Tomas Milian, a great draw for crowds in Italian cinemas for a good 20 years or so, returns in the legendary 'Squadra Volante' - a hard-boiled Police drama with cool characters and beautiful cinematography, that although at a glance appears strangely familiar soon rises above it with ease to bring a fast 90 minute movie that's superbly cool and entertaining. A chase between bad boy cop Ravelli and a gang of bank robbers, fast cars, gun fights, lovely locations and stylish in almost every respect. Again, a very nice disc from NoShame, and a great selection of films they're continuing to make for either jaded genre fans, or those looking for a little adventure without the risk it might often feel you'll take.
The Story :
Genre movies, home of familiar plots and subtle individuality. Where I often find films either click, and work really very well for some reason that are easily pinned (or simply fall apart and feel unsatisfactory), and I also find things just seem to work for reasons I can't quite figure out. 'Squadra Volante' (as I am more familiar with it being refered to) is a Police Drama (or Poliziattechi) for adult audiences that uses the familiar 'revenge for the death of a loved one' device to kick the whole thing off. Tomas Milian is Tomas Ravelli (mostly simply refered to as Ravelli), a rebelious cop who lost his wife in an incident at the hands of an escaping gang of bank robbers five years previous, and a man who knows he can behave badly as long as it's within the law. The story then is basically a chase after those who it increasingly becomes apparent are those responsible for his wifes death.
There are more than enough touches of (almost) genius, great insight into human behaviour and well judged plot structure points to make it stand out as a film that's a nicely paced 90 minutes to spend. I am sure too that this film has similarities with other Poliziattechi films, in that they bare the hallmarks of evolving from Spaghetti Westerns, which at this time were beginning to go out of favour. So, a strangely familiar tale, oddly stands out and looks very cool in many respects; would stand up very well to repeat viewings for a lot of the elements which are hard to define; it just works very well, very cool and oddly individual. Happily, it also contains very downbeat themes, which I am also particularly keen on, and like 'Almost Human' (another Milian film on NoShame) there's an ending that's a great pay-off.
The Characters :
Ravelli, now with Interpol and returning to Milan (seemingly on instinct, to the scene of another robbery), is a copy working within the law for as long as it takes to avenge his wifes death. His rogueish good looks are the draw for the audience, but it potentially disguises a man who is a superbly solid character actor. Not played in a style more obviosly reminiscent of other such bad boy cops, without that insane , dry scathing wit or lawlessness approach - he is simply cool, calm, mostly silent, astonishingly self-assured and meloncholic with it. Never getting particularly emotional in a obvious manner, Ravelli is the key to how cool the movie plays out.
Along side him is his ageing partner Lavagni, tempting fate by revealing he is 8 months 11 days and 3 hours from retirement and aiming for one final promotion before being pentioned off into retirement. Its a good partnership, revealing how his colleagues both seem to dread and admire his 'loose cannon' element, and showing Ravelli to have a lot of heart and consideration for those around him. Together they don't have a typical 'good cop, bad cop' feel to them, instead a strange understanding that there's benefits to each individuals approach that in combination are even more effective.
Outside of the other rather cursory Police characters, the gang of robbers led by Marseilles (that's the IMDB spelling, not how the subtitles have it; and I trust the subtitles more). Marseilles is revealed as a much more substantial character as the narrative progresses, but it takes time for him to come to the fore. The other guys were a little too similar in character for the most part, and seem to largely be there to represent how Marseilles leads and controls others with his own needs in mind. Not that they're there temporarily, but they do seem to hang around for such a long time and when Marseilles comes to the fore, they look like they simply got in the way of the key relationship between good and bad - Ravelli Vs. Marseilles.
The Approach :
Not familiar at all with Stelvio Massi as a Director, but have picked up on the title of 'Squadra Volante' in recent years as a key film of its' genre. Seems Massi also made a few films following this in a series known as 'Mark : The Cop', and based upon this film I would be very keen to see them. Tomas Milian is a superbly solid actor that's beginning to find a place in my mind as a man to look more closely for films featuring his skills, and Mario Carotenuto and Lavagni never lets the team down - nor does Gastone Moschin as Marseilles as time goes on. Typical of the genre movie makers, finding good solid and appropriate actors that also often have the leading man looks; a very good sense of worthy compromise at work.
Most impressive of all for me, beyond the typically imaginative shots that fully-trained Cinematography Massi uses in his Directorial role, is the beautifully cold winter colors on screen. Filmed in Milan, often with foggy coastal locations (not sure how Milan sits in relation to the coast line, but Massi says it was shot in Milan), misty fields and roads, baron street locations or other such stylish places, the look is extremely engaging when the films shifts outdoors. Filming straight into light, from odd angles, from great distances - all in lovely white, blue, grey and black (that's the overwhelming impression, anyhow). Very reminiscent of the Autumnal / Winter colors I really like in films, and just like the weather we're having here right now. Beautiful. Some very inspired editing in there also, with rapid switches from close-ups to long vistas (see the finale) and great metaphors (see the shooting range sequence, also relatively close to the end).
Overall :
Surprised that it simply clicked, even though I knew its' reputation before having seen it. Very familiar in many respects, but very engaging and well-paced film that has cool lead characters, great performances, and a simply stunning look to it. Bare and obviously low budget affair that avoids lots of cliches to create a hard-boiled affair that's very memorable, and one that I would be more than happy to sit and rewatch to pick out the finer details of, and to experience that great cold look that I love so much. Again, NoShame show they're consitantly selecting great films and doing them justice with beautiful quality transfers and worthwhile, interesting extras. Not easy to say if there's lots in here for those that don't already know they have an interest in what's contained in such films, but I suspect that many would be surprised (as I was) by how well such films can be greater than the sum of their (apparent) parts.
'Emergency Squad' aka 'Squardra Volante' at IMDB.
View the trailer for the film at its' NoShame page, in various size Quicktime files.
'Emergency Squad' will be released in America on November 15th 2005.