Reviews
"Alien Nation"
Starring James Caan and
Mandy Patinkin
Directed by Graham Baker
Rated R
“Alien Nation” is a science
fiction thriller that combines
gripping action, social
commentary and various
subtleties to make for an
entertaining and exciting
movie.
The film is set in Los
Angeles, circa 1991. A race of
beings from outer space, bred
for slave labor, has been
assimilated into human
society after their ship landed
in the Mojave Desert three
years earlier. The bulbous
headed humanoids are
commonly called
“newcomers” but
contemptuously referred to as
“slags. ” The newcomers live
in a community known as
“Slagtown” and work
undesirable jobs. Their
experience is shown as almost
parallel to that of the
immigrants who came to
America in the 19th and 20th
Sykes, a bigoted detective
whose partner is killed by a
shotgun-wielding newcomer
who had just robbed a store
and killed its newcomer
owner. Sykes then volunteers
for duty with Detective San
Francisco (Mandy Patinkin),
whom Sykes refers to as
“George. ” George is the first
newcomer to rise to the rank
of detective. Sykes takes
George as his new partner
only because he knows
George will be helpful in
finding the newcomer who
killed his old partner.
As the two work together
they soon overcome
stereotypes and become
friends. Before long, the
mismatched couple uncover a
sinister plot that is best not
revealed here.
“Alien Nation” is especially
interesting in its use of small
details. For example, Caan
drives past a theater where
“Rambo 6” is playing. At
another point a radio disc
jockey introduces a current
radio hit as “a blast from the
past. ” There’s even a Pepsi
billboard showing a
newcomer doing flips over
the popular soda.
James Caan and Mandy
Patinkin play off of one
another well and make a
good acting team. The
contrast between Caan’s
hard-nosed bigot character
and the quiet family man
Patinkin plays provides some
great scenes. Terence Stamp,
whose recent appearances
include roles in “Young
Guns” and “Wall Street, ” is
noteworthy as well, playing
the film’s alien villain, William
Harcourt.
Director Graham Baker
gives the movie a dark and
violent nature with fast-
paced, bloody action and lots
of night scenes.
“Alien Nation” has the
potential to appeal to a wide
range of moviegoers with its
combination of science fiction
and thriller elements, as well
as its futuristic look at a new
minority.
Review by Shane Hall
James Caan and Mandy Patinkin star as Sykes and
George, police detectives from different worlds who
tean up to catch a murderer in “Alien Nation,” a sci
ence fiction thriller set in the future.
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centuries.
James Caan stars as Matt
Terence Stamp stars as Harcourt, an evil entrepreneu
and “newcomer,” who comes to Earth from anothe
planet.
Rating Key
***** — a classic. Not to be missed.
**** __ Excellent.
***— Some flaws, but good overall.
★♦ — Fair.
* — El stinko.
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