True Lies

True Lies is an action romp with several story lines that flow into each other for the big climax. Harry (Arnold) and Helen (Jamie Lee) are in a stereotypical middle-class marriage where the husband is totally career focused and because he is "successful" he thinks all is well at home. Helen is bored and miserable because she feels invisible to her husband. Their daughter Dana (Eliza Dushku - Faith from Buffy) is alienated from them both and headed down a very bad path.

Harry has a secret life as a spy for a super secret government organization. His partner is Albert (Tom Arnold in his best role / performance anywhere) and they are closer to each other than to anyone else in their lives as they travel the world saving us all from the bad guys.

The terrorism they are battling could have been ripped from today's headlines. However, I doubt such a film could be made today because of political sensitivities. I was surprised how much of it held up.

But this film is about fun more than drama. The action is exciting, but preposterous and the scale of the action crescendos toward the final ridiculous aspect of Harry flying a Harrier jet while saving his daughter, fighting the big bad guy and fending off an attacking helicopter all at the same time. Another problem, a small one for this kind of action film, is the endless weapons fire focused at the heroes to no effect, while Helen can simply drop a machine pistol down the stairs and wipe out a platoon. It is a delightful seen, however. If you can suspend disbelief for this, the movie can be a lot of fun.

Many have called the film misogynistic, and I suppose you can see some of that in the film. But Bill Paxton's wonderful performance as the sleazebag Simon is easily the most despised person in the film and he is a male.

There are other find performances in the film. Faisal, played wonderfully by Grant Heslov (we should see more of him), is a terrific character who holds a lot of the story line together even though his role isn't that large. And Tia Carrere as the mercenary art dealer Juno is simply one of the best things in the movie. Art Malik is great as the villain Salim Abu Aziz. Mr. Malik provides the right kind of energy for such an over the top film. He provides the kind of passionate megalomania that makes all the fighting seem appropriate.

With all the sub-plots weaving in and out, the humor, and the fine performances, I think this is one of Arnold Schwartzenegger's best films. And I thought his pairing with Tom Arnold was great. Too bad we never saw them together again.

I love this film for its silly fun quotient - especially the Bondesque beginning (in spite of the lousy job they did disguising Arnie's stunt double). I won't repeat what's already been written about the spectacular effects and absurd situations and just plain outsized action scenes. Jamie Lee Curtis and Tom Arnold are both funny. In fact I particularly liked how Arnold breezed through this as if it was a walk in the park. If you look closely he makes a lot of little gestures that give the impression he might have been an agent in a former life. Well, probably not! And what can I add about Bill Paxton, one of my favourite "weird" actors. :-) Heck even Arnold is funny. I think this is well-worth watching especially if you get a bunch of your crazy friends together on a Saturday night and make a party of it! This is one of my three favourite Schwarzenegger films, the others being Predator and Terminator 2. Clearly Cameron knows how to get the best out of him. And McTiernan did a pretty good job too.

Disclaimer: I have not seen all of Arnold's films.

