The Flight of the Dove (1994)

User Rating:

4.5/10   

Director:

Steve Railsback

Writer (WGA):

Lewis A. Green (written by)

Genre:

Thriller

Plot:

A beautiful spy trades sex for secrets. A reclusive explosives expert is haunted by a tragic past. When these two meet, the sparks fly...

Plot Keywords:

Spy | Dominatrix | Independent Film

Cast

Scott Glenn	...	William B. Rickman
Theresa Russell	...	Mary Ann Curran (aka Alex Canis)
Lane Smith	...	Stephen Hahn
Terence Knox	...	Jonathan 'J.B.' Brandels
Katherine Helmond	...	Dr. Pamela Schilling
Joe Pantoliano	...	Attorney Brezner
Alex Rocco	...	Bartender
Rudy Ramos	...	Ortiz
Gary Graham	...	Silver
Angelo Dimascio	...	Burns
Juan A. Riojas	...	Rodas (as Juan Riojas)
Bo Eason	...	Donner
Nicholas Mele	...	Mailman
Shashawnee Hall	...	Stocky Workman
Robert Dryer	...	Tall Workman

Also Known As:

The Spy Within

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexuality, and for violence and language.

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:16 | UK:18 (video premiere) | USA:R

Company:

Hillwood Entertainment Film Group Inc.

Soundtrack:

Crossing Over the Line

Spy Within proved prophetic

Watch Spy/Dove closely. Yes, Theresa Russell, Scott Glenn, Alex Rocco, Lane Smith, Joe Pantoliano among others surely are accomplished actors deserving of finer material. But they made this film as Americans were being lulled into complacency. Some involved in Spy clearly weren't.

Today? Spy proves prophetic. Look at the story. Isn't the protagonist Cathy O'Brien by another name? Rogue G-men outsourcing wet work to thugs? Who'd have thought? Not many in '94. Today?

Glenn and Russell's characters find themselves in twisted new world swirling with predatory undertows albeit superficially bland. New realities buffet them like serial tsunamis. Though Glenn's character at first won't see it, his and Russell's are similar. It's how they'll survive in a world in which everyone betrays everyone else.

Joe Pantoliano should have received an award for his performance as smarmy chivato sociopathic lawyer. Yes, redundant. Sorry. His grinning socio-baiter defines lawyers in specific and societal cancer in general.

As a 'great actor', doesn't he make you want to reach thru the screen and throttle him? Did I say something 'intimidating'? Does my visceral analysis of Pantoliano's interpretation constitute a Thought Crime? Will I lose my rights to a false malicious Restraining Order obtained by greaszy larcenous thugs of the sort portrayed in Spy?

Yes, I'm being facetious and for good reason. Art prophesies Life in Spy/Dove. Don't we find ourselves in a not so brave world? Guilty until proved guilty? Ms. Russell's character opted out of the world. Scott Glenn's temporarily defeated character followed. His first step? Fearless demonstration of compassion by pursuing the purse snatchers.

Isn't it telling when G/Thugs witness a home explosion and presume their quarry to be dead? Nevertheless, they advance not so much cautiously as timidly, with guns drawn? Of what were they afraid? Their own treachery? Spy contains insights vital for survival.

Dr. Paul Vincent Zecchino

Manasota Key, Florida

06 October, 2006

"Truth leads a wretched life -

and always survives the lie."

- Cathy O'Brien