Word About Biehn

In telling its dark tale of deceit and revenge, Deadfall meets with only mixed success. Its plot is farfetched and its premise disturbing, but its convoluted goings-on do remain involving through an attractive and engaging hero, whose plight arouses the viewer's care and concern.

Joe Dolan (Michael) is a con man, a grifter whose job it is to reel the mark into whatever swindle is being run at the time. He's in the family business. Trained by his dad Mike, he's good at the game. Then, during an elaborate scam, he makes a terrible mistake. Apparently through carelessly loading real shells instead of blanks into his own gun, Joe fatally shoots his father. But before breathing his last, Mike manages to admonish his son to seek out Uncle Lou, a relative Joe has never before heard of. Devastated by the turn of events and horrified over his part in it, Joe nevertheless follows his father's final wishes. He succeeds in finding his uncle, only to discover that he has been drawn into a dark plot of betrayal and one last con eerily reminiscent of past tragedy.

Deadfall is a downer of a film, filled with unlikable characters. Both con men and marks are without conscience, the worst of the lot being Eddie, Uncle Lou's minion, who as played by Nicholas Cage, is repulsive beyond belief. The machinations of the film's plot strain credulity, forcing the storyline to its surprise twist at the end. However, Deadfall does put its hero through the wringer, capturing our interest as we watch and worry while Joe, the consummate user, ultimately becomes the one used, played false in a cruel and shocking way.

Michael's performance is an effective one, as he tangibly reveals Joe's growing bafflement at the circumstances he's walked into and his dawning realization that they are conspiring against him. He registers realistic emotion to convey Joe's shock and anguish at having shot his own father; his disbelief that he had made such a fatal mistake; and his confusion and near desperation when history repeats itself. By compelling us to feel with Joe, Michael builds empathy for this young man, who in the end must pay a high price to learn a bitter lesson. In Deadfall's mixed bag, Michael is the best ingredient.

Kay