Name: Retro Film Review: On Deadly Ground (1994)
Item: On Deadly Ground
Rating: 15
Author: @drax

(source: tmdb.org)

There are many mysteries in life. The author of this review is constantly amazed with the fact that he actually likes Steven Seagal and his films. It's not because Seagal shows some great acting skills, nor the quality of those films in general. Seagal in all of his roles simply radiates the aura of the man who honestly believes in what he is doing. Such conviction is the virtue I admire, so, more often than not, I'm ready to be biased and give Seagal benefit of the doubt. That happened even in the case of On Deadly Ground, 1994 Seagal’s directorial debut and film that was one of the most despised motion pictures among the critics.

Plot revolves around Forrest Taft (played by Seagal), expert fireman who works for Aegis Oil Company, whose corrupt CEO Jennings (played by Michael Caine) wants to put into operation an oil rig right in the middle of Inuit tribal land in Alaska. Taft's friend Hugh Palmer (played by Richard Hamilton) discovers the evidence that the oil rig would permanently damage Alaskan environment, so Jennings orders his killing. Taft is to suffer the same fate, but instead, he is rescued by Eskimo woman named Masu (played by Joan Chen) who gives him shelter in her father's village. After brief recovery, Taft returns to oil rig in order to stop Jennings' plans.

Seagal can't act to save his life, but in the hands of even less capable directors, his charisma and martial arts skills are enough to overcome such obstacles. Unfortunately, with Seagal as director there was nobody else to compensate his obvious lack of talents. The story of On Deadly Ground is third-grade, in-your-face exercise of "political correctness" risen to unbearable levels. Seagal's lack of directorial skills only underlines weakness of the script with one-dimensional characters and total lack of subtlety. The lack of Seagal's talent is matched with the lack of acting ability or inspiration by almost anybody else. Michael Caine is almost laughable as vicious yet totally uncharismatic villain, same as Joan Chen who sleepwalks through her role. Action scenes are fine, but Seagal could learn a couple things about editing. Of course, it would unfair to say that film doesn't have few good sides. Alaskan locations are good to see, Basil Poledouris made nice score and the bar brawl scene seems almost surrealistically unusual. And in the end we have that (in)famous five minute scene of Forrest Taft holding sermon about ecology, environment, energy resources and corporate greed. Fact that Seagal originally wanted the sermon to last fifteen minutes shows that he still believed in what he was doing and that ultimately had good intention. But, the end result is still unwatchable and we are at end only reminded of that old saying about hell and good intentions.

RATING: 2/10 (-)

(Note: The text in its original form was posted in Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.movies.reviews on June 5th 1999)