CUTAWAY

US, 2000, 104 minutes, Colour.
Tom Berenger, Stephen Baldwin, Dennis Rodman, Maxine Bahns, Ron Silver, Casper Van Dien, Thomas Ian Nicholas.
Directed by Guy Manos.

Cutaway is a film about drugs and dealing but also about skydiving. The director and co-writer, with his brother Greg, Guy Manos was a skydiving expert. He also served as stunt director on a number of films like Cliffhanger.

The film has an authentic feel about the skydiving sequences – and they are many, culminating in daredevil work and competition. The aerial photographer gets a special credit, deserved.

The film is conventional enough in its presentation of a hyperactive undercover agent, played by Stephen Baldwin, whose control is played by Ron Silver. When a bust goes wrong, the undercover agent discovers the truth about the operation and the use of skydivers. The group are called Cutaways because they have given up their former lives and live a hippie kind of life, indulging in the skydiving. This, in fact, is financed by the drug deals.

The plot is fairly predictable, the agent getting special training from a rival of the group, infiltrating, becoming successful, falling for the girl in the group, the build-up to the confrontation with the leader, the bust, the competition – and his cutting away at the end.

1.An entertaining thriller? Drug dealing? Familiar material? The specialty of the skydiving?

2.The stunt work, the aerial photography, the close-ups of the skydiving, the formations, the falls? The rigorous training? The techniques?

3.The title, the reference to the group, leaving their former occupations completely behind, living an independent life, doing what they want? The irony that it was supported by drugs? The double irony of the decision at the end for Vic to cut away – but how would the work be supported financially?

4.The introduction to Vic, the computer details about him, his reliability, his being under the control of Lieutenant Margate. His work, the bust, the blonde pilot, the failure? His anger?

5.His discovery of the skydivers, his friendship with Star, the clash with Turbo, being introduced to Red Line? Star and her hustling him into training, a fall? The old lady and his changing places with her? The exhilaration of the dive? His further involvement? Permission from Margate? His special training with Delmira, the rivalry? His initial awkwardness, greater success? The return, discussions with Red Line, the suspicions of Turbo? His going up in the ranks, the resentment of the others? Talking things over, the explanation of Red Line?

6.Red Line, his expertise, always wanting to win? Genial but tough? The training, hard with Star and Vic, the competition, promoting Vic? His inviting him for the drug deal? Vic joining, its success? The build-up to the arrest, his saving Red Line by pushing him over the side of the building and their both parachuting down? Margate’s disgust?

7.Star, being a Cutaway, attracted to Vic, the professional differences? Turbo, his hostility, his death? The other members of the group, their discussions? Expertise? The young man doing the thesis?

8.The build-up to the capture, the mission and the skydiving into the mansion for the dealers? The competition, Red Line’s decision, the rivalry with Delmira? Vic and his success? The winning of the competition? Arresting Red Line, his dropping to his death?

9.A portrait of drug enforcement agencies, undercover work, control, risks? The skydiving entertainment?