As an action movie fan, sometimes you just want the cliches delivered big and loud. Overcome with an impulse to explore the pre-Bond career of Pierce Brosnan, I set the fuse on Live Wire (1992), which was a movie that felt like it was always shown on late night television or advertised in a DVD bargain stall (the type that sets up business in the middle of a shopping centre). From the opening reveal of the title card as an ice sculpture melting in flames against metal, I knew I’d made the right choice. Brosnan, with a thick set of hair and a thin attempt at an American accent, is a bomb disposal expert in Washington DC, working for the Feds, partnered with the great Brett Jennings (of Lodge 49) and a robot named Madonna (shades of Rocky IV). While dealing with an estranged wife (Lisa Eilbacher) canoodling with a sleazy yuppie senator (Ron Silver, the sleazy yuppie senator of choice) and a case of Don’t Look Now dead child trauma, Brosnan also has to deal with a rash of terrorist attacks on senators who convulse and bleed from their eyes (as if their space helmet cracked open on Mars) before turning into human time bombs. The sinister long face of Ben Cross in complete over-the-top bad guy territory is cashing on a big multi million dollar pay day through his patented water-as-internal-C4 formula. Meanwhile composer Craig Safan wails on the electric guitar as we see location footage of the American capital. This was ridiculous fun, post-Die Hard but pre-Speed, revelling in pithy wisecracks from Brosnan’s steely glare and tight jeans, and pushing the explosions budget into the red (that and the budget for stunt people wandering around on fire). The climax also revolves around Brosnan going full MacGyver mode as he makes home-made bombs to fight off Ben Cross and his goons. Also contains: sax laden sex scene, Philip Baker Hall in senator mode, a suspense sequence with an exploding clown, and a lot of Brosnan necking back glasses of whiskey and chugging cigarettes to convince you this guy is one tough SOB. Directed with pre-CGI panache by Christian Duguay (who went on to make Screamers with Peter Weller) and clocks in at under 90 minutes. Watched an HD copy free to stream on YouTube. Recommended. Taffin, you’re next…
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