THE INTERFACE AFFAIR

The only half-twist in this familiar London kidnap-arama is that the terrorists are working (unofficially and idiotically) for Israel; a Sabra and an Anglo-Jewish couple figure on reversing America's pro-Arab trend by holding a visiting US ace microbiologist as hostage. But over the predictable plot sequences--the nabbing, the siege, the attempted smoke-out, the pseudo-agreement and airport carnage-Rayner hangs a rainbow of character colors: the hostage's musings on his fame, science ethics, and sexual rovings; timid kidnapper David's discovery of assertiveness and Jewishness; kidnapper Rachel's febrile guilts and doubts; American agent Vogel's grudging acceptance of his British counterpart's flamboyant homosexuality; the US President's expedient exploitation of the whole situation. None of these mind-probes are especially affecting or convincing, and yet, professionally wrapped, the wide assortment of unlikelies and inevitables do somehow Weigh in as a relatively substantial and satisfying bundle of headline-tagging suspense.