THE SAINT
A film review by Adam Joyce
Copyright 1997 Adam Joyce
Based on the 1960's TV series of the same name, but very different from it, comes "The Saint". The storyline is typical of the action/spy genre. The lead character, Simon Templar (Val Kilmer) is essentially an executive criminal and impersonator. He takes requests over The Internet for tasks such as stealing special Russian microchips, asks millions of dollars per assignment, and then completes the assignment in disguise. His aim is to attain $50 million before retiring. The main component of the story involves an assignment (purportedly his last) in which Simon must steal the formula for Cold Fusion (limitless energy from water) for the Russian Opposition Government which wants to attain political power there. Of course, this Opposition Government is completely corrupt, is secretly stealing all the heating oil from Russia so that the people freeze. Without warmth, in the freezing Russian weather, the people will be incited to revolt (at least according to the storyline), hence electing the Opposition leader, Sofiya, to power. There is two quite predictable problems. Firstly, the professor who has designed the formula is an attractive young female, and therefore Simon Templar MUST fall in love with her. Secondly, the Russian Opposition plan to have Simon killed as soon as they have the formula for Cold Fusion (I never would have guessed!). Inevitably Simon and Emma Russell (the professor from whom Simon has stolen the formula) end up in Russia, where Sofiya's evil son, Ilya, tracks them down to kill them. The police in Russia are of course corrupt, and work for Sofiya also, meaning that Simon and Emma are in a lot of trouble! It seems that Ilya has an uncanny ability to track the pair, despite the fact that they could be anywhere in a city larger than Sydney. Nothing about this film is particularly surprising. Val Kilmer (who plays 10 very different identities as Simon Templar) gives a reasonably solid performance, especially given his range of characters. His co-star, Elisabeth Shue (playing Emma Russell) is equally good. Hollywood newcomer, Valery Nikolaev (playing Ilya) who learnt English to play his part, is undoubtably going to be a common sight in Hollywood films from now on, probably playing equally evil characters who never seem to give up. However, the storyline gives the actors little to play with. It is very much a formulaic Hollywood action/adventure film, and although competent and entertaining, is not original or particularly clever.
2.5 out of 5
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