Weekly Review -- Sign o' the times

The China Syndrome (1979) -- One of the conspiracy-themed films that characterized 1970's American cinema, The China Syndrome is one of those that pack the most wallop. Mankind has always had a love/hate relationship with nuclear power -- attempting to harness it, while fearing and not necessarily respecting its destructive potential. This James Bridges film questions the consequences of a carefree attitude toward this kind of force, while enveloping the proceedings in a cover-up scenario. Reporter Kimberly Wells (Jane Fonda) is preparing a report about the various types of energy used in California. While at a nuclear plant with her crew, they witness some sort of incident, based on the panicked reactions of the control room employees that they can only see and not hear. Once she tries to expose it, things seem to go nowhere fast. Not only does Kimberly have to contend with her colleagues' chauvinistic attitudes and skepticism of her abilities, but the investigation into the incident is unusually hurried and she encounters more and more resistance with the head honchos at the plant. At the same time, Jack Godell (Jack Lemmon), shift supervisor at the plant, begins to suspect a hidden agenda. Fonda gives a sharp, touching performance as a woman who finally gets a chance to prove herself to her peers, while going against the mammoth powers that be. Lemmon is sympathetic as a regular Joe who is used to playing by the rules, but who realizes that, sometimes, they only belong in a manual. An important aspect of the film is its look at the increasing popularity and significance of the media, who can literally make or break a socially relevant issue; the last scenes are just as intense as the entire story. The China Syndrome is a truly suspenseful drama that shows filmmaking at its best and whose concerns still hold up today.

9/10