BROKEN ARROW (1996)

Directed By: John Woo
Written By: Graham Yost
Cinematography By: Peter Levy
Editor: John Wright, Steve Mirkovich & Joe Hutshing

Cast: John Travolta, Christian Slater, Howie Long, Samantha Mathis, Delroy Lindo, Frank Whaley, Bob Gunton, Vondie-Curtis Hall, Jack Thompson


"Broken Arrow" is the term used to describe a nuclear device that has been lost. In this movie, two nuclear missiles are stolen by rogue US pilot Deakins, but hot on his trail is his co-pilot Hale and a Park Ranger, Terry. The action takes place in Utah's canyon country; a high stakes game of cat and mouse.

The film’s title sounds like a long lost western or a native american drama. Not the title of an action film about a nuclear warhead. I guess it goes in tune with code names.

What’s interesting is that this film feels bigger then what it is. It feels like a lot of money went into the film and it’s production Yet it seems to take pace in such a small location. Which is what lends to the ridiculousness of the film. It seems to get sillier as the film goes on, but the action sequences are fun.
This is your typical no brainer Hollywood popcorn film. That seems more there to entertain and make sure the audience doesn’t get bored, then with character, story or plausibility.

This was one of John Travolta’s big roles after the comeback with Pulp Fiction and here he is clearly having fun chewing the scenery as the villain. Travolta was actually given the choice of playing the hero or the villain. He choose wisely. It was a high profile project at the time and the hero of thefilm his nemesis is of all people Christian Slater who was still a name at the time. Now I like Christian Slater as an actor but a action hero he is not, Villian or sidekick yes. Around this time he was either picking action hero roles or they were being offered a lot to him just like his starring turn in HARD RAIN.

Now as I have already said I am a fan of Christian Slater. I really don’t like some critics downplaying his acting just because he was a popular teen actor. He has more then proven himself time and again as a good actor. Sure the films haven’t been great over the years, But he usually gave a solid performance more times then not. Check out his performance in MURDER IN THE FIRST and HE WAS A QUIET MAN. Here he does what he is asked to do, Not too accomplished. It is rare though that a action film leaves too much room for characterization especially in such a tight time frame of frantic energy. This is a sort of reunion for him as Samantha Mathis is the female lead who he spends most of his scenes with. They also co-Starred in one of my favorite films PUMP UP THE VOLUME. She was actually picked over Jennifer Aniston and Halle Berry. Christian turned down the Sylvester Stallone film ASSASSIANS, just to work with director John Woo.

Then having a ending Fist fight was inevitable. Since early and throughout the film we keep being reminded that they are spar boxing partners.

Howie long is actually pretty good as Travolta’s right hand man.

This Is another film directed By john Woo here there are plenty of action sequences unfortunately none too memorable. There aren’t even too many gun battles. John Woo originally wanted the film to be more downbeat by having the hero be successful, but then die. Which would have actually given the film some credibility as one of the few to have it’s hero die, but the studio quickly put an end to that. One of the problems of this film is that you can hardly tell it’s a John Woo film. This film is so basic and by the numbers it really has no personality or thrills. Things happen you watch. Explosions wake you up. They just don’t make you feel anything. They don’t impress. Things just happen.

One of the more hilarious scenes is that after building up some supporting characters and making it look like they are going to be the calvary that actually helps the film makes them and there efforts disappear in one fell swoop. It’s a shame as the supporting cast is actually established actors. Better then the leads.
The film just feels like a Straight to DVD film with a budget. It just seems generic. It’s a film that was obviously made more to get audiences in with their love of the lead actors and seeing them onscreen then by story alone.

Wait for Cable.

Grade: C –