Source: Warner Bros: Blu-ray, 2012.
Year: 1987
Director: Richard Donner
Action Stars:
Genre: Crime Film
Country: United States
Story Duration: 01:46:04
Act Duration:
1st Act: 00:27:47
2nd Act: 00:35:07
3rd Act: 00:20:02
4th Act: 00:23:05
Plot Turns:
1st: Michael Hunsaker’s request
2nd: Discovery of special forces involvement
3rd: Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh captured
ASD Ratio: 54%
AAD Ratios:
1st Act: 39%
2nd Act: 41%
3rd Act: 71%
4th Act: 80%
Action Structure: 1324
Action Scenarios:
Capture
Escape
Fall
Fight
Pursuit
Rescue
Speed
Total Action Moments: 29
Notable Action Sequence: El Mirage Lake Shootout
Duration: 00:08:08
Act: 3rd
Action Scenarios:
Capture
Escape
Fight
Pursuit
Rescue
Speed
Description: The El Mirage Lake shootout featured in Lethal Weapon (1987) closes in a manner typical of 3rd acts in mainstream films, namely through an all-is-lost moment. The moment is dramatically heightened given that it constitutes a reversal of Roger Murtaugh and Martin Riggs’ original rescue plan to save Murtaugh’s daughter Rianne from the hands of Shadow Company, an ex-special forces unit involved in drug smuggling.
Murtaugh and Riggs agree to meet with Shadow Company at El Mirage Lake, an isolated, deserted location. They try to gain the upper hand by dropping off Riggs in the distance of the meeting place to assume a sniper position. Also assisting Murtaugh and Riggs’ plan is that Shadow Company erroneously believe that they had killed Riggs previously in a drive by attack. Murtaugh drives to the meeting place and sees in the distance Shadow Company rushing towards him in two vehicles and a helicopter, creating a conspicuous entrance that enacts the speed scenario [Figure 1]. Shadow Company arrive and direct their weapons towards Murtaugh, who demands that they show Rianne to demonstrate that she is still alive. Rianne is pulled from the limousine and a member from the unit demands an exchange for Murtaugh in place of his daughter. Murtaugh then pulls a grenade from his pocket, creating a stand-off between the two parties. Joshua, a senior member of Shadow Company, demands Murtaugh to return the pin in the grenade and when he refuses Joshua shoots him in the arm. Murtaugh tosses the grenade onto the ground, causing the unit to flee, and wheels around to fire at one of them near the helicopter. The grenade explodes but proves to be a “smoker” thereby providing cover for Riggs, who starts firing on unit members from a considerable distance. Riggs first shoots the members holding Rianne hostage and then takes out the driver of the limousine, thereby gaining ascendancy over Shadow Company [Figure 2]. Rianne shoves the dead driver out of the seat and takes the wheel of the limousine to speed off in an escape attempt. Just as Riggs is about to fire on Joshua, General Peter McAllister appears, the leader of Shadow Company, with his gun pointed at Riggs. Riggs submits to his capture by placing his hands behind his head, an iconic gesture signalling the capture scenario [Figure 3]. Informed of Rigg’s capture, Joshua orders the helicopter pilot to go after Rianne, triggering the pursuit scenario. The unit then fires at Murtaugh’s vehicle, forcing him to come out of his hiding spot and who also submits to capture. Rianne’s escape path is soon blocked as the helicopter places itself in front of the speeding limousine. An aftermath shot ends the sequence, reinforcing Murtaugh and Riggs’ captured state and the scuppering of their rescue plans [Figure 4].