Director: Tony Scout
Year: 1991
Rating: 7.0
Curious that I knew the opening scene with the football player (Billy Blanks) running down the field for a touchdown and pulling out a gun and shooting all the guys trying to tackle him. It is an iconic scene seared into my memory though I probably saw this film over 30 years ago. Yet, I could never have told you what film that scene was from. But somehow, I managed to forget Halle Berry as a go-go dancer on stage. The brain works in funny ways. I was in the mood for some early Bruce Willis and this filled the bill - cynical, tough, a smart-ass mouth. Sort of a cliché in truth with his stubble and cigarettes. Much of the script from Shane Black and directed by Tony Scott is one cliché heaped on top of another. The Buddy film. Has anyone every made a Buddy film in which the two people liked one another right from the beginning? It seems to be the same evolution every time. Dislike, grudging partnership and then they ride off into the sunset holding hands at the end. This one feels as unlikely as cranberry pie. Some good action scenes make up for it though. And Halle Berry saying, if I was a cat, I would be purring. You will get your chance Halle.
Hallenbeck is a disheveled down on his luck private detective who smokes and drinks like a man knowing he will soon be dead and doesn't give a fuck. He was in the Secret Service and saved the life of the President (Jimmy Carter) but then got kicked out for beating up a Senator for torturing a woman. He has a wife (Chelsea Fields) and a bratty daughter at home - they both hate him. Home life must be wonderful. The wife is cheating with his best friend and the daughter curses him out like a Marine on a week-pass. The friend offers him a $500 job - to protect Halle. Then gets himself blown-up. Very early in her career, though she had just had a part in Spike Lee's Jungle Fever - she is stunning here - even after she lays dead on the sidewalk. Good job Hallenbeck. He leaned over for a burning thrown away cigarette and got conked. Only fat jokes saved his life.
Her boyfriend is an ex-quarterback tossed out of the league for gambling - played by Damon Wayans. Like all Buddy films they team up to find out who killed her. Turns out to be a lot of nasty villains of the worst kind - a corrupt politician and a football team owner. With lots of thugs to send to kill. A bunch of over-the-top action scenes that are good fun. And nothing like killing a bunch of bad guys to heal a family. Bruce McGill plays the friend, Joe Santos in a familiar role plays a yelling cop, the daughter is Danielle Harris who has gone on to a career in horror films and Tony Longo is one of the lugs. I mention Longo because there is a wonderful film essay about him from Thom Anderson titled The Tony Longo Trilogy. Good watch if you can find it.
Year: 1991
Rating: 7.0
Curious that I knew the opening scene with the football player (Billy Blanks) running down the field for a touchdown and pulling out a gun and shooting all the guys trying to tackle him. It is an iconic scene seared into my memory though I probably saw this film over 30 years ago. Yet, I could never have told you what film that scene was from. But somehow, I managed to forget Halle Berry as a go-go dancer on stage. The brain works in funny ways. I was in the mood for some early Bruce Willis and this filled the bill - cynical, tough, a smart-ass mouth. Sort of a cliché in truth with his stubble and cigarettes. Much of the script from Shane Black and directed by Tony Scott is one cliché heaped on top of another. The Buddy film. Has anyone every made a Buddy film in which the two people liked one another right from the beginning? It seems to be the same evolution every time. Dislike, grudging partnership and then they ride off into the sunset holding hands at the end. This one feels as unlikely as cranberry pie. Some good action scenes make up for it though. And Halle Berry saying, if I was a cat, I would be purring. You will get your chance Halle.
Hallenbeck is a disheveled down on his luck private detective who smokes and drinks like a man knowing he will soon be dead and doesn't give a fuck. He was in the Secret Service and saved the life of the President (Jimmy Carter) but then got kicked out for beating up a Senator for torturing a woman. He has a wife (Chelsea Fields) and a bratty daughter at home - they both hate him. Home life must be wonderful. The wife is cheating with his best friend and the daughter curses him out like a Marine on a week-pass. The friend offers him a $500 job - to protect Halle. Then gets himself blown-up. Very early in her career, though she had just had a part in Spike Lee's Jungle Fever - she is stunning here - even after she lays dead on the sidewalk. Good job Hallenbeck. He leaned over for a burning thrown away cigarette and got conked. Only fat jokes saved his life.
Her boyfriend is an ex-quarterback tossed out of the league for gambling - played by Damon Wayans. Like all Buddy films they team up to find out who killed her. Turns out to be a lot of nasty villains of the worst kind - a corrupt politician and a football team owner. With lots of thugs to send to kill. A bunch of over-the-top action scenes that are good fun. And nothing like killing a bunch of bad guys to heal a family. Bruce McGill plays the friend, Joe Santos in a familiar role plays a yelling cop, the daughter is Danielle Harris who has gone on to a career in horror films and Tony Longo is one of the lugs. I mention Longo because there is a wonderful film essay about him from Thom Anderson titled The Tony Longo Trilogy. Good watch if you can find it.