PROJECT POWER

US, 2020, 113 minutes, Colour.
Jamie Foxx, Joseph Gordon- Leavitt, Dominique Fishback, Rodrigo Santoro, Amy Landecker, Courtney B Vance, Colson Baker, Kyana Simone Simpson.
Directed by Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman.

What seems like a superhero epic is not quite!

This is a futuristic story where unscrupulous scientists have been developing pills, medication with extraordinary transforming powers. They can be for the good, if timing is right for the duration, for enabling those who take the pills to use their power for good. On the other hand, they can be addictive and destructive. And, in desperate situations, they can be used for domination.

It is interesting to note that in 2020, the archvillain of the company producing the pills is female, simply called Gardner, played by Amy Landecker. But she does have a crew of big and brutal male thugs. And, in some kind of balance, the heroine of the film is played by a young adult, female, Dominique Fishback, Robin, a school student who wants to be a rap-artist.

The setting is New Orleans, a focus on the marketing of the drugs illegally, a ship in the port with huge supplies, young people taking up the challenge (although, to make the point, singer Colson Baker, playing an eager dealer, takes one of the pills and is immediately destroyed spectacularly). On the other hand, Robin has been dealing, and is building up a cache of cash to help her ailing mother.

Also in the action is one of the local police, played by Joseph Gordon- Leavitt, who is prepared to take the pills in order to achieve it in his police work, but always careful to check the timing so that it will keep the effect of the power under control.

The other principal character a also an African- American, Jamie Foxx as a military man who has been trained in action but also manifesting special powers. His daughter has inherited them and she has been into abducted by the pill manufacturers.

So, the action is set, after some suspicions, the hero team of the soldier, the policeman, the would-be rap artist, go into action to confront the criminals, rescue the soldier’s daughter – with the use of wit, brawn, shrewd action (and with the policeman, some pills and power).

Needless to say, after quite some spectacular action on the ship, all is well – or, at least, almost, some self-sacrifice being necessary.

Obviously geared to fans of this kind of action: some have enjoyed it, some have said it is the same-old, same-old. So, one might say, it is geared to those who have a tolerance of this kind of story and action.

1. The title? The issue of powers? Superpowers? Chemicals, the effect on the human body and brain? Health use? Power use? Abuse? Moneymaking and marketing?

2. Audience interest in this kind of action story, the touch of super heroism, crime, investigation?

3. Race issues and African- American screen presence? Issues of women? The arch-villain? The young adult heroine?

4. The credibility of the plot? The chemical developments? The power of the pills? The effect, timing, creative, destructive?

5. Gardner, in charge of the enterprise, her strong stances, her associates, violence, brutality?

6. The background story of but, the military, the superheroes, training, medication? The consequences? Art and his daughter, her inheriting the developments from him? Her being abducted? Used to promote the developments of the drugs? Art and his mission to find her save her?

7. The company, the marketing of the drugs, the young people in the town, selling them, making the money? Newt, his eagerness, taking the drug, its devastating effect?

8. Robin, family background, her mother ill, needing the medication? Bond between mother and daughter? Robin at school, the lesson about pregnancy – and her later using the information? Her ambition to be a rap artist, the songs, her ability with rap, the students and their applause?

9. Frank, his role in the police, his superior officer, missions? His taking the drugs, timing them, putting them to use in his police role? The mission to find Art, taking him in? Frank and his connection with Robin and her mother?

10. The action, Frank and Robin working together, the encounter with Art, the dangers, Frank believing Art?

11. The ship, the drugs, Art’s daughter on the ship, the infiltration, the confrontations, the fights, Frank and his taking the drugs, timing, confronting the thugs?

12. The ship sailing out of the harbour, Gardner and her demands, Robin and her finding the daughter, freeing her? Frank and his doing battle? Art satisfied with the rescue of his daughter, offering himself, self-sacrifice for his daughter?

13. A film for the fans of this kind of genre and its conventions?