Source: Warner Bros: Blu-ray, 2011.
Year: 1996
Director: Renny Harlin
Action Stars:
Genre: Espionage
Country: United States
Story Duration: 1:52:57
Act Duration:
1st Act: 00:25:00
2nd Act: 00:31:59
3rd Act: 00:31:29
4th Act: 00:24:26
Plot Turns:
1st: President redirects CIA funds
2nd: Samantha remembers her past identity
3rd: Timothy informed he is Caitlin’s father
ASD Ratio: 51%
AAD Ratios:
1st Act: 34%
2nd Act: 57%
3rd Act: 35%
4th Act: 81%
Action Structure: 1324
Action Scenarios:
Capture
Escape
Fall
Fight
Heist
Pursuit
Rescue
Speed
Total Action Moments: 31
Notable Action Sequence: Operation Honeymoon
Duration: 00:19:37
Act: 4th
Action Scenarios:
Escape
Fall
Fight
Pursuit
Rescue
Speed
Description: The Operation Honeymoon sequence in The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) is similar to other final act action sequences during this period in terms of length, multiple plotlines, and multi-character construction. But what distinguishes this sequence from the others is the way the stakes are raised for the protagonist Samantha Caine. Not only does she need to escape from the confines of an industrial freezer with her daughter, but she must also stop a plot that involves detonating a chemical bomb aimed at decimating the city of Niagara Falls. Along the way, she contends with Timothy, a shady operative hired by the CIA, who arms the timer installed in a tanker truck that contains the chemical bomb [Figure 1]. After escaping from the freezer, Caitlin is instructed to take cover but decides unwisely by hiding in the toolbox of the tanker truck adding another rescue element to the plot [Figure 2]. Samantha pursues after the truck on foot and in a vehicle to rescue her daughter as well as the citizens of the city who are participating in a winter parade [Figure 3]. After commandeering the tanker tuck, Samantha speeds out toward city limits and sends it crashing into a car conveying Timothy. As the protagonist and antagonist fight it out on Rainbow Bridge, the time bomb continues to count down. Samantha severs a wire suspending an entangled agent, and zooms to grab his gun, firing relentlessly at Timothy who falls out of a helicopter onto the tanker below, an image of visualized ascendency [Figure 4]. Mitch, Samantha’s partner, proves his worth as well by driving off with Samantha and her daughter away from the imminent blast, bringing an end to the 19-minute sequence.