ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, June 8, 1996 TAG: 9606090019
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT
At some point during the production process, "The Rock" must have been pitched as "Die Hard on Alcatraz."
That's an accurate description, and it also points out the film's derivative flaws. This is formula stuff; expensive, handsomely made formula stuff, to be sure, but still nothing new. And when the filmmakers do try to add some fresh twists, they're only partially successful.
The main problems come from the choice of villains. Where "Die Hard" worked with evil European pretty-boys, "The Rock" tries to turn decorated Marines into bad guys. Gen. Francis X. Hummel (Ed Harris) is really upset over the poor treatment that the families of certain veterans have received. These guys were killed during covert operations, and the government hasn't given their survivors all that he thinks they deserve.
(Yes, this whole movie is based on a dispute over health-care benefits.)
The general is so put out that he steals missiles full of nerve gas, takes civilian hostages on Alcatraz Island and threatens the city with the missiles. He'll fire them unless the feds do the right thing by the vets, and, by the way, they've got to open a secret slush fund and pony up millions of dollars to him and his guys, too.
FBI head Womack (John Spencer) and the military brass conclude that chemical weapons expert Stanley Goodspeed (Nicolas Cage) is just the man to handle the gas. Patrick Mason (Sean Connery) is a Brit who's the only man ever to escape from the prison. Exactly why he was sent to Alcatraz in the first place and why they've been keeping him locked up ever since are kept a mystery. In any case, he's the guy who'll guide Commander Anderson's (Michael Biehn) Navy SEAL team into the tunnels under the facility.
If that premise weren't already convoluted enough, there's also another escape and a chase through photogenic San Francisco streets before we get around to the missile business. Once the scene shifts to the island, it's dark, loud, incessantly profane and more than a little silly. At its least-inspired moments, the frantic dashing about looks like a preview for the newest theme-park thrill ride. Director Michael Bay (``Bad Boys'') stages his numerous explosions and gunfights well enough, but the script is unevenly paced. It doesn't create the rhythms that can seduce an audience into accepting a cinematic fantasy world.
The saving grace is the relationship between Connery and Cage. Connery, who also shares producer credit, handles the frivolous material with his usual personable touch. Though Cage's role is much fussier, he manages to give the character some appealing depth. Together, they're more interesting than the other conflicts.
Some viewers may be able to overlook the flaws and appreciate the visceral thrills that a slick Hollywood action flick can deliver. Others will be insulted by a premise that turns veterans into traitors. The Rock
* 1/2
A Hollywood Pictures release playing at the Salem Valley 8 and Valley View 6. 129 min. Rated R for strong language, violence.
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Sean Connery and Nicholas Cage share good chemstry inby CNB"The Rock." color. KEYWORDS: MOVIE REVIEW