GREENMAIL

US, 2002, 92 minutes, Colour.
Stephen Baldwin, Tom Skerritt, Kelly Rowan, D.B. Sweeney.
Directed by Jonathan Heap.

Greenmail is a film about eco-terrorism. It is set in Washington State around Seattle. There are explosions and murders – with a fanatic campaigner for the environment taking the law into his own hands, trying to destroy enemies and make witness to the world. He is played by D.B. Sweeney.

Stephen Baldwin stars as a one-time terrorist who killed people accidentally and who has campaigned to do peaceful but telling protests against destruction of the environment. Tom Skerritt plays the officer who tracked him down fifteen years earlier and who still wants to get him. He blames him for an attack and explosions in a factory. Kelly Rowan is the agent, brought from Washington, very skilful in understanding bombs and defusing them and who solves the case.

The film is an action show, is interesting in its portrayal of police methods, generates an amount of tension. The message is clear – protest against those who spoil the environment but not fanaticism and taking the law into one’s own hands.

1. Popular action thriller? Police investigation? Terrorist thriller?

2. The Seattle settings? The factories? Precincts? Offices? Authentic atmosphere? Musical score?

3. The title, eco-terrorism? The messages from Jeremy?

4. The opening: the sampling of the water for environmental impurities? The invasion of the plant? The bombs going off? The security pursuit? The confrontation of Alison? Her death? Scott and Jeremy and their running away? The aftermath and the revenge by Jeremy?

5. Jeremy, his intelligence, background? Fanaticism? Joining the action group? His skill in making bombs? Hiding out on the boat, the job, not being able to hold down a job? Michael helping him? The contact with Scott? His growing fanaticism? The murders of the lawyer, the executive? The hiding out, being found out, his escape? Confrontations? The planting of the bombs at the ski resort? Going on the gondola? The clashes with Scott? His expressing his beliefs, destruction in order that there might be a new world? The fight, his falling from the gondola, his death?

6. Scott, his past, Bradshaw against him? His movement, publicising abuses of the environment? His being on the mission, at Alison’s death? His being arrested by Bradshaw? Ashley Pryor and her interrogation? His helping, covering for Jeremy, phoning him, meeting him in the car? Hearing his views? His decision to help the group? His presence at the explosion of the car, the lawyer being saved? His friendship with Ashley, the clashes with Bradshaw? The build-up to the investigation at the ski resort? Finding Jeremy, on the gondola, the fight, unable to save Jeremy? Climbing to the roof? Following Ashley’s advice, defusing the bombs? A future? The relationship with Ashley?

7. Bradshaw, his expertise, age, retirement? His reliance on Ashley, training her? Fifteen years and his wanting to get Scott? The interrogations, his having to bow to Ashley’s opinion? His participation in the investigations? The set-up in the office, the detonation, on the phone with Ashley, defusing the bomb? Getting the assistant to go? The further bomb and his death?

8. Ashley Pryor, her expertise, Washington, trained by Bradshaw? Wanting to be on holidays, taking on the case? Interviewing Scott? Her believing him? The messages, her skill in defusing bombs? The death of the industrialist, the visit to the house? The visit to the couple – and just leaving before the explosion? Her being at the car with the lawyer, detonating the bomb – and its dummy? Realising the phone would set off another bomb, saving the lawyer? The discussions with Bradshaw, the discussions with Scott? Going to the resort, giving the advice for the defusing of the bomb? Her future – and the job, giving the information to Scott to take to the lawyers?

9. The groups in defusing bombs, the dangers of the job, their skills? Security?

10. Eco-terrorism – and the ruthlessness and fanaticism? The need for measured protests against the spoiling of the environment? Legal means?