Passenger 57": "Die Hard" up in the Air Passenger 57 Dir

MOVIES "Passenger 57": "Die Hard" up in the air Passenger 57 Dir. Kevin Hooks The script's narrative is "Passenger 57," the new Warner Brothers release starring written like a real airline Wesley Snipes, is a slam-bang action film in the same familiar | trip. vein as "Die Hard" and the recent gins, Rane successfully comman The plot alone lends itself to "Under Siege." Snipes plays ex- deers the plane with the help of his several comparisons to the afore cop John Cutter on his way to Los comrades who have disguised mentioned films but there are a Angeles to start a new job doing themselves as a flight attendant, a few unique characteristics about what he does best: stopping global cargo man and a passenger. But at "Passenger 57." The script's nar terrorists from doing what they do the time Rane takes control, our rative is written almost like a real best, that is, blowing things up and man Cutter is in the lavatory trying airline trip. First, there is the set killing people. Little does Cutter to get control of his fear of air up where we find the background know, but on the same plane to travel. Once aware of the hijackers of the major characters (the Wesley Snipes with the best view on the plane. Special Photo L.A. is international hijacker presence, Cutter escapes to other boarding of the plane.) Second, acters. It would seem that the only the global anti-terrorist career, this Charles Rane, escorted by two FBI parts of the plane where he be we then sense the potential prob way to provide the hero with smart- agents to his trial in L.A. Of comes a big fly in the terrorist's lems that will inevitably arrive character could be a 1990s ver aleck lines would be to give him sion of James Bond. To his credit, course, shortly after the flight be- ointment. with terrorists and an anti-terror imbeciles to play off of. European the film overcomes its flaws by ist in the same cramped environ actor Bruce Payne plays one of the not taking itself too seriously. It's ment (the take-off and initial best villains since Hannibal Lecter. flight) Due to the actions of just good fun with a lot of action Despite some corny and unneces and it knows it. Cutter, the plane is forced to land sary dialogue, Wesley Snipes is a midway through the film (the lay charming lead action hero. Given -Scott McGee over.) Finally at the end of the film, Cutter finds himself back on the plane, determined to bring Rane back to justice, one way or another (more flight and then the landing.) As clever as it is, the charac ters suffer because of the script's inconsistencies. Cutter's inner motivation, that of an ex-cop grieving the recent death of his wife due to his mistake, is a bit tired. After all, we've seen this done better in "Lethal Weapon." Similar to "Die Hard," there are too many stupid supporting char- Snipes wrestles with an irate merry-go-round attendant. Special Photo '1 said cream and no sugar." Special Photo "Jennifer 8" lacks ingredients of a classic thriller Jennifer 8 of a vagrant in the city dump, Ber uncovers a possible witness, the Dir. Bruce Robinson lin finds a woman's hand among beautiful young blind teacher, the debris. Showing off his supe Helena Robertson (Uma A typical Hollywood thriller rior investigative skills, Berlin Thurman) whose information that tries to capitalize on concepts takes charge before he is ever as could turn her into the next vic used in many suspense films, signed the case. tim. A romance ensues between "Jennifer 8" is the story of a big Berlin begins to dig into the the two as they attempt to track city cop who moves to a small unsolved police files and discov down the killer. However, town, uncovers a string of murders ers the murder of an unidentified Berlin's fellow officers begin to and turns out to be as much a woman who police have dubbed question Berlin's obsessive be- suspect as the man he's trying to Jennifer. Further investigation find. turns up six other similar crimes The story is Detective John Berlin (Andy and one missing woman (thus, Garcia) is a hardworking cop from coming up with eight Jennifers.) at times L.A, who has been convinced to Berlin believes he has discovered leave the big city in search of a the pattern of a serial killer who long and more sedate life in the small town preys upon young blind women. of Eureka, Cal. Sedateness, how The only problem is that no one, pointless. ever, is not what Berlin finds. not even his partner, believes him. While investigating the homicide Persistent to the end, Berlin havior toward the case as leads begin to turn up cold. And, when his partner is suspiciously mur dered, Berlin is caught without an alibi. With an interesting cameo role at the end, John Malcovich plays a cocky FBI interrogator whoadamantly tries to persuade Berlin to confess to the murder of his partner. Bruce Robinson, who wrote and directed "Jennifer 8," tries to tap into the same vein as "Si Andy Garcia and Lance Henricksen looking for clues Special Photo lence of the Lambs." However, the script in "Jennifer 8" lacks long and pointless, throwing in rental, but a classic thriller if snot, the same intensity that information that really has no rel made "Silence" such a success evance to the film. "Jennifer 8" is -Sarah Wardlaw Andy Garcia and Uma Thurman ponder the case. Special Photo ful film. The story is at times good date movie, even a good video 4 Tuesday Magazine November 17, 1992 .

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