BAIT
US, 2000, 119 minutes, Colour.
Jamie Foxx, David Morse, Robert Pastorelli, Doug Hutchison, Kimberley Elise, David Paymer, Mike Epps, Jamie Kennedy, Jeffrey Donovan, Megan Dodds.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua.
Bait is the second feature film from Antoine Fuqua, after Replacement Killers. He then went on to make Training Day for which Denzel Washington won the best actor Oscar. His other films include Tears of the Sun, Shooter, Brooklyn’s Finest. He also made the ill-fated King Arthur.
From his background as a music video maker, he brings an action-packed and fast-moving style to this crime thriller. It also has many touches of humour.
Set in New York (with many skylines including the Twin Towers), the city itself becomes a character. It opens with a gold bullion company, masterminded by the sinister Doug Hutchison. Robert Pastorelli as his associate gets away but dies of a heart attack. He is in prison with a petty thief, played by Jamie Foxx – in a style that is reminiscent of writing and performance for Eddie Murphy – and he has a clue as to where the gold is hidden. David Morse is a relentless, single-minded agent for the Treasury.
The film moves into the science fiction area when Jamie Foxx experiences an implant in his jaw which gives information as to where he is and records all his conversations. He is trying to reform, finds he has a son with his girlfriend, tries to get a job, but continually falls into the clutches of petty criminals or the main criminal himself.
The film has an atmosphere of realism – but heightened in a comic strip kind of way, especially in an initial chase but also in a scene at the Manhattan racecourse where Foxx rides a horse right through the oncoming competitors in a race. There are also some foot chases and a final explosion. Audiences enjoying this kind of popcorn action entertainment should be very pleased.
1. A crime thriller, blend of action and comedy – ultra-realism, cartoon style?
2. The New York background, New York City as a character, the skyline, streets, apartments, the technology? The musical score and pace?
3. The title, Alvin as bait? Edgar using him, Edgar’s relentlessness, control? Bristol as the master criminal, conscienceless?
4. The initial gold robbery, the information about the criminal, the checking of security, the computers, Bristol and his taking the gold, siphoning it off? Jaster and his heart problems, the pills, his escape, trapping Bristol? The escape in the truck, the tanker, Bristol shooting?
5. Alvin and Stevie, wanting to rob the factory, the prawns?
6. Alvin and Jaster in the same cell, Jaster talking, the information about the zoo? His heart problems, Edgar and his grilling, Woolly as a witness? Jaster dying?
7. Edgar at the scene of the crime, tough, control of the investigation, the evidence, his interrogations?
8. The eighteen months passing, Edgar and the technology, the explanation? Alvin in jail, boxing, his boasting, being hit with the brick, Edgar supervising the operation and the implant?
9. The technology for surveillance, listening in, Alvin and his life, the audience eavesdropping with the agents? The moral issues of intrusion, privacy? The types of agents, their reactions to listening to Alvin’s life? Edgar and his hard control? Alvin’s thoughts, reactions, bedroom sequences, discovering his son, getting a job, with the petty criminals?
10. Alvin as a character, telling Lisa the story of his father, as a groom, stealing the toys, his arrest? Alvin’s own record since a teenager? Bonds with Stevie? Stevie wanting the deal with the stolen cars, their clash, the drive, the risks, Alvin not going? The thugs feeling betrayed? Alvin and his application for jobs – even to the shop which he had robbed? The cheque from the government, the money drop and the chase? His intentions, going to Lisa in the shop, giving her the cheque? Good-natured, the touch of humour?
11. Edgar and his wanting to trap Bristol, the message, Bristol deciphering it, phoning Alvin and disguising his voice? His own skills in thwarting the surveillance and finding his number? His confronting Alvin in the street, the taser attack on the thugs, his escape? His acknowledging that he had taken the bait?
12. Alvin discovering the surveillance, his setting up of Stevie in the park, the phone ring? Alvin as smart?
13. Alvin and Bristol, Lisa and the baby, Bristol wanting to torture Alvin? The threats to the child?
14. Going to the racecourse, Alvin’s story of where the gold was, going into the stables, the egg disturbing the horse, Bristol and the fright, chasing him, Alvin on the horse, riding through the oncoming horses, the mayhem, on foot, through the building, the police pursuing, his jumping?
15. The bomb, the timer, the sense of pacing? Lisa and the baby, Alvin freeing Lisa at the last moment, driving the truck, escaping, the explosion? Bristol still pursuing, Edgar shooting him?
16. The unexpected clue, knowing where the gold was, tantalising Edgar, getting the five percent, two million dollars?