That's Arnold's horrified wife Jamie Lee asking the question,just after it is revealed her husband had been leading a double life as a secret agent.True Lies(released July/94)is a wonderful action romp starring Arnold Schwarzenegger,Jamie Lee Curtis,Tom Arnold,Bill Paxton and Tia Carrere.If there ever was a "guys movie" this would certainly classify as one and Jamie Lee's considerable "assets" are shown off to great advantage.
The story involves one Harry Tasker(Schwarzenegger) who is a secret agent for the Omega Sector.The film opens as he and his partner Albert(Arnold)are crashing a dinner party at an expensive palatial estate in Switzerland:Arnold listens in electronically with orders and Harry does the walking.Harry meets up one Juno(Tia Carrere),supposedly an antiquities dealer specializing in Persian artifacts,based in Italy.She is actually a front for a terrorist organization called the Crimson Jihad,who are on a mission to obtain nuclear weapons for use against the U.S.Harry is found out and is chased away by the armed guards and just barely escapes.
Harry revisits Juno in her establishment in Italy to reconnoiter the place.The Jihadists are worried that their cover will be blown and they chase Harry through a local mall,but loose him.In the meantime Harry's bespectacled and plain looking wife Helen(Curtis)is leading a boring life.Harry,her "salesman" husband,spends more time away than with her and their daughter.She is spotted in a restaurant one day by a local car salesman called Simon(Paxton)who is on the make for women just like her looking for a "thrill" in their lives.Coincidentally,to pick up women,he uses a story that he is a secret agent being pursued by unknown enemies and that he needs people like Helen to help him.For awhile it works and Helen is receiving calls and rendezvousing in secret with Simon.One day when Harry drops by Helen's work to take her out for lunch,he happens to over hear her convo with Simon on the phone.He immediately thinks she is having an affair.Distraught he leaves but decides then and there to bug their phone line and tail her.It all comes crashing down on Simon and Helen when they are out at Simon's trailer.Just as Simon is about to put the push on Helen Harry,with the help of his agent cohorts,storm in on them and they haul Helen and Simon off.A cowering Simon admits to his fantasy scheme to pick up women and is let go.Helen however is "recruited" to go undercover as a hooker to plant a bug in the room of one of their targets.It's all a ruse by Harry to goad her on a bit then,now knowing she truly loves him,have a nice intimate evening alone.But things go awry as the terrorists have been following Harry and they capture Harry and his wife and whisk them both to an island in the Florida Keys.
Here the terrorists reveal to the world they have four nuclear warheads that they will detonate if their demands are not met.In fact one is armed and set to go off in an hour and half as a show of determination.With Helen in the loop both she and Harry combine to foil the terrorists and they cause alot of havoc.However in the process they get separated;Helen is taken hostage once more and Harry escapes and is rescued by Albert and friends.They pursue the convoy of Jihadists leaving the island,and two Harrier Marine Jets pound the convoy and take out a section of the causeway,stopping most of them in their tracks.The driver of the car carrying Helen is shot and as the out of control car heads towards the break in the causeway,Harry attempts a daring but successful rescue by helicopter.
On land Harry is informed that some the Jihadists that got away have reached Miami and have his daughter as a hostage.Harry commandeers a jump jet and goes to Miami and to the rescue.His daughter obtains a key that will detonate one the the nuclear devices and is chased out onto a piece of machinery extending far out from the building,a good 200 feet or so up.Harry not only has to contend with the Jihadist leader,but also his compatriots circling in a helicopter all while attempting to rescue his daughter.It all comes to a fitting ending when the leader gets caught up on one of the jets missiles and the helicopter flies into perfect range and alignment.A press of the button by Harry sends the missile and ride into the helicopter taking out two birds with one shot.
The film ends with the couple now BOTH on assignment together.Who should they run into but old Simon,still trying to play the "spy" game with someone new.Helen pulls out a tube of lipstick,pulls it under Simon's chin and vows to waste him on the spot.Simon runs off,cowering with pants wet.Helen and Harry tango the night away.
True Lies doesn't have too many slow spots and moves along at a good pace.The movie has that wonderful twist;at first it's Harry leading a double life that his family are unawares of,but then Harry himself gets a shock as his wife,while not leading a double life,at least strongly fantasizes about having one,and Harry's neglect may be the cause.Just as this about to coalesce BOTH are then drawn into the terrorists plans and all is forced out and Helen's transformation from weak and plain to sexy and strong is as appealing a twist as pay day.It's a device that also gives the movie a greater character depth/appeal than would otherwise be.Each scene plays nicely into the next as the action lurks behind every corner,ready to pop out at any time.
What I want to know is this;there is a scene just after Harry has found out Helen has been "cheating" on him.When he is about to get in the drivers side of the van to leave you can clearly see a woman about a car length ahead of him standing there with a purse looking in the direction of the camera but really no where in particular.Who is she and .....why??
Technically the movie has been transferred well onto DVD in its original a/r of 2:35:1.Extras include only the trailer.
All in all one of Cameron's better efforts with Ahh-nold in one of his better films along with Jamie Lee Curtis looking particularly sexy,and Tom Arnold and Bill Paxton acquitting themselves handsomely.A great action flick for the guys....and ok the gals can watch too! Highly recommended.4 1/2 stars.