The China Syndrome

The China Syndrome (1979)
Director: James Bridges Cast: Jack Lemmon, Jane Fonda, Michael Douglas, Wilford Brimley
Memorable Line: "I know the vibration was not normal."

You've heard the phrase, "Fact is stranger than fiction." The China Syndrome, while fiction, had it's release date eerily and ironically only days before the real life near nuclear meltdown at the power plant, Three Mile Island. This added to the films impact because it provided extra spectacle and relevance.

Jack Goddell (Lemmon) is a supervisor at the nuclear power plant when an incident happens that causes him great concern. Present at the incident is a spunky young TV reporter (Fonda) and her radical camera man (Douglas). While Goddell is convinced that there is something wrong at the plant, officials at the plant downplay his concerns and when he starts an undercover investigation, he becomes a target. In a parallel investigation, the reporter and her camera man start finding sinister clues that something is wrong at the plant. The deeper Goddell investigates the more he gets marginalized by plant officials. All these leads to an explosive ending with powerful emotional impact.

The China Syndrome is a taught and realistic thriller deftly handled by director Bridges. The real strength of the movie lies in Lemmon's performance. He convinces you that he is just a working stiff and you see his character's dilemma in his eyes. Fonda is competent as the TV reporter, but it's really Lemmon's movie. Douglas, who produced the movie, provides a nice edgy performance as the anti-establishment camera man. In my memory from my original viewing, Wilford Brimley stood out in a small supporting role as a plant worker.

If you're looking for an affecting thriller with great performances, then look no further than The China Syndrome.