xXx: THE NEXT LEVEL (xXx: STATE OF THE UNION)

US, 2005, 105 minutes, Colour.
Ice Cube, Samuel L. Jackson, Willem Dafoe, Peter Strauss, Scott Speedman.
Directed by Lee Tamahori.

There will be no complaint from the testosterone brigade when they watch this action-packed terrorist story. In one sense, xXx is critic-proof because it will easily sell itself. The publicists will think this is just as well because so many critics do not want to be seen commending this kind of populist stuff. They have just sneered and dismissed it: ‘there’s no accounting for tastes’.

Lee Tamahori, a New Zealand director (Once Were Warriors) told me in 1994 that he would love to go to Hollywood and make the kind of movie he enjoyed watching when he was a kid. Over ten years he has (Mulholland Falls, The Edge, Along Came a Spider and episodes of The Sopranos) and achieved a career high with the James Bond adventure, Die Another Die. Which means that Lee Tamahori knows how to tell a good action yarn, employ a somewhat sardonic tone for the characters and proceedings, and use stunts and effects for maximum and optimum impact. There are plenty of explosions, raids, car crashes, chases, a tank attack on the USS Independence and a climax with a high speed car and a helicopter pursuing a bullet train. Who could ask for anything more!!

Actually, the film is somewhat subversive in its presentation of US government and, more particularly, US Defence authorities, especially the Secretary for Defense. Perhaps not Donald Rumsfeld’s favourite movie. In xXx, the action was in Europe. This time the terrorists are rogue Americans and the actions does not go out of Virginia and Maryland. Even The US Capitol building suffers attack and damages to its dome.

Ice Cube steps in to make the original xXx, Vin Diesel, look a bit restrained. Samuel L.Jackson is tough authority. Willem Dafoe is a contemporary Benedict Arnold, treason in the name of patriotism and making America safe.

The plot is full of plot turns and twists that seem so blatant, doing the exaggerated obvious, that there is nothing to do but go along with them. It’s the same with the dialogue, a tongue-in-cheek screenplay of obvious lines, especially those that flaunt ‘attitude’. It is a film of attitude. It also has the courage of its exuberant convictions.

1. A satisfying action show? A testosterone action show? Exuberant action?

2. The title, agents in the US, the film as a sequel – and the connection with the original, the reference to XXX's death, the role of Gibbons?

3. The Virginia settings, Washington DC – authentic for this kind of far-fetched action?

4. Editing and pace, action, the dialogue and the emphasis on attitude? Humour, irony? The musical score, heightened? Rap songs?

5. The subversive aspect of the film, the role of the President of the US, the role of the military, the rebellious Defence Secretary, his troops, patriotism and false patriotism, treason?

6. The prologue, the tranquillity of Virginia countryside, the horses? The bodies, the attack, the firing, the escape from the underground facility? The president, Heckert, Kyle and the puzzle?

7. Gibbons and his assistant, the mayhem underground with the attackers? The shooting, gas? The escape? Gibbons puzzling as to who attacked? Breaching security in the US? Terrorism? Going to the prison, interviewing Stone, being videoed? Stone’s attitude? The revelations about the past, the attack, Deckert, Gibbons’ presence, Stone finishing in jail for nine years? Gibbons’ challenge to Stone?

8. The spectacular escape from the prison, Stone and his agility, the helicopter on the roof? Stone and his return to the facility, going down the hole, the pursuit, the escape, the car, the boat, the explosion, the bridge?

9. Stone as a person, his reliance on tough attitude? Going to the Chop Shop? His friend going up-market, the cars, machines? Wanting to do everything his own way?

10. Gibbons, at home, the explosion, his death?

11. The glimpse of the president, his more liberal stances, Deckert and his disagreement, ostensible loyalty? The background of Deckert and his command of the group, Gibbons being in the group, Deckert at Gibbons’ house before the explosion?

12. The photos, Charlie and her presence, the meeting in the restaurant, Stone pretending to be a southern Reverend? His going to the White House, being the waiter, overhearing the plot? His being photographed? The escape? Charlie and the car, taking him to the house, his relaxing, the murder of the general, the set-up and the siege?

13. Kyle, his staff, information about Stone, Gibbons? His going into the house under siege, discussions with Stone? Stone using the microwave to pretend that the heat was his body and his escaping?

14. Stone and the discussions with Kyle, his going to the USS Independence? His discoveries? The armaments, his being discovered, the tanks? The battle? Finding that Gibbons was alive?

15. The plan, Deckert and his going to discuss the matters with Kyle, Kyle and the truth? Going to the Chop Shop, meeting Lola, her agreeing to lend her valuable car, her relationship with Stone? His going on a mission?

16. The meeting in Congress, the attack, the strategy plan by Deckert? Deckert’s henchmen? The deaths, the president and his being taken by Deckert? The fights, deaths?

17. The bullet train, the pursuit, Stone in the car, the helicopter? The shooting, the fights on board the train, the bridge?

18. Stone, his completing the mission? His decision not to stay with Lola, going into the future (or a sequel)?

19. The popularity of this kind of American superhero, the tough man, heroic fantasy, comic strip style – yet the rather more left wing political undertones?