SHADOW RUN
UK, 1998, 94 minutes, Colour.
Michael Caine, James Fox, Matthew Pochin, Rae Baker, Kenneth Colley, Christopher Cazenove, Rupert Frazer, Leslie Grantham.
Directed by Geoffrey Reeve.
Shadow Run is a routine crime thriller, rather ugly in its presentation of brutal villains.
Michael Caine is a businessman, gangster, who lacks any kind of scruple – except, perhaps, a soft spot for a fat boy (whom he might see an image of himself). James Fox is a well-to-do criminal. The focus is on the planning of a robbery of paper to be used for the production of Sterling notes. The Caine character gets a number of colleagues, including Kenneth Colley, as a former security guard.
In the meantime, there is a focus on an affluent school where the boys perform in choir. Matthew Pochin is a fat boy who witnesses Caine committing a crime, whose father is in prison, who is bullied by the other boys, and who becomes friends with the criminal. However, he is also the star singer in the choir. Christopher Cazenove appears as the headmaster of the school and Rupert Frazer the choirmaster.
The film is ordinary – the material of a television episode in a series. Direction is by Geoffrey Reeve who directed several Alistair Mac Lean adaptations, Caravan to Vaccares, Puppet on a Chain, Dust Be My Destiny.
1.The popularity of this kind of crime thriller? The robbery and its preparation? Execution? The portrait on criminals?
2.The British setting, the countryside, the country town, the affluent school, the cathedral? Authentic atmosphere? Musical score? The hymns and the choir?
3.The focus on Haskell, the initial attempt at the robbery, the failure, the killings, the blood? Haskell wearing the balaclava? Joffrey and his run, watching, testing the blood? Haskell’s threats? Giving him the money? The bond between the two, Haskell watching him at choir practice, getting his help in using the crane for the iron plates on the cathedral, abducting him, his presence at the final crime, seeing Haskell dead? The money, the gifts? The effect on Joffrey?
4.Landon-Higgins, affluent, respectable, business deals, ambiguous way of speaking? The meetings with Haskell, commissioning him? Holding his past over him? The preparation for the new robbery? Haskell gatecrashing his wife’s party? Other meetings? With the racehorse? His character, his mistrust of Haskell? Coming with the gun at the end, shooting Haskell? Haskell shifting the brake and backing over him, killing him?
5.Julie, the escort service, the phone call from Haskell, the meals with him, the nights together, the friendship with Larcombe, her indiscretion, Haskell forgiving her – and murdering her? Larcombe, his being sought out, the medical records, the interview, the discussions with Haskell, the shadow run, the cathedral, the explanation of the lack of phone signal? Participation in the crime – and his being killed?
6.Haskell, his character, seeing him only smiling and charming, seeing him as brutal, his murder of the informer, of Julie, of Larcombe? Yet his sparing the boy?
7.Liney, friends with Haskell, coming in on the job, participation, reluctance to go on the cathedral roof?
8.The crime itself, the planning, alterations, Haskell and Liney going to the cathedral, getting the crane, adjusting the signal? The crime itself, the men in the van, unable to phone, the explosion, the robbery?
9.The school, the principal and his wanting rich students? Joffrey as a scholarship student? The discussions with Maunder? The interviews with Joffrey, Maunder and wanting Joffrey to sing, pleading with the headmaster?
10.The boys, bullying Joffrey, his wanting to do something in their eyes, lies about his family, telling them about Haskell, their not believing him? The friendship with Victoria? Going out with her, the party, meeting Zee? Infatuated? The boys forcing Victoria to call him? His doing the daring thing – the banner on the cathedral?
11.The choir, the singing, the headmaster and Maunder and their criticising the boys for their bullying? Joffrey turning up – and the final singing and his memories?
