Release Date: June 18, 1999
Starring: John Travolta, Madeleine Stowe, James Cromwell, James Woods, Leslie Stefanson, Timothy Hutton, Clarence Williams III
Directed by: Simon West
Distributed by: Paramount Pictures
MPAA Rating: R (graphic images relating to sexual violence
including a strong rape scene, some perverse sexuality, nudity, language)
Mystery thrillers are a dime a dozen -- it doesn't take a great deal of talent to string together a number of plot elements in the correct fashion and have them lead up to a conclusion. But good mystery thrillers, like Simon West's The General's Daughter, have a character about them that sets them apart from the rest of the films in the crowded genre.
In that regard, The General's Daughter is especially unique: it doesn't win audiences on strictly technical scores. The script is good at best, and certainly nowhere near the level of David Mamet's work, but it does have an everyman flare to it. Scribes Christopher Bertolini and William Goldman (whose presence in Hollywood is just as or more legendary than David Mamet) include everything you'd expect from this midsummer release, drawing the audience in. Star John Travolta gets to play the good guy through and through; co-star Madeleine Stowe (whose most recent role of comparable size was in Twelve Monkeys) adds the requisite dose of sexual tension and offbeat chemistry; and next-billeds James Woods and James Cromwell have the expected supporting roles.
This nonchalant approach, however, is where the two writers begin laying the foundation for their plot: Army warrant officer Paul Brenner (Travolta) is charged with investigating the hows, whys, and whos of the death of Captain Elizabeth Campbell (Leslie Stefanson). Captain Campbell's death is particularly sensitive because her father (Cromwell), a three-star general, is contemplating a potential run for the vice presidency. The ugly nature of the woman's death -- Campbell is found staked spread-eagle to the ground, and rape is a likelihood -- pairs Brenner with former flame, fellow warrant officer, and rape counselor Sara Sunhill (Stowe). And the investigation leads them from the office of Campbell's CO, Colonel Robert Moore (Woods) to the grounds of the military academy at West Point in search of the far-reaching motives for the crime at hand.
As if to emphasize the movie's attitude of a mystery thriller, we're given little information on any of our leads -- only what is pertinent to the plot at the time. Brenner is particularly shallow, and the only reason the audience likes him is because he's played by John Travolta. We know and accept Travolta as a likeable guy, and he patterns his character after that assumption.
The movie gets a bit hazier around the supporting roles, and particularly in the relationship between Brenner and Sunhill. Although Travolta and Stowe develop a good rapport, the link between them extends no further than their time onscreen together. Choice bits of dialogue offer some help, but not enough.
Finally, the bit roles are almost totally devoid of development. About halfway through the movie, characterization is dropped altogether, and director West becomes intent on revealing the conclusion. You can tell it's good, though, because the entire 115-minute running time never seems to lag. This is almost expected of West, who directed 1997's Con Air, but his ability to forge that kind of pacing out of dry-bones mystery material is a wonderful surprise and a testament to his ability. This, West's sophomore film, is a fine representation of his ability.
The General's Daughter, when viewed, will have an unmistakeable feeling of greatness about it. Compared to the rest of the summer release list, this is a bright spot, and will hopefully be remembered at year's end.
all contents © 1999 Craig Roush