Robocop (1987, Paul Verhoeven)

Alex J Murphy/Robocop

In a dystopic and crime-ridden Detroit, a terminally wounded cop returns to the force as a powerful cyborg haunted by submerged memories. (Source : imdb.com)

Welcome to Detroit, welcome to hell. Paul Verhoeven offers us an entertaining piece as well as a satire of modern society mostly driven by the ‘greed is good’ way of thinking, among others.

The film begins with the evening news (all about war) accompanied by business commercials. The journalists save the best for last: the rising crime in the city of Detroit that leads to the metropolitan Police being run by a huge multinationals called OCP (Omni Consumer Products).

Part I: Genesis

The OCP plans to build Delta City, a modern city made of scryscrapers, free of crime. As security features among the company’s priorities, OCP’s vice-president Dick Jones has created a robot prototype called ED 209, expected to be operational 24/7 as law enforcement agent in the field. 209 will be extended as a military program. But during a simulation test, 209 opens fire and kills an OCP committee member. Bob Morton, a young ambitious executive seizes the opportunity to get funds for his project, the Robocop program. Morton understood that a robot free of any ability to reason could not be effective in urban pacification.

ED 209

Meanwhile, Alex J Murphy is transferred to the infamous precinct of Detroit metro West and introduced to his new partner, Lewis, a badass female cop. On a raid against a group of dangerous criminals led by Clarence Boddicker, Murphy is mercilessly shot by the gang and left for dead. Bob Morton has found the right person to reach his goal. Murphy is deceased and Robocop is born.

Part II: Resurrection

The events following Murphy’s death are shown through footage from Robocop’s vision monitor - on/off: the left arm being replaced, the research staff celebrating New Year’s Eve, etc. The transition phase is the most interesting part of the film and Verhoeven succeeds in keeping the mystery about Robocop’s look, which makes his first appearance very impressive. Watching the film 27 years after its release, I still see a ‘state of the art’ robosuit (or suits). Kudos to Rob Bottin and his team.

Robert Morton (Miguel Ferrer) talking to Robocop 

Part III: There will be…trouble

Following his three prime directives (serve the public trust, protect the innocent, uphold the law), the superpoliceman cleans the city and becomes very popular among the Detroit citizens. Problems arise when he regains consciousness. His memories progressively come back and Robocop becomes obsessed with investigating his own murder.    

Again, the narrative of the events that follow comes mainly from Robocop’s perspective and I really loved that: the first conversation he has with his former partner Lewis, the arrests, the memories of his wife and son, etc. Although few elements and screenshots are reminiscent of the Terminator, the crew’s skills have made Robocop an original piece of work.

As far as acting is concerned, Miguel Ferrer’s performance as the controversial Bob Morton is particularly remarkable. Peter Weller (Dexter, Star Trek Into Darkness) was fantastic in the part. Robocop may have been a carreer killer for him but at least he has been in one of the biggest sci-fi movies of the 80s (Terminator, Blade Runner, Total Recall, Predator, Aliens, etc.). Against all odds, the best moments of the film are not the action scenes but those where Robocop remembers his past.  

Robocop (Peter Weller) and Anne Lewis (Nancy Allen)

Memorable quotes

The Old Man: Dick, I’m very disappointed

Dick: I’m sure it’s only a glitch. A temporary setback 

Bob (to the screen): You’re gonna be a bad motherf

Robocop: Madam, you have suffered an emotional shock. I will notify a rape crisis center

Bob : At Security Concept we’re projecting the end of crime in Old Detroit within 40 days. There’s a new guy in town and his name is Robocop

Robocop : Dead or alive, you’re coming with me

Robocop : Come quietly or there will be … trouble

Robocop (to Anne Lewis) : You may not like what you’re going to see (taking out the helmet)

Anne Lewis: Murphy, I’m a mess

Robocop: they’ll fix you. They fix everything

The old man: Dick, you’re fired

Robocop : Thank you (he shoots)


SEE ALSO

Dexter

Star Trek Into Darkness