EXTREME PREJUDICE
US, 1987, 104 minutes, Colour.
Nick Nolte, Powers Boothe, Michael Ironside, Maria Conchita Alonso, Rip Torn, Clancy Brown, William Forsythe.
Directed by Walter Hill.
Extreme Prejudice is based on a story by John Milius (Conan the Barbarian, Red Dawn) and the screenplay is written by Derek Washburne (The Deerhunter). Direction is by action writer-director Walter Hill (Street Fighter, The Driver, The Long Riders, Southern Comfort).
It begins like a crisp conspiracy thriller with ex-Vietnam veterans, a Texas border drug empire and a stolid principled ranger played by Nick Nolte. After plot complications, it finishes like a Sam Peckinpah spectacular shoot-em-up. Ultimately it seems a bit over the top. But as with any film about drug empires, the criminals are unscrupulous exploiters and the question is raised as to who confronts them. Powers Booth is a persuasive renegade police drug boss.
1. An action film? Vietnam veterans? Gung-ho attitude? Drug empires?
2. Walter Hill and his tough style?
3. Texas, small town, the border, the environment, the atmosphere of a contemporary western? The musical score and the Spanish songs?
4. The title and the language of death? Police and military? The covert operation? Jack as the victim of extreme prejudice?
5. The initial information about the files, the irony of the men allegedly dead and their presence in Texas? Authorities and the control of information and files? Plans, conspiracies? Vietnam, the experience and the repercussions of men with military training? Disillusionment? Lack of moral perspective?
6. The drug empires, the needs, the channels, the wealth, the corruption? Law and temptation? Consequent violence?
7. Nick Nolte as Jack Bentine: at work, his reputation (a Dirty Harry of Texas)? Tough, his relationship with Hank Pearson, their cleaning up crime? The violence of the attack and Hank's death? His love for Sarita? The past and growing up with Cash Bailey? Major Hackett's arrival, asking for co-operation, the drug ring? Jack's strict interpretation of the law? His agreeing to meet Railey? Sarita's going with Bailey? His relying on Pearson's advice, reaction to his death? The robbery and his arresting the military? The alleged government official and the information given? The build-up to the confrontation, the betrayal by Hackett? The final confrontation, the Mexicans and their violence, the western ending with Jack versus Bailey? His getting Sarita back, their future? Leaving the drugs to the Mexicans?
8. Bailey and his background, tough, dominance over Jack, taking Sarita? The meeting on behalf of Hackett? Bailey's attempts to persuade Jack? The final fight and battle, their confrontation? Good versus evil?
9. Hackett and his arrival, leader of the group, the allegedly dead soldiers? The meeting with Jack, the official information, plan, execution? The-plan to rob the bank? The motives behind it? The robbing and their success? Jack arresting two of the group? Merv posing as the government official? The meeting with Bailey? The decision to terminate Jack? the group and their reaction? The collapse of the group? The discovery of the truth? Rackett and his killing Merv? The men turning on Hackett? The shoot-out and their deaths?
10. The various types in the group, their past, undercover, tough, relationship between the men, their clashes, the execution of the robbery, in jail, the decision to kill Jack or not, the discovery of the truth?
11. Sarita and her love for both men, singing in the cantina? Her decisions? Loyalties?
12. Contemporary themes of the west, law and order, violence and conspiracies, a piece of '80s Americana?
