WW3

US, 2001,100 minutes, Colour.
Timothy Hutton, Lane Smith, Marin Hinkle, Michael Constantine, Terry O’ Quinn, Vanessa L. Williams.
Directed by Robert Mandel.

WW3 is interesting to look at in hindsight. It was shown on American television just under two months before September 11, 2001. It draws on experiences of the US in the 1990s, the aftermath of the Gulf War, the antagonism towards Saddam Hussein. It also draws on biochemical weapons and anthrax scares in the United States some years earlier. It posits the possibility of World War Three through the use of such weapons, put into the atmosphere in the major cities in the United States. It also posits that the Russian army is not under the control of the government and is involved in rogue activity.

Otherwise, the film is fairly conventional in its presentation of the situation. Timothy Hutton plays an FBI fraud investigator whose uncle was involved in chemical experiments and has the task to draw him back in to help. He is played, effectively, by Lane Smith. Michael Constantine portrays a Russian involved in such experiments who defected decades earlier to the United States. Terry O’ Quinn is the boss and Vanessa L. Williams and agent.

The film offers a plausible understanding of rogue bombers entering the United States, releasing the poison gases – and showing the consequences.

1.An interesting drama? From the 90s? In the hindsight of post-9/11?

2.The plausibility of the hypotheses, biochemical weapons? Their development in the United States, in past decades, in Russia? The scientists and their being called in to help? The rogue scientists and their linking with Russia? The background of an Iraqi invasion of Saudi Arabia? The hypothesis as one of the past – altered because of 9/11?

3.The title, ominous, the information at the end about the weapons and the probability of their use?

4.The focus on the episode on the ship, the chemicals, the people getting sick, the crew? The information for the government? For the media? The steward and his concern, his contracting the disease – his phone call to his wife? Too busy to speak to his son? The background of this story as a human element, the critical son, his leaving his mother, involved in the looting, walking out, at the barrier, confronting the National Guards? Returning to his anxious mother?

5.Larry Sullivan, at work in fraud investigation in the banks? His being summoned by Eric Farrell? The background of his uncle, his work, recluse? Larry going to find him, persuade him to come to help? The meeting, the family background, Larry’s mother and her blaming John Sullivan for her husband’s death? The later revelation of the truth about his father being an agent, the cover-up about his death?

6.Eric Farrell, his office, the advice coming in? Strategies? The higher superiors? Sending out M.J. Blake to the ship, her investigations? Her later going to confront the criminal? His attack on her? Her shower, being infected?

7.John Sullivan and Yuri Zenkovsky? Their past work, meeting each other? Their discussions as to what was to be done? The information about the chemicals carried by the wind, the rain being a difficulty? The identity of the rogue scientist? Going with Larry, finding the address, Larry confronting him? Throwing the canister – and its not opening? Sullivan and Zenkovsky rescuing it?

8.The mounting information about the days of the infections? The number of dead? The scenes of panic in the cities? The sports arena and the gas being let loose? People afraid, looting, the National Guard and shooting? The need for evacuations from the cities?

9.Larry’s wife, as a doctor, concern about her son? The sports tickets? His absence, her hard work, the people dying, his partner and his partner’s son? Her not leaving Chicago? Larry’s return – and the happy ending?

10.The cumulative effect of the drama, at a government level, prevention, tracking down the criminal? The background of the human stories?