True Lies **** (1994, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jamie Lee Curtis, Bill Paxton, Art Malik, Tom Arnold) – Classic Movie Review 5071

So Arnold Schwarzenegger is the new James Bond in 1994, or at any rate somebody very like 007, in director James Cameron’s relentlessly paced, spoofy-toned, escapist gung-ho action thriller.

Harry Tasker (Schwarzenegger) leads a double life as an international spy for Omega Sector, the top-secret US government agency charged with the intervention of nuclear terrorism. Helen (Jamie Lee Curtis), his wife of 15 years, is getting bored with a husband she never sees while he is supposedly away selling computers, and she is flirting with Simon (Bill Paxton), who says he is a spy. Harry must save his marriage while saving America from Salim Abu Aziz (Art Malik)’s missile-happy terrorists.

Cameron proceeds from set piece to set piece with scarcely a pause for breath in a long movie, and most of the stunts and action sequences are quite breathtaking. Arnie keeps it pounding along genially, Curtis has plenty of fun moments to display her comedy skills, and Tom Arnold gets all his laughs in a sharply delivered, punchy portrayal of hero’s cynical buddy, Albert Gibson.

It is hard to imagine anyone who likes an action movie not simply soaking this up. There is not a thought in its head, of course, except the most ingenious way to the next kill or the signs of wit in the one-liners, but that is what the fans would want.

It is notable for its pioneering, highly impressive special effects by Digital Domain. Cameron’s screenplay is based on a screenplay by Claude Zidi, Simon Michael, and Didier Kaminka.

Also in the cast are Tia Carrere, Eliza Dushku, Grant Heslov, Marshall Manesh, Jane Morris and Charlton Heston as Spencer Trilby.

RIP prolific and versatile, much-loved actor Bill Paxton, who died on 25 February 2017, aged 61.

Schwarzenegger said: ‘Bill Paxton could play any role, but he was best at being Bill – a great human being with a huge heart.’ Curtis added: ‘Such a funny, talented, loving human.’

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5071

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