August 8, 2003

BASF, world's top chemicals company, posts lower second-quarter earnings and sales; operating profit rises 1.2 percent to 832 million euros ($944.1 million); net profit falls 61 percent to 195 million euros; graph (S)

This feature film version of the 1970's cop show preserves the most memorable thing about the old television series: Barry DeVorzon's wah-wah crackle theme song. Unfortunately Clark Johnson and a battery of writers have also retained the punitive monotony and barely coherent narrative thinness of the old show as well: it evokes the feeling of wasting a rainy Saturday afternoon. The foreign crime boss Alex Martel (Olivier Martinez) is about to be extradited after leaving a trail of corpses and misery. Following a failed jailbreak — after which Martel inexplicably gets to speak to the television cameras — he offers "one hundred million dollars to whoever gets me out to here." And law and order in Los Angeles suddenly evaporates, with all of the city's thugs, gang-bangers and semi-employed, dangerous-looking actors marshalling their forces to spring Martel. An elite S.W.A.T. team has to transport this prisoner to either a federal pen, the airport or another film remake of an old Aaron Spelling television show. The S.W.A.T. team members — LL Cool J, Michelle Rodriguez, Josh Charles and Brian Van Holt — are so gung ho that in any other city they'd be subjected to steroid testing. Samuel L. Jackson plays the absurdly named team leader Hondo — it comes from the old show — with the Rhythm-Heritage confidence that burbles like the old-school funk of Mr. DeVorzon's theme. And Colin Farrell, employing a wobbly American accent that makes him sound like an international criminal a step ahead of the authorities, stars as the S.W.A.T. officer Jim Street. Much of the by-the-yard martial choreography is strictly by-the-book, as Hondo's martinet captain might say. Mr. Johnson almost seems to be rejecting the fascist politics of the premise, and his discomfort is palpable, like Danny Glover's slight hesitations in the "Lethal Weapon" movies. — Elvis Mitchell

Manhattan federal court Judge Charles S Haight Jr criticizes police officials for handling of interrogations of people protesting Iraq war; cites comments in news media by Comr Raymond W Kelly that he was unaware that police were using 'debriefing form' in questioning; agreed in February to modify longstanding order that had restricted police's ability to conduct surveillance of political groups but will incorporate protections allowing lawyers to seek contempt charges against city if police violate people's rights (M)

Democratic strategists fear that party is perilously out of touch with large swath of black voters--those 18 to 35 years old who grew up after groundbreaking years of civil rights movement; party has traditionally counted on more than 90 percent of black vote; blacks 18 to 35 make up 40 percent of black voting-age population, but their turnout in 2000 elections made up only 2 percent of entire vote; young blacks warn party not to take their votes for granted; they are still more closely aligned with Democrats than Republicans on some issues, but are more open to at least exploring some initiatives shunned by Democratic Party; unlike older blacks, many of whom remember when they could not vote, younger blacks are more prone to sit out election if no candidate grabs their interest, and they are more open to supporting Republican candidates and issues than older blacks; photos; graph (L)

Banking company ABN Amro Holding says that its second-quarter profit rose 46 percent, to 782 million euros ($887.3 million) (S)

Clyde Haberman NYC column supports Kathy Boudin's request for parole; says Boudin, who pleaded guilty to charges for her role 1981 holdup of Brink's truck in which guard and two police officers were killed, has been exemplary prisoner; cites others who support parole, including Norma Hill, whose car was taken at gunpoint on day of holdup (M)

Chevrolet division of General Motors plans to introduce nine new models over 20 months, starting in January, setting up battle to overtake Ford as nation's top seller; Honda safety official says company had been redesigning its vehicles with aim of reducing injuries to passengers; drawings of new Chevrolet designs (M)

YankeeNets is, according to insiders, so financially and politically embattled that part owners are considering moving New Jersey Nets and New Jersey Devils out of New Jersey and into New York; divisive infighting between New York Yankees, Nets and Devils is likely to cause seemingly powerful multimedia conglomerate to dismantle (M)

Bechtel Group, one of world's biggest engineering and construction companies, drops out of running for contract to rebuild Iraqi oil industry, as other competitors have begun to conclude that that bidding process favors one company already working in Iraq, Halliburton; Halliburton's role in rebuilding has been under political scrutiny because company was formerly headed by Vice Pres Dick Cheney; Bush administration and Army Corps of Engineers, which is overseeing Iraqi oil reconstruction effort, have repeatedly said Halliburton does not have inside track; photo (M)

Barclays reports 12 percent increase in pretax profit for the first six months, to 1.96 billion pounds ($3.16 billion) (S)

Article on increasing numbers of New Yorkers who are opting to forgo leaving city early on Friday afternoons to spend weekends at summer homes and are taking Mondays off instead; drawing; photo (M)

NTT DoCoMo Inc, world's second-largest wireless carrier after Vodafone, says it earned 197 billion yen ($1.6 billion) in three months to June; photo (S)