletcher, Haig Sutherland, Darrell Shuttleworth.
Directed by Ewe Boll.
Suddenly is a remake of the 1950 Ford drama, Suddenly, with Frank Sinatra as a killer instilling a as the sheriff who confronts him.
The film has been adapted for the 21st century though some of the issues remain the same – but this time there are memories of the war in Iraq, veterans feeling neglected, disappointment in American not being a great nation… And so a plan to kill the president (who is a Barack Obama lookalike).
Ray Liotta plays a war veteran, feeling guilty over the death of his best friend in friendly fire, still angry, drinking, caring for the widow and her children. He is a deputy in the town of Suddenly.
Dominic Purcell plays the killer, a taciturn man, ruthless, get some compassion for the widow, looking at the flag and the metals of her husband.
While the film does stretch credibility, the events in the United States, especially with guns, give it something of a plausibility. This was highlighted in the campaign of Republican Presidential nominee, Donald Trump and many of his speeches.
1. Interesting drama? A remake of a 1954? Update? Similarity issues, American ethos, the American presidency? The 21st century?
2. The town of Suddenly, isolated, winter, the snow, the Lodge? Streets and shops, the bar, barbershop, police offices, the countryside, the family home? The musical score?
3. The title, the tone, the name of the town, the sudden attempt on the president?
4. The introduction to Todd, his drinking, gambling, angry, fighting, the background of being a soldier, the clashes at cards? The audience suddenly finding he was a police Deputy?
5. The introduction to Pidge, throwing the cracker the car, causing mischief, his dead father in the war, with his mother, defying her, his bond with his grandfather? Truant from school? His stories, a variation on the boy who cried wolf? Overhearing the information about the president? In the house, with his mother?
6. Ellen, strong, the death of her husband, keeping his decoration and flag, the photos? Her reliance on Todd? Her reliance on her father? The old man, with the electricity, the house losing power and the consequences?
7. Todd, in himself, relationship with the police chief, his threats, Todd in denial? The information about the president, getting the town in order? Going to the barber, the confrontation, putting him in jail, possibility of charges? His sending the young deputy to the house for Ellen? Ellen and the message within the message? his going, searching the house, the grounds, his being caught?
8. The assassination of the president? The group of Secret Service men, in the town, the rogue group and the murder? Going to the house, the lookout, the plan? The ideology of Barron, America great again, the experience of Iraq? The anonymous company – but Barron revealed as a loner? The others chosen to work with him? The taking of the hostages in the house? Conklin and his doubts and his being shot? The killer pursuing Pidge, returning to the house, his being electrocuted?
9. Barron, leader, motives, his looking at Ellen’s photos, the flag, the patriotism? Talking with Todd? Todd and his decision with Ellen to play Baron? In fact, Barron playing Todd and Ellen, especially about the story of her husband’s death and Todd’s responsibility, the episode and his wild shooting?
10. The situation with the hostages, in the basement, trying to saw the bar? The old man of his collapse, Conklin unable to revive him? His death?
11. The phone call to Jud, the electrician, inviting him to come? His reaction to Pidge’s stories? Pidge on the road, Jud taking him home, shrewd assessment of the situation, the electricity and causing the death of the agent?
12. Freeing Todd, confrontation, gun? Pidge shooting Barron?
13. The president, the Obama lookalike, the mayor, the reception, Barron and the shot, wounding the president?
14. The final reports, saving the day – and the possibilities for Todd, Ellen and Pidge?
