Narrow Margin is a redundant story--a person witnesses a mafia slaying and then, once they find out that there is a suspect, that innocent person becomes their next target. And it is usually a long, drawn out chase, while some cop decides to take it upon himself to risk his life to get this person to testify. This is the same thing.
Anne Archer plays Carol Hunnicut, a woman who witnessed the mafia slaying of her blind date (of all things), Michael Tarlow, which, unfortunately, is a very brief part played by the excellent, J.T. Walsh. As a defense lawyer for mob boss, Leo Watts (Harris Yulin), Tarlow was playing with fire when he decided to circumvent some of Watt's money to pay for his own endeavors. And Watts figured it out before Michael Tarlow could repay him. In the boss's eyes, Tarlow's crimes are tantamount to execution. And that's exactly what happens.
This is unfortunate for Carol Hunnicut who witnessed the shooting. Some Los Angeles Deputies get information that Carol was in the apartment and that she witnessed the crime. Now, they have to convince her to testify. Carol is no idiot of course. From the night she saw the shooting and realized that she could be next, she covered up her tracks, and absconded to a Canadian ranch to hide out. She broke ties with her young son and husband because she knew that they, too, would be in danger. And despite the urgings of Robert Caufield (Gene Hackmen), who is to be her Deputy escort on the Canadian train that is to return her to Los Angeles, Carol doesn't want to testify. Aside from a reluctant witness, Robert Caufield has to deal with crooked cops in his own department and two hitmen on the very train they are traveling, but he is nonetheless honorably determined to save Carol.
Despite the typical story of a witness trying to escape the grips of unrelentless mafia hitmen, it is an entertaining story nonetheless. Anne Archer's character is not stupid, she's quite aware of the risks that lie ahead, and doubts whether one Deputy (Hackman) is enough to save her. And despite the tired finales of fights between antogonist and protagonist while on top of a train, there are some good action and thriller ploys here and there that make it an entertaining story. I think the lead characters, Hunnicut and Caufield, add something good to the movie.
Anne Archer plays Carol Hunnicut, a woman who witnessed the mafia slaying of her blind date (of all things), Michael Tarlow, which, unfortunately, is a very brief part played by the excellent, J.T. Walsh. As a defense lawyer for mob boss, Leo Watts (Harris Yulin), Tarlow was playing with fire when he decided to circumvent some of Watt's money to pay for his own endeavors. And Watts figured it out before Michael Tarlow could repay him. In the boss's eyes, Tarlow's crimes are tantamount to execution. And that's exactly what happens.
This is unfortunate for Carol Hunnicut who witnessed the shooting. Some Los Angeles Deputies get information that Carol was in the apartment and that she witnessed the crime. Now, they have to convince her to testify. Carol is no idiot of course. From the night she saw the shooting and realized that she could be next, she covered up her tracks, and absconded to a Canadian ranch to hide out. She broke ties with her young son and husband because she knew that they, too, would be in danger. And despite the urgings of Robert Caufield (Gene Hackmen), who is to be her Deputy escort on the Canadian train that is to return her to Los Angeles, Carol doesn't want to testify. Aside from a reluctant witness, Robert Caufield has to deal with crooked cops in his own department and two hitmen on the very train they are traveling, but he is nonetheless honorably determined to save Carol.
Despite the typical story of a witness trying to escape the grips of unrelentless mafia hitmen, it is an entertaining story nonetheless. Anne Archer's character is not stupid, she's quite aware of the risks that lie ahead, and doubts whether one Deputy (Hackman) is enough to save her. And despite the tired finales of fights between antogonist and protagonist while on top of a train, there are some good action and thriller ploys here and there that make it an entertaining story. I think the lead characters, Hunnicut and Caufield, add something good to the movie.