Film Review: No Man's Land (1987)

Cinephiles who don’t like The Fast and the Furious tend to say that the first film in the series was just a glorified rip off of Point Break, much “cooler” action film with nearly identical plot. However, if the same reasoning is applied to Point Break, that film too loses much of its originality, since the similar plot was used before, in No Man’s Land, 1987 crime film directed by Peter Werner.

Protagonist, played by D. B. Sweeney, is Benjamin “Benjy” Taylor, young Los Angeles Deputy Sheriff who gets recruited by Lieutenant Vincent Bracey (played by Randy Quaid) for complex and dangerous undercover mission which has claimed life of another undercover policeman. Bracey wants to bring down rich young playboy Ted Varrick (played by Charlies Sheen), who is suspected of running well-organised ring of car thieves specialised in expensive foreign vehicles. Benjy is chosen because he is young and less likely to be suspected as policeman and, which is even more important, he is an accomplished car mechanic with experience in handling German cars. Benjy takes false identity of “Bill Ayles” and gets a job in Porsche dealership which is suspected of being a front for Varrick’s operation. He quickly impresses Varrick first with his technical prowess, than with driving skills and, finally, with willingness to join him in impromptu stealing of Porsches. Two men become fast friends and Varrick introduces “Bill” to good life that includes luxurious cars, big parties and “cool” clothes. As times go by, Bill, who had started dating Varrick’s beautiful sister Ann (played by Ann Harris). Young policeman from working-class family gets seduced by new lifestyle and refuses to believe that his friend is murderer, thinking instead that his predecessor was killed by Varrick’s violent rival Frank Martin (played by R. D. Call).

No Man’s Land is relatively obscure film which, at least to certain degree, can be explained by its failure at the box office (although commercial results were much better at home video). Unlike The Fast and the Furious and Point Break, this film puts less emphasis on the action and more on the characters. This is mostly due to the script by Dick Wolf, writer who would later become famous as the creator of Law & Order television franchise. Wolf used the plot as a tool to explores issues of corruption and social divisions, especially in the light of material excess and wealth being shamelessly paraded in 1980s America. No Man’s Land also shows strong influence of film noir, especially in characterisation of protagonist as initially normal and innocent person who gets gradually seduced into life from the other side of the law and involved in things way over his head.

Unfortunately, direction by Peter Warner is adequate, but not particularly memorable. Same can be said for synthesiser music score by Basil Poledouris. Cast is mostly good, with young D. B. Sweeney doing a splendid job when playing the role of someone playing the role (and ultimately getting lost in it). Charlie Sheen is also more than adequate in the role of playboy who is drawn to the world of crime because of excitement rather than material interest. Former model Lara Harris, however, lacks chemistry with Sweeney and romantic subplot featuring her character seems like unneeded burden. Randy Quaid, on the other hand, overacts in the role of Benjy’s perpetually angry boss. Some interesting twists near the end improve general impression and No Man’s Land can be recommended to fans of 1980s cinema.

RATING: 6/10 (++)

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Movie URL: https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/34379-260-chrono
Critic: AA