In 1987 Dutch director Paul Verhoeven and screenwriter Ed Neumeier combined forces to make a science-fiction satire that took on corporate America as well as Reagan’s America with a hint of religious symbolism. That film would be Robocop.
Synopsis
The plot at it’s core is very basic. Set in Detroit A corporation known as Omni Consumer Products (or OCP for short) are devising a plan for a mechanical law enforcer as many cops are being killed during various crime waves. After the first model “ED-209” goes haywire and kills a random executive in a shocking and yet somewhat strangely funny scene the next idea goes into fruition to send cops into dangerous territory in the hope that one will be killed to resurrect as a robotic life form. (hey that’s big greedy heartless corporations for you).
It’s here we’re introduced to our hero Alex Murphy (Peter Weller) along with his partner Anne Lewis (Nancy Allen). Murphy has just been transferred to the precinct when him and Lewis are sent to track down ruthless crime boss Clarence Boddicker (played by Kurtwood Smith of that 70’S show fame) Lewis is knocked unconscious while Murphy is surrounded and brutally murdered (this scene along with Quint’s death in Jaws is the only movie death to absolutely disturb me) shortly afterwards Murphy is resurrected and now known as Robocop along with 3 directives
1.serve the public trust
2.protect the innocent
3.uphold the law
however a 4th one is added not to harm any ocp executives should any executives be exposed of corruption.
Production history
Verhoeven was not the first choice to direct. Legendary body horror director David Cronenberg had been suggested to direct as well as Alex Cox. while Rutger Hauer (who was a frequent collaborator with Verhoeven) Michael Ironside and Armand Assante had been suggested for the title role. Verhoeven originally had no interest in the project when reading the title however when he started to take note of the satirical aspects he became interested saying “it’s not exactly Shakespeare but there are more layers to it than you think.” Which brings us to the next part.
Themes
When seeing Robocop as a kid I loved it for its comic book style action and ridiculous over the top violence however as I have gotten older and revisited the film I have noticed the heavy use of social commentary on capitalist America. Throughout the film documentary style news footage is shown showing the crime ridden state Detroit is in. Sadly this is something that is highly relevant today. The film also takes an amusing swing at American style consumerism by showing a fictional commercial within the film where a typical all American family play a board game called nukem in which in order to win the player must invade countries, impose sanctions and enforce regime change until someone gives up and launches nukes. Another strong theme throughout the film is religion. Robocop can be seen as basically a Christ metaphor such as dying and being resurrected and even during the climax as he walks through a puddle the scene is shot to make it look as if Murphy is walking on water.
Humour
Despite it’s violence and grim setting of a futuristic Detroit Robocop has a wonderful dark sense of humour. it’s tragic for the poor executive being gunned down by the faulty machine but as the late film critic Roger Ebert put it in his review of the film “there is something hilarious about logic applied to a situation where it is not relevant”. Another example of comedy being used in the film is later on when this supposedly unstoppable killing machine is simply defeated by falling down a flight of stairs and making bizarre animal like noises.
Overall verdict
Robocop has aged well on many aspects for it’s themes on corporations, high crime rates and brainwashing consumerism, very good performances from Weller, Allen, Smith Ronny Cox and the late Miguel Ferrer as well as having superb action and outstanding effects by the legendary Rob Bottin. with 2 lacklustre sequels, 2 tv shows (one live action the other animated) and a not so great reboot in 2014 which failed to capture the satire of the original it’s nice to know that 30 years on the original still has stood the test of time and I suspect that it will for 30 more.
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