THE PLOT THUS FAR
McGriff and Albaby are probably doing the worst law enforcement job in the world – they are plain clothes U.S. military policemen on duty in war-time Saigon. However, their job becomes even harder when they start investigating the serial killings of local prostitutes. Their prime suspect is high ranking U.S. Army officer which brings their lives in danger.
WHAT WE THOUGHT
Following a string of prostitute murders, Buck McGriff (Willem Dafoe) and his partner Albaby Perkins (Gregory Hines) are on the case. The suspects are all high ranking officers. Everyone including the ARVN (Army of The Republic of South Vietnam) QC (South Vietnamese Military Police) stand in their way. Only a French nun Sister Nicole (Amanda Pays) is of grudging assistance. Along the trail, they’re kidnapped by troops fiercely loyal to their Colonel, witness US war crimes called playing helicopters, and finally take a taxi to VC headquarters to consort with Charlie himself.
Yet despite their many adventures the answer has always been staring them in the face.Dafoe and Hines perfectly pitch out their broodingly tough persons, spitting out lean, mean and raw dialogues (sometimes darkly humorous) and encountering many heated exchanges. Director Christopher Crowe paints a hard-bitten environment, consisting of live-wire chase scenes, aggressive violence and a paranoid air. The plot moodily unfolds, as it’s not much of a mystery but the simple investigation of trying to put the pieces together from scratch, while dealing with constant barriers and cover-ups stopping that from happening. However it does have some unbalanced moments of pure insanity… mainly when Glenn’s character enters the frame.
The DVD comes with a commentary from the director and Willem Dafoe. When did Dafoe ever do this commentary? I’m a big fan, but this doesn’t seem like the kind of film that he would bring up a lot. While there’s a lot of 80s Reagan Revisionist action going down, it’s still pretty fun. Dafoe doesn’t do fun, he does odd. So, it will be quite a stretch to experience him in such an odd ball film like this. I’d recommend a rental, as the entire Vietnam revenge subgenre needs to be experience by all serious movie fans.
RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW!
