DEADFALL
US, 1993, 98 minutes, Colour.
Michael Biehn, Sarah Trigger, Nicolas Cage, James Coburn, Peter Fonda, Charlie Sheen, Talia Shire, J. Kenneth Campbell, Michael Constantine.
Directed by Christopher Coppola.
One of the reasons for seeing – or not seeing this film, is the over-the-top performance by Nicolas Cage. It has to be seen to be believed – and would not have augured well for his career but that he won the Oscar the following year for Leaving Las Vegas.
The film was directed by his brother, Christopher Coppola. They had made films when both were young, Christopher directing, Nicolas acting – or overacting.
The film is a conventional story about criminals, with James Coburn playing two brothers, involved in all kinds of con tricks. Michael Biehn is the son, a fairly straightforward man who is involved in crime because of his father. He is conned by his father and is disillusioned at the end. The supporting cast includes brief sequences with Peter Fonda and a pool scene with Charlie Sheen. Coppola’s aunt, Talia Shire, appears as a bartender.
Christopher Coppola has made a number of films – mainly B features.
1.The impact of the film? Portrait of criminals? American style?
2.East coast and west coast settings? The world of Los Angeles crime? Offices, pool clubs, bars? The musical score?
3.The strength of the cast – stereotypes at times, overacting at others?
4.The meaning of the title, the focus on Joe Dolan, the initial con, the repercussions, his father tricking him, his mission in California, the final con and his disillusionment? That he was the fall guy? His narration and moral perspective on what happened?
5.Joe, relationship with his father, the initial con, shooting him, the issue of the blanks and the real bullets? In hospital? Pete and his advice, giving the clue about his Uncle Lou? His going to California, the girl behind the doughnut counter, the young boy, their help? Meeting Eddie? Introduction to Uncle Lou? Out with Eddie, showing him up by getting the money from the African American? Putting on a show? The encounter with Diane, seeing her at the funeral? Her looking like his mother? His memories of his mother? Diane’s return to the motel, the night with her? His going to his uncle’s office, looking through the desks, getting information? Eddie and his anger? The set-up, taking Lou, Joe to the rescue, the attack on Eddie and his death, burying him? The return to Diane? Setting up the con with the jewel expert, the preparation, the performance, things going wrong, the deaths? His father arriving again – trying to persuade him to be with him? Joe walking out?
6.The contrast between Mike and Lou, Mike’s death at the beginning, Joe and his admiration for his father, the flashbacks? Devotion to him? Meeting Lou, liking him, suspicious of him? The set-up – and the fact that Mike was betraying him? Revenge for his wife?
7.Eddie, mad drug-addicted criminal? Nicolas Cage’s performance? His behaviour, the con with Diane’s bracelet, Joe succeeding? Taking in the bartender? His overreaching himself, jealousy, death?
8.The bartender, her thinking she had got three hundred dollars, conned?
9.Pete, the other criminals, supporting Mike?
10.The confrontation with Hughie, his following Joe, the confrontation with Eddie, his death?
11.The sequence in the poolroom, the match with Morgan Gripp, access to the diamond expert? His watch? His being taken in, the set-up and the meeting, its going wrong?
12.The usual criminal story, gangs, drugs, honesty and dishonesty?
