ON DEADLY GROUND
US, 1994, 100 minutes, Colour.
Steven Seagal, Michael Caine, Joan Chen, John C. Mc Ginley, R. Lee Ermey, Billy Bob Thornton, Richard Hamilton.
Directed by Steven Seagal.
In the late 1980s, martial arts performer (rather than actor) Steven Seagal made an impression with a number of films starting with Above the Law. His bone-crunching, somewhat vigilante style, was seen in such films as Marked for Death. In 1994 he directed his first film, On Deadly Ground. While it has the martial arts themes, it also shows Seagal's concern for the environment as well as for his criticism of the big international corporations. This concern is to the fore in his film Fire Down Below (1997). He also identifies very strongly in this film with Native American Indians and their rights. This may reflect his long time in Japan. The time in Japan also influenced his attitude towards a more meditative approach to the martial arts.
Michael Caine is a sneering villain along with thugs John C. Mc Ginley and R. Lee Ermey. Chinese actress Joan Chen portrays a Native American Indian woman.
The film has the usual Seagal ingredients - and he uses them to full effect for popular entertainment as well as for speeches about the environment and corporations.
1. The title, Alaska, oil? The environmental message of the film? The stance against the exploits of big corporations?
2. The Alaskan settings, the oilfields, the wilderness? Contrast with the city, corporation buildings? The atmosphere for this kind of thriller?
3. A Steven Seagal action thriller? The action sequences, the dangers, the battles, martial arts?
4. The oil company, Jennings, his relationship with Taft, the oilwell fire? Taft and his abilities to extinguish the fires? Taft and his work for the company? The criticisms, feeling that he was at the service of the corporations? Jennings and his hold over Taft?
5. Taft, his friendship with Hughie, Hughie's complaints, selling out to the company? Taft and his experience in Alaska, the bar, the Native American, the rednecks? The confrontations? His concern for the Alaskan population? His investigating the fire, the causes, the equipment that had been defective? The new equipment, failing to make the deadline? The danger of pollution, disaster?
6. Jennings, his television advertisement, the oil company's concern for the environment? His double-talk? His having his own thugs? MacGruder?, taking Hughie, torturing him, killing him?
7. The computer file, the malpractice information? Mac Gruder and his search? Taft finding Hughie's body, the detonation, remote control? Taft and his being rescued by the Alaskans, his being taken to their homes, Silook and Masu and their helping him to recovery, the old man and his explaining the wonders of the power of nature?
8. The press conference, Jennings and the Alaskans, Masu and the demonstration, the throwing of the oil, her place in the tribe, the daughter of the chief? Jennings and his reaction, asking Taft to help repair the fault?
9. Mac Gruder and his activity, the search for Taft, the shooting of Silook? Taft and Masu searching for the computer disk, going to Hughie's house, the confrontation with the thugs?
10. Taft and his decision to destroy the new rig, the horseback ride, Masu going with him, the weapons dump? The assassins, Stone and his search for Taft?
11. The transition of the film from talk and negotiation, press conference and double-talk to action? The chase, Taft blowing up the helicopter, Taft and Masu together, the fight, the rig? The deaths, Mac Gruder dying? The confrontation with Jennings? Jennings and his determination to make the rig work? The confrontation and Jennings' fall from the helicopter?
12. Taft and Masu, the rig exploding, their escape? The transition to the state capital, Taft's speech about corporations, pollution, the environment, profits? The film ending with a didactic tone?
