Opération Green Ice

I remember seeing this on HBO and just watching in awe of how well crafted films can be. This film isn't high art in the traditional sense. It came out during the transitional 1970s to 1980s era of one society wanting to be high tech, and another entering the computer age perhaps against its will and without consent. That's important because there's a kind of technological angle that this film uses to further the plot, which was a foretelling of things to come in terms of tech portrayed in films.

But the larger film is a bit long and can be a slog at times, but it's actually quite interesting as the film shows us glimpses of another world. A world where international intrigue shows its seamier side in terms of criminality on both sides of the law; law breakers and those who are supposed to enforce the law.

The film also shows us some of the issues plaguing nations like Columbia, and shows us the extent to which dissident groups will go in order to enable their change for social order. The film shows the truth of such efforts, and the ultimate victors and losers.

I know all of what I wrote sounds kind of high minded, but films in the 70s and 80s were a lot more sophisticated than today's offerings, and more tasteful too. Green Ice has all kinds of tawdry and violent elements that aren't pornographic like a lot of today's media which seem to need to show us, the audience, every sexual act and every bullet striking every body part with every blood splatter.

Green Ice also doesn't rely on a lot of over the top action nor a lot of machine-gun editing nor shaky cam that plagues so much of today's media.

See it once and see what you think.

Following a James Bond style opening, with sexy emeralds in place of women, GREEN ICE is a breezy seventies Neo-Noir (although not released till the early eighties) starring Ryan O'Neal as a drifter in Mexico who meets his damsel in distress, rich girl Anne Archer...

Her hippie sister (Tara Fellner) had been slain by the same crooked third world officials she and her gang were hiding emeralds from, and so big sister uses O'Neal to find out what happened: Which turns out it has to do with... guess what? GREEN ICE, which millionaire Omar Sharif collects like loose change while exploiting the locals.

Here's where things wane, considerably, going from an involving suspense chase thriller into a pointless class envy melodrama with the reintroduction of the dead little sister's mentor, Miguel, a whining communist revolutionary with a chip on his shoulder this size of a dwarf planet and the politics of a dreamy sixth-grader...

The break-in at Sharif's glass-building high-rise to get back the emeralds, by very bizarre means of hot air balloons (manned by John Larroquette, and with a song playing that sounds worse than Yoko Ono), is where the film never really recovers...

Hell, even the heist is boring, despite Sharif... as kinda/sorta Archer's beau (get it?)... giving O'Neal an initial tour in an intriguing manner. And what a shame: with such an adventurous premise, this might've been really something. (Bill Wyman, bassist of The Rolling Stones, provides the cooler parts of the soundtrack, including an groovy opening instrumental that, alas, on the Album/LP, has singing on it.)

In the early eighties films were made without perfectly drycleaned wardrobe, without perfect glamour hair and without enough makeup to paint a world scene. This film is one of those that puts you in the film and away from the soundstage. Granted it's not a masterpiece but the story is solid and the acting and production is pretty good. The synth/spanish soundtrack by Bill Wyman also adds greatly to the Columbian landscapes and characterization (especially Wiley's campy yet likeable theme). Be wary however that there is a long scene involving one of the worst film songs of all time (floating) which will have you grinding your teeth in anguish as you reach for the remote to fast forward through it. Wiley (Ryan O Neal) travels to Mexico and meets Holbrook (Archer), a rich babe who is fiance' to Meno (Sharif). While Meno sucks dry Mexico's supply of Emeralds what he really wants is to return to the diamond concession in South America, using Holbrook to do so. In the process of his work he becomes responsible for killing Holbrook's sister which turns her against Meno thereby teaming her with Wiley to rob Meno's emerald vault. It's a good thief thriller, some laughable moments but not a bore at all.

Old-fashioned story with a little bit of love story, a little bit of action and a lot of nothing much. Gerald Browne's novel of the same name is the basis of this adventure film, the first of two made by Ernest Day, he was the cinematographer of classics such as Clockwork Orange and Lawrence of Arabia. For his debut, it took years to be released in the United States due to the difficulty of finding a distributor to exhibite this film despite containing a great trio of famous actors at the time. It deals with an expert electronics engineer named Wiley (Ryan O'Neal) leaves New York for Mexico City, where he will meet the beautiful Holbrook (Anne Archer). Together, they will live a whole series of adventures while getting involved with a brutal South American government. In Mexico, both will meet the strange and mysterious Argenti (Omar Shariff) and discover that, right in the hotel where they are staying, there is a magnificent and spectacular collection of emeralds. From here, they will find themselves involved in the dangerous world of Latin smuggling of precious stones...He wanted adventure...She craved revenge...Emeralds held the answer. Driven by lust, greed and revenge . . .to the edge of disaster. The prize. . . A fortune in emeralds!. Hot excitement and gem of a thriller !.

Attractive and decent adventure/intrigue movie with good guy Ryan O'Neal, bad guy Omar Shariff and Anne Archer as the woman in between. A mediocre attempt to make a jolly romantic comedy set against background of torture, murder and rebel guerrillas being fed to the hogs of prisons of Colombia. This agreeable thriller/comedy-adventure blends noisy action, rip roaring, a love story, cliff hunger, and being fun and entertaining enough. Ryan O'Neal gives a sympathetic acting as an American electronics expert get in trouble and plans a heist with his girlfriend and other cohorts. His colleague is the gorgeous Archer; both of whom play a couple of Americans meeting cute in Mexico, then heading for Colombia where she takes over from her missing sister who's working for the rebel cause and he - at first with itchy fingers for the loot- helps her replenish the rebel coffer through a daring heist of emeralds from a strong-hold right out of a James Bond movie with Omar Shariff as a villain to match. Trio de protagonists are well accompanied by nice secondaries, such as: the later very famous John Larroquette, Philip Stone, Michael Sheard and ordinary Mexican actors, such as: Enrique Lucero, Manuel Ojeda and Miguel Ángel Fuentes.

The picture contains spectacular and lively scenarios, some nice stunts and funny lines. It is also worth highlighting the film's catching soundtrack, which marked the first foray into film music by the Rolling Stones' first bassist, Bill Wyman. Colorful and sunny cinematography by Gilbert Taylor, although an urgent and perfect remastering is extremely necessary. Being shot on various locations from Manzanillo, Colima, México, Nueva York, and Studio, some interior scenes: Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, and Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom. The motion picture was mediocre but professionally directed by Ernerst Day. He was a notorious cameraman in several films as The Secret Partner, A passage to India, Sphinx , Running scared, The Long Day's Dying and a director assistant as The spy who love me, Operation: Daybreak, Moonraker, The Adventurers. The film will have you on the edge of your seat but the adventure and action never let up. It's a winner for Ryan O´Neal, Anne Archer and Omar Shariff fans. Rating: 5.5/10. Average but passable and acceptable.

This is one of those movies with a cult following. The plot might sound like something you heard before. But its the charm of this movie that sets it apart from the rest. I have seen this movie over 30 times since 1981 and I never tire of it. Some movies are just a pleasure to watch and listen to. It's like listening to your favorite song over and over. It's laid back and just plain enjoyable without all the stress we often get from modern movies.

Certainly a lot of the credit goes to Bill Wyman for making the score. Ultimately it is what puts the shine on Green Ice.

10/10