Post by ronnierocketago on Aug 2, 2009 18:18:56 GMT
DROP ZONE (1994) - ***
Well this is a nice surprise. Usually if by the midway point I haven't exactly invested myself in the narrative or the supposed pyrotechnics of said action cinema haven't thrilled me, I tend to mentally write the movie off. And usually there is no turnaround to prove me wrong. This is the pictures, not basketball or football. But DROP ZONE defies me by making strong comeback from forgettable banality to some watchable quality. You scrappy little punk.
The first half is certainly typical action fare: U.S. Marhsals Wesley Snipes and his brother (do siblings get to work together in the Service?) are escorting computer hacker Michael Jeter on an airflight. Criminals led by corrupt DEA agent Gary Busey take the plane hostage, kidnap Jeter, escape by parachute, fake their "deaths" by detonating an explosion (cutting Jeter's pinkie off helps), and oh yeah kill Snipes' brother. That sorta pisses Snipes off. But he shockingly doesn't seek vengeance and instead goes back home, let the Feds do the job while he mends his anguish by learning pottery, and ultimately forgives the bad guys by inviting them to Thanksgiving dinner.
What? I would like to see an action movie do this for once.
The first half of DROP ZONE reminded me of that Snipes action vehicle PASSENGER 57, a dull checklist which never surprises you with the genre required scenes we get: Feds blame Snipes and dead brother (he can't deny) for the fiasco, Snipes is suspended and his badge taken away, he goes rogue anyway with his own investigation, threatens snitches and superiors if they stop him, gets unofficial help from colleagues, has a bar fight, villain displays his ruthless credentials by murdering own henchman, Busey eating up the psychotic scenery, film shows off Snipes' deep independent research by taping random maps and pictures to walls, the DEA database ridiculously hacked with ease, and so forth.
If you must know, the scheme of the hoods is to sell the identities of DEA undercover agents to drug barons (by skydiving into government offices, breaking in, hacking the data, and floating away to getaway truck) and Snipes is on their trail (somehow) by learning the sport with skydiver Yancy Butler, who's former flame also happened to be that guy who got dropped (pun!) from the evil team by Busey. All ths reeks of POINT BREAK but Swayze-free, Busey getting a bigger paycheck, no awesomely ridiculous macho philosophy, no Ex-Presidents, less surfing more skydiving, and without the directorial flair.
Then the movie starts becoming compelling and even funny, when Snipes discovers that Busey's squad is going to the International skydiving championship in D.C., so he and Butler assemble a rag tag (what else?) parachute team to compete with Busey. Most of the recruits aren't allowed a personality beyond their archetypes (rookie, veteran, etc.) except for one, the radical "Swoop," played by Kyle Secor. Snipes and Butler find this "ace" working as a lowly window cleaner at some corporate skyscraper. They convince him to join, then he trips and falls we think oh shit but don't worry this was intentional. He had a parachute. The concept that he just happened to have a parachute hidden under his clothing, just in case he decided to randomly quit his job by floating to the bottom...absolutely ludicrous. And I loved it.
Suddenly we have a "us and them" rivalry dynamic, with the earnest honest heroes behind Butler/Snipes, and Busey's arrogant assholes. A few of them try to manhandle Swoop in the bathroom, and Snipes busts some BLADE moves on them. Unlike that routine uninspired random bar brawl, I actually kinda cared about this fight. Then the baddies sabotage Butler's chute...which she gives to the rookie. Congrats man, you're now Anthony Edwards. Turns out the villains plan to hack the national DEA office during the 4th of July when the District's restricted guaraded airspace is eased off. I doubt this plotline would suffice in a post-9/11 movie, but anyway don't be shocked if the good guys find out and improv "drop zone" on the DEA building to save the day. There is a certain fun charm to finding out a way or two how Snipes' comrades defeat these professional killers.
You all might not remember, but years back Butler was (briefly) the star of that rather successful cable action program WITCHBLADE on TNT. Despite high ratings, TNT cancelled it because of her public alcoholism. I don't remember WITCHBLADE much, except that she proved a capable natural action figure without said material having to over-emphasize that whole gender issue. It's no big deal, you accept it. You don't realize how most supposed female action heroes never get over that tiny little problem. Point is, Butler is very believable as a skydiver-expert, and in a rarity for an actioneer, there is no obligatory romantic subplot between her and Snipes.
And I must say, the skydiving sequences in DROP ZONE are quite amazingly executed and shot. Apparently the same is said of another 1994 release involving skydiving stunts in the Charlie Sheen vehicle TERMINAL VELOCITY, but DROP ZONE is considered superior. Why I'm shocked. We get the ole falling out of an airplane without a chute (done earlier by POINT BREAK, originally by FOR YOUR EYES ONLY I believe), and quite a stunning stunt: During the tournament the Swoop chacter, his chute deployed, floats under one of Busey's men (also deployed) and cuts his chute, which giftwraps the prick. Swoop freefalls, everyone is shocked, but Swoop opens up another parachute, and floats to the ground. See if this whole scene was produced today, I would guessed it was done with GI. But since this is 1994...it was legit, done for real. Now that's impressive. Interestingly enough, because of insurance policies, the only cast member who actually participated in these dives was Jeter. I wonder if he rubbed that shit in Snipes' face.
DROP ZONE was directed by John Badham. He's had a decent career, helming the disco classic SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, the doomsday thriller WARGAMES, that robot flick SHORT CIRCUIT, the early Johnny Depp vehicle NICK OF TIME, and STAKEOUT the Richard Dreyfuss/Emilio Estevez buddy cop picture. DROP ZONE isn't as good as those titles, and I doubt clips will be shown by the networks in eulogy. But he did OK, even if action cinema has never been his forte.
Fun fact: Steven Seagal was originally attached to star in DROP ZONE, for a cool $15 million (I bet he misses those days) but he had to drop out. Back when he got his disasterous "personal" directorial effort ON DEADLY GROUND produced, he contractually promised Warner Bros. an UNDER SIEGE sequel. SIEGE 2 and DROP ZONE schedules conflicted, and the Ponytail walked. In an odd coincidence, one of Seagal's superiors in both SIEGE movies was Andy Romano...who plays Snipes' superior in DROP ZONE.
What else can I write about DROP ZONE? It starts out weak, finishes strong. Snipes is Snipes, Busey is Busey, Butler...well she needs more jobs. The late terrific Jeter is humorous and awesome as always. I like his introduction, surviving a shiv attack in jail while feeding his cars who live in the sewer pipeline. There are some good laughs, nice action, and if you can soldier through the first 45 minutes or so of BORE ZONE, then you'll be pleasantly rewarded.
I won't recommend DROP ZONE to everyone, but if you're intrigued by a scene where Butler smashes the evil bitch's head into the copy machine's plate glass, and xerox copies of her destroyed face print out...this might be for you.