A DANGEROUS LIFE
A film review by Mark R. Leeper
Copyright 1989 Mark R. Leeper
Capsule review: Six-hour HBO made-for-TV movie of the
fall of Ferdinand Marcos combines strong doses of THE
PRESIDENT'S MEN, YEAR OF LIVING DANGEROUSLY, and EXODUS in
one film. A little slow in the middle, but it pays off by
the end. This should be a model for future docu-dramas.
Rating: +3.
The title is A DANGEROUS LIFE and if that title seems to be reminiscent of the title of Peter Weir's popular YEAR OF LIVING DANGEROUSLY, it may not be just a coincidence. I suppose the title could refer to it being dangerous for people that Ferdinand Marcos was alive and in power, or it could refer to fictional newsman Tony O'Neil's (played by Gary Busey) occasionally endangered existence covering dramatic events in the Philippines from the death of Ninoy Aquino to the fall of Marcos and the presidency of Ninoy's widow Corazon. Even if the title seems a little crass, the three-part, nearly six-hour mini-series delivers as a dramatic political story and at the same time as an historical chronicle. Because the title and subject matter conjure memories of YEAR OF LIVING DANGEROUSLY, A DANGEROUS LIFE invites comparison of the two films. The Weir film had one charismatic, enigmatic character, Billy Kwan. A DANGEROUS LIFE has no particularly fascinating character in a leading role. The main characters are involved in a nominal but dull love triangle. Who cares? In virtually every other regard, A DANGEROUS LIFE is a model for the political chronicle. It tells a piece of history most of us remember and tells in a dramatic and engrossing way a detailed history of the fall of Marcos. And it seems even more immediate for the extensive use of television news videotape.
Actually for interest value, the lead parts are eclipsed by that of Imelda Marcos (played by Tessie Tomas). Most people think of her as a sort of international joke, a vain woman who had a huge collection of shoes. Under Robert Markowitz's direction, she is as hypnotic and deadly as a cobra, a consummate politician and actress.
If it seems by the second installment that the story is going overly long, have faith--the third and final part more than compensates. One complaint that could be made is that it is a trifle one-sided. It does not protect the United States government, which gets a thorough and very probably well-deserved lambasting for valuing its Philippine military bases over the lives of the Filipino people. But Corazon Aquino is just a little too saintly and pure. Making her so perfect makes the film seem a little manipulative. But as a fault, this is only a very minor one. This production for HBO will inevitably be the first American made-for-television film to ever make my "Ten-Best-of-the-Year" list. Rate it a +3 on the -4 to +4 scale.
Mark R. Leeper
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