A précis of the plot suggests a political drama with lots of speeches and demonstrations of brutality on the part of the South African police during the apartheid era.
Well, there is some brutality towards the end, but it's not bathetic. The stern, sadistic, patriotic, and ironic agent of national security -- Nicole Williamson in a charged performance -- is unexpectedly shot through the forehead and slumps expressionless to the ground. Nobody feels any guilt, although they probably should. Williamson himself might not even care except that his anti-black-congress activities are now interfered with by his own demise. Also, his final thought may have been, "At last, I can quit smoking."
The first half is positively funny. Nobody is better at indignant shock than Michael Caine, who is given some witty lines. Poitier, on the other hand, is more grim and dedicated to the cause of ending apartheid. Some of the other characters add color. Saeed Jaffrey is a trembling Indian dentist. Persis Khambatta is a fellow dentist and a fox both stunning and cunning. I have no idea why she copulates with Poitier, a total stranger, in a closet while police are searching the house, though I understand why Poitier might chance it.
Moments of suspense and comedy, nicely woven together and directed with no particular poetry by Ralph Nelson.
It made me laugh aloud at times. You'll probably like it if you like up-tempo pursuits and intrigues.
Well, there is some brutality towards the end, but it's not bathetic. The stern, sadistic, patriotic, and ironic agent of national security -- Nicole Williamson in a charged performance -- is unexpectedly shot through the forehead and slumps expressionless to the ground. Nobody feels any guilt, although they probably should. Williamson himself might not even care except that his anti-black-congress activities are now interfered with by his own demise. Also, his final thought may have been, "At last, I can quit smoking."
The first half is positively funny. Nobody is better at indignant shock than Michael Caine, who is given some witty lines. Poitier, on the other hand, is more grim and dedicated to the cause of ending apartheid. Some of the other characters add color. Saeed Jaffrey is a trembling Indian dentist. Persis Khambatta is a fellow dentist and a fox both stunning and cunning. I have no idea why she copulates with Poitier, a total stranger, in a closet while police are searching the house, though I understand why Poitier might chance it.
Moments of suspense and comedy, nicely woven together and directed with no particular poetry by Ralph Nelson.
It made me laugh aloud at times. You'll probably like it if you like up-tempo pursuits and intrigues.