CHAMELEON

US, 1995, 108 minutes, Colour
Anthony la Paglia, Kevin Pollack, Mellora Hardin, Wayne Knight, Derek McGrath?, Andy Romano, Robin Thomas, Richard Brooks.
Directed by Michael Pavone.

Chameleon is a minor police thriller. It focuses on Anthony la Paglia as an undercover police officer, the effect of the death of his wife and child, his wanting vengeance, his mental instability, his ability to use makeup and disguise for his undercover work and his not knowing the difference between truth and fantasy. La Paglia gives a very effective performance, showing his range.

Kevin Pollack is the police chief, a rather better-written role, with more sympathy for his personal dilemmas as well as his own sympathy for La Paglia. Mellora Hardin is a bank executive, under suspicion, with whom la Paglia falls in love and who will ultimately be the person he can unburden himself to. Wayne Knight has a more serious role than usual as a chief agent.

The film has the usual plot about drug dealing, drug lords, the CIA and corruption, arms dealing outside America.

1. The popularity of this kind of police thriller? An officer going into deep cover? The repercussions for his work, for his own psychology?

2. The city settings, police precincts, squalid areas, affluent areas, banks? Inside prisons? The musical score?

3. The title, Willie Serling as a chameleon, his ability to put on many disguises, to be unrecognised, to infiltrate, to get people to confide in him?

4. Willie, his background as an officer, the video of the birth of his child, his love for his wife (and her appearing with her wound)? His being under cover, his wanting to get revenge on the murderer? Langston and his recruiting him to go to Los Angeles? His going west, the meetings with Matt Gianni, the various disguises, the discussions? Having his own terms? His being willing to go into prison, his disguise, computers, being used by the criminals in their luxurious life, in the processing of cocaine within the prison? His continued reports to Gianni? His finding out the truth, the disk? Being drawn out? His disguise as the bank auditor, his suspicions of Jill, the other members of the bank, especially Morris Steinfeld? His humour? His chatting up Betty and getting her to cooperate? His investigations, suspicions of Jason Ainsley? His reporting to Gianni, their discussions, the disguises, especially the fanatic protesting outside the courts? The falling in love with Jill, his dapper British manner, the discussions, the meals, allaying suspicions? His finding out what really happened? The set-up, going after the main villain? Langston coming, the reality of the mission to get the dealer, the CIA wanting him out? Gianni not knowing? Willie and his continuing to investigate, the death of Ainsley, Jill finding out the truth? His wanting to confide in her? Leaving her, the criminal and his attempt on her life, his shooting him? Being able to tell the truth – and have a future? The image of his wife approving?

5. Matt Gianni, police chief, personal dilemmas, how to handle the case, his angers and resentments? The deal with Langston? Working with Willie, the contacts, the disguises, his exasperation? Not knowing the overall mission? His sympathy towards Willie, personal sympathy? The finale, the killing, the parting as friends?

6. Jill, her work, connection with Ainsley, Willie’s suspicions, her falling in love with him, going out, the break with Ainsley, his owning the apartment? The sexual relationship, Willie beginning to confide in her, her discovery of the truth and her shock, wariness? The threat on her life, Willie saving her?

7. Langston, the CIA, arms dealers, drug dealers? Eliminating difficult people?

8. The prison, the underling and his comfortable life, the deal with the warden, the prisoners and their laboratory, processing the cocaine, big business, computerised? Willie as part of it? The final arrests?

9. Morris Steinfeld, genial, jokes, ambitions? His being persuaded to launder the money? The threat from Willie, his telling the truth, setting up Willie and his being shot?

10. Ainsley, his link with the criminals, the bank and its laundering the money, his antagonism towards Jilly, his death?

11. The police, their work, surveillance, the murder of surveillance personnel, the Mafia types, thugs, killers? The world of police thrillers and crime?