Between 1988 and 1992, with a little help from one of the top agents in Hollywood and multi-picture deal with Warner Brothers, Steven Seagal managed to gain some ground as a leading action hero in a number of modestly budgeted action thrillers, beginning with ABOVE THE LAW (aka NICO in the UK).
The story was normally of a reticent individual with incredible martial arts skills set within the context of a cop thriller or similar setting. However, some have questioned his credentials outside films and his whole history of time in the Far East where he learned his skills.
That said, who am I to question, as I can only look at what I see on screen and indeed, Seagal certainly scores points in the action department. However, without question, his most successful and critically acclaimed film was UNDER SIEGE, which arrived in theatres and did even better than the previous films.
It proved that with the right production team, script and strong supporting actors, you can achieve anything on screen.
Originally titled DREADNOUGHT, UNDER SIEGE is known as the film that beat the original idea of DIE HARD 3 to the screen, which was meant to put John and Holly McClane on a cruise ship. It was written by JF Lawton, who had recently had success with his screenplay for PRETTY WOMAN (1990), which catapulted Julia Roberts to the mega-league of acting earnings and put her above the title.
Seagal plays Casey Ryback, an ex-Navy SEAL who has been demoted for punching his NCO out on a previous mission and now works at a cook on the soon-to-be-decommissioned USS Missouri, en route to be stripped of its’ status on the water, but still carrying nuclear arms. He has his work cut out dealing with Commander Krill (Gary Busey) who is not on the ship captain’s good books, but whom has organised a party for his birthday, but after an altercation with Ryback locks him in the brig out of sight from the party and the captain.
A helicopter arrives carrying a band and Miss July 1989, Jordan Tate (Erika Eleniak, TV’s BAYWATCH), led by William Strannix (Tommy Lee Jones), but as the band plays on, Strannix and the crew decide to shoot on sight some of the officers and with help from Krill take over full control of the Missouri.
However, Ryback senses from the noise above that something is wrong and asks the guard to check in. However, the guard gets shot by two soldiers asked to relieve him. Ryback overthrows and kills them and then decides to plot his own response against Strannix and Co….
Andrew Davis, who followed this with the blockbuster big-screen update of THE FUGITIVE with Harrison Ford, and who previously directed Chuck Norris in the enjoyable CODE OF SILENCE, keeps the action moving along and Seagal acquits himself well, thanks to solid supporting performances from Jones and Busey, as well as Colm Meaney (CON AIR, THE COMMITMENTS).
The action is staged well and keeps the geography of the ship and logistics of travelling through very grounded and real. Bang for your buck throughout.