MONEY TRAIN

US, 1995, 110 minutes, Colour.
Wesley Snipes, Woody Harrelson, Jennifer Lopez, Robert Blake, Chris Cooper.
Directed by Joseph Ruben.

Completely derivative, but that does not mean it does not have its entertaining moments. Decoy police on the New York subway have their action moments and their problem moments. Then there is a train robbery (echoes of Speed). And there is always the banter (comic and serious) between adopted brothers, Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson, who obviously get on well with each other and play off each other expertly. What you expect is what you get.

1. A buddy film? Couple? Black and white? Serious and comic

2. New York City, the city, police precincts, the subways, apartments, gambling centres? The musical score? The title song?

3. The stars, the different styles, comic and serious, the interplay? Brothers, black and white, fostered? Growing up, John older, caring for Charlie? Charlie, gambling, irresponsible, John to his rescue, lending money? The arrival of Grace, their rivalry? John winning out?

4. The opening, Charlie drunk, the decoy on the subway, the robbers, the chase, John on the lookout, the tunnel, the money train, the shooting on the platform, the confrontation between the police?

5. Patterson, his role, personality, the touch of hysteria, his money train, the reprimand, his anger, the second attempt, the accusation, being proved wrong? His violence and outbursts, Grace arresting him?

6. Grace, police background, with the two, the dates, talking with each of the brothers, her relationship with John, Charlie seeing this? Helping the brothers? Arresting Patterson?

7. The Torch, coming to the toll offices, confrontations, the petrol, the fire, the rescue of the woman in the box? The attempt on Grace, her fighting back, the pursuit?

8. Charlie and his gambling, the thugs, hanging him by his feet, John to the rescue, lending the money, giving him $15,000, the irony of his concern on the subway, the thief taking the wallet, the old lady taking his money? The confrontation by the thugs, John fighting and saving him?

9. The idea, robbing the money train, the nature of the tunnel, the ladders…? John refusing?

10. The situation, the train, taking over, the right, the money, the fights, getting away?

11. The amount of money, the two arguing and walking into the future?