RACE AGAINST TIME

US, 2000, 90 minutes, Colour.
Eric Roberts, Carey Elwes, Sarah Wynter, Chris Sarandon, Diane Venora.
Directed by Geoff Murphy.

Race Against Time is one of the many telemovies set in future times where individuals are at the mercy of corporations.

Eric Roberts portrays a builder who loves his son who has a terminal illness. He lives in a society where suicide is legal and where a corporation, ironically called Life Corps, is in the business of signing people to suicide contracts so that they can use their organs for prolonging life in people who are ill. When the builder is unable to pay for his son’s medication and operations, he signs the contract only to find that his son has died. He then goes on the run.

Chris Sarandon portrays the sinister head of Life Corps. Diane Venora is one of the doctors – who has something of a conscience. Carey Elwes is the sinister bounty hunter, pursuing the runners. Sarah Wynter portrays a bounty hunter who aims to capture the builder but changes her mind and helps him escape.

The film emphasises action, has quite a number of chases and fights. It appeals to fans of action science fiction.

It was directed by New Zealander Geoff Murphy (Utu, The Quiet Earth, Goodbye Pork Pie) who went to the United States in the 80s and directed such films as Young Guns 2, Free Jack, Under Siege 2. He also acted as second unit director on the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

1. The popularity of this kind of action film? Science fiction? Future society and the individual versus corporations?

2. The futuristic setting, the city, familiar, building sites, hoardings and advertising? Offices, hospitals? Yet the atmosphere of the future? Sinister? Musical score?

3. The prologue, the runner, Burke and his pursuit, the masked guards, capturing the runner? Setting the tone?

4. James Gabriel, his story, at home, the television ads for Life Corps, going to work, the clashes with the foreman, the dangers on the building site, the worker falling, Gabriel gripping him? The clash with the boss and holding him over the edge? His concern about his son, unable to pay, watching his son and his illness? His decision to go to Life Corps?

5. Life Corps, the smooth office atmosphere, the secretary and receptionist, discussions with Doctor Steele? With Anton Stofeles? His contract? Taking the money, going to the hospital? Finding his son dead? His being injected? And being able to be tracked?

6. His return, the confrontation, throwing the money away? Going on the run? Hiding?

7. The encounter with Alex, her role as a bounty hunter? Her pity for Gabriel? Helping him? The chases, hiding, her confrontation with Anton? With Burke? The fights? Her saving Gabriel?

8. Burke, sinister, in the suit? The confrontations with Gabriel, with Alex? His henchmen? Reporting back to Anton? His failure to catch Gabriel, the continued pursuit? The build-up to the finale, the fight, the lift-well? His death?

9. Doctor Steele, her concern, the boy still alive, Anton using him? Anton and his ambitions? Ordering Burke to find Gabriel? The confrontation with Gabriel, falling to his death?

10. Gabriel, his determination? The decisions about his son? That he was still alive? Life Corps and their taunting Gabriel by flashing the images of his son on the hoardings? Gabriel and his return? The fact that his son was alive?

11. The build-up to the fights, the action sequences? Gabriel triumphant? Getting his son back?