Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, May 15, 1993 TAG: 9305150199
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: B10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
It has no more to do with the historical "truth" of the Old West than Sergio Leone's operatic concoctions do. In fact, the film borrows heavily from Leone's work; a clip from "Once Upon a Time in the West" shows up in the closing credits. The story also lifts elements from "The Wild Bunch," "The Magnificent Seven" and several other westerns.
The real inspiration for this one, though, is Stephen Spielberg's "Raiders of the Lost Ark."
That doesn't mean director Van Peebles is an imitator. As he proved in "New Jack City," he can reinvigorate familiar formulas with fast action and complex visuals. "Posse" has the exaggerated look and pace of a music video. If the characters lack depth and development, well, you can't have everything.
The story begins in Cuba, 1898, during the Spanish-American War. Infantryman Jessie Lee (Van Peebles) survives the treachery of his commanding officer, Col. Graham (Billy Zane) to escape with a small group of fellow soldiers and a treasure.
In New Orleans, Weezie (Charles Lane) and Obobo (Tiny Lister Jr.) visit a local sporting house while Little J (Stephen Baldwin) plays poker and teams up with Father Time (Big Daddy Kane), a slick gambler. Jessie Lee arms himself for a mission of vengeance that's slowly revealed through sepia flashbacks.
Of course, Col. Graham and his gang of longhaired pretty-boy thugs are hot on our heroes' trail as they ride west where more racist villains await them. Their goal is Freemanville, a troubled community founded by former slaves.
The script by Sy Richardson and Dario Scardapane leaves no cliche untouched, including that time-honored favorite from the big showdown, "Let the girl go." To counteract the familiarity of the conflicts, Van Peebles overdirects the slower sequences. He tilts the camera, tints scenes in pastel colors and the like. It's a bit self-conscious at times, but still a minor flaw.
On the basic level of a high-powered action picture, "Posse" delivers. The big scenes are well-choreographed, crisply edited, outrageously overdone and involving.
Yes, as the afterword states, Hollywood and American history have ignored the role that black people played in this country's western expansion. "Posse" doesn't really do a lot to correct that oversight; it's not a history lesson. Instead, it recycles some old myths -- and might even create some new ones -- then serves them up as first-rate escapism. That's what Hollywood entertainment is supposed to do.
\ Posse: *** A Gramercy Pictures Release playing at the Salem Valley 8 and Valley View Mall 6. 110 min. Rated R for graphic violence, strong language, nudity, sexual content.
by CNB