Power Play (2002)

Director:

Joseph Zito

Writers:

BJ Davis (writer)
Adrian Fulle (writer)

Release Date:

February 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Thriller

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Energy | Disaster | Power

Cast

Dylan Walsh	...	Matt Nash
Alison Eastwood	...	Gabriella St.John
Tobin Bell	...	Clemens
Brixton Karnes	...	Travis Gentry
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Frank Birney	...	D.C.
Boti Bliss	...	Sara Rose (as Boti Ann Bliss)
Julia Davis	...	LAPD Officer
Mauricio Guerios	...	Pallbearer
Mark Hutter	...	Abbott
Jan Munroe	...	McCullough
Marty Papazian	...	Joel
Victor Raider-Wexler	...	Dr. Eisley
Kimi Reichenberg	...	Rita
Paulo Reis	...	Zendon
Marcia Strassman	...	Susan Breecher
Serge Van Kriekinge	...	Phone Booth Guy
Jaimz Woolvett	...	Todd

MPAA:

Rated R for violence.

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | Germany:16 | Sweden:15 | UK:12 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil

Company:

American Cinema International

Goofs:

Continuity: During the car chase, two cars hit head to head and the bad guy's 4x4 hits them, is thrown in the air, and is clearly seen to come down hard on the front end. We see the front right wheel buckle and break off the axle. Moments later it's chasing our hero.

Movie Connections:

Edited from Dante's Peak (1997)

Think of a no-budget China Syndrome directed by a student filmmaker who idolizes John Woo. (spoilers)

Think of a no-budget version of China Syndrome being directed by a film student who idolizes John Woo and you'll get 'Power Play.' The idea was good, but the execution, acting, and dialog absolutely killed it, not to mention ridiculous amounts of violence and disaster sequences that was used to compensate for lack of substance and development of the more interesting parts of the movie.

This is the story of a reporter investigating the disappearance of three members of a guerrilla activist group who mysteriously went missing after they broke into the offices of a power plant that is suspected to be causing a frenzy of earthquake. The rather cavalier reporter, going up against what should've been a more ruthless bunch of company execs, is chased around town (along with anyone he speaks to) in order to "clean" whatever conclusive evidence might remain of the plant's faults.

Unfortunately, there is no real sense of emergency because the characters interact with much hesitancy, coupled with idiotic dialog and a lot of horrible acting. Not to mention, the viewer, who may only be attracted to the movie for it's action genre appeal, is forced to endure a mounting body count and ridiculous amounts of violent shoot em-ups plus earthquake disaster scenes. All of the focus was put in the wrong place to apologetically compensate for the lack of direction and more interesting sequence of events that should've propelled the story. It might've been much better had the filmmakers focused more on a thriller, and paid greater attention to developing the corruption aspects of this story. Creepy villains, a naive reporter, and those who attempt to alert the reporter of the wrong-doing afoot. It is formulaic, but at least it would've been entertaining.