Before he came face to face with Jason Voorhees in Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter, Peter Barton faced a different kind of cinematic killer alongside Linda Blair in Hell Night. With the 1981 horror film coming out soon on a Collector's Edition Blu-ray / DVD with a new 4K scan from Scream Factory, we've been provided with an exclusive behind-the-scenes clip to share as a special treat for Daily Dead readers.
In the behind-the-scenes clip below, Barton reflects on a humorous time when it was difficult for him to maintain a straight face during filming, and he also talks about the high level of energy that goes into a performance when actors are playing characters who are fighting for (or fear for) their lives.
Scream Factory's Hell Night Collector's Edition Blu-ray / DVD will be released on January 2nd, 2018, and we have a look at the full list of special features...
In the behind-the-scenes clip below, Barton reflects on a humorous time when it was difficult for him to maintain a straight face during filming, and he also talks about the high level of energy that goes into a performance when actors are playing characters who are fighting for (or fear for) their lives.
Scream Factory's Hell Night Collector's Edition Blu-ray / DVD will be released on January 2nd, 2018, and we have a look at the full list of special features...
- 12/19/2017
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
After facing off against the demon Pazuzu in The Exorcist, Linda Blair faced off against a vicious murderer that made some horror fans "pray for day" in the 1981 slasher film Hell Night (read our own Scott Drebit's Drive-In Dust Offs on the film here), coming out this January on a Collector's Edition Blu-ray / DVD combo pack from Scream Factory that's brimming with almost four hours of bonus features:
Press Release: One dark night 12 years ago, madman Raymond Garth butchered his wife and children in their mansion before killing himself. Legend has it that one child survived the slaughter and remains hidden in the house as a deformed monster. Years later on pledge night, a group of new fraternity and sorority pledges must spend an evening in this creepy mansion on the anniversary of the killings. But what starts off as a night of innocent pranks and rowdiness soon turns deadly…...
Press Release: One dark night 12 years ago, madman Raymond Garth butchered his wife and children in their mansion before killing himself. Legend has it that one child survived the slaughter and remains hidden in the house as a deformed monster. Years later on pledge night, a group of new fraternity and sorority pledges must spend an evening in this creepy mansion on the anniversary of the killings. But what starts off as a night of innocent pranks and rowdiness soon turns deadly…...
- 11/15/2017
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Nora-Jane Noone joins Farshad Farahat (Argo) and Homeland's Maury Sterling to topline Randy Feldman’s drama Know Your Enemy, which starts shooting this month in Los Angeles. The film, said to be an exploration of preconceptions and misconceptions, follows a Middle Eastern man (Farahat) who invades the home of a young, affluent couple (Noone & Sterling) as the result of a road rage incident. Jaime Gallagher, Bruce Bundy, Nick Boraine and Danny Boushebel will co-star…...
- 8/8/2017
- Deadline
The Spark of Life: Iglesia’s Latest a Soap Opera Soap Box
Following on the heels of his successful 2010 award winner The Last Circus, Alex de la Iglesia leaves behind genre for his most straightforward drama effort yet with As Luck Would Have It, a denigration of class and greed that operates nearly exclusively as a mouth piece for the overtly obvious views it continuously espouses. Once again snagging some A-list talent, Iglesia sinks them, along with Kiko de la Rica’s glorious cinematography, into a quagmire of telenovelic proportions. A would be satire, Iglesia bungles melodrama, black comedy, and motifs more at home with Arthur Miller into a heterogeneous mixture of humanity where black and white never fade to grey.
An out of work advertising executive, Roberto (Jose Mota), is desperate to get out of a two year unemployment slump. His ravishingly beautiful and supportive wife, Luisa (Salma Hayek...
Following on the heels of his successful 2010 award winner The Last Circus, Alex de la Iglesia leaves behind genre for his most straightforward drama effort yet with As Luck Would Have It, a denigration of class and greed that operates nearly exclusively as a mouth piece for the overtly obvious views it continuously espouses. Once again snagging some A-list talent, Iglesia sinks them, along with Kiko de la Rica’s glorious cinematography, into a quagmire of telenovelic proportions. A would be satire, Iglesia bungles melodrama, black comedy, and motifs more at home with Arthur Miller into a heterogeneous mixture of humanity where black and white never fade to grey.
An out of work advertising executive, Roberto (Jose Mota), is desperate to get out of a two year unemployment slump. His ravishingly beautiful and supportive wife, Luisa (Salma Hayek...
- 2/14/2013
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Watch new clips from As Luck Would Have It (La chispa de la vida) directed by Alex De La Iglesia, staring Jose Mota and Salma Hayek IFC's drama screenwritten by Randy Feldman opened in limited theaters and VOD on February 1st Juan Luis Galiardo, Fernando Tejero, Tallafé, Antonio Garrido, Carolina Bang and Eduardo Casanova co-star. In As Luck Would Have It, Roberto (famed Spanish comic José Mota) once had a promising career in advertising. But now out of work during the economic downturn, he struggles to keep his family afloat and their dire situation a secret from his adoring wife Luisa (Salma Hayek). After yet another dead end interview, it seems like reality will come crashing down on Roberto – until a freak accident places him at the center of a wild media storm. Realizing his opportunity, Roberto hires a brazen agent to help him leverage his new found fame into fortune,...
- 2/6/2013
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Watch new clips from As Luck Would Have It (La chispa de la vida) directed by Alex De La Iglesia, staring Jose Mota and Salma Hayek IFC's drama screenwritten by Randy Feldman opened in limited theaters and VOD on February 1st Juan Luis Galiardo, Fernando Tejero, Tallafé, Antonio Garrido, Carolina Bang and Eduardo Casanova co-star. In As Luck Would Have It, Roberto (famed Spanish comic José Mota) once had a promising career in advertising. But now out of work during the economic downturn, he struggles to keep his family afloat and their dire situation a secret from his adoring wife Luisa (Salma Hayek). After yet another dead end interview, it seems like reality will come crashing down on Roberto – until a freak accident places him at the center of a wild media storm. Realizing his opportunity, Roberto hires a brazen agent to help him leverage his new found fame into fortune,...
- 2/6/2013
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Feature Ryan Lambie Jan 23, 2013
Jack Palance kisses mice. Teri Hatcher plays drums. Just two of the many remarkable things we've discovered in Tango & Cash...
In this occasional series of 'remarkable things' articles, we've mostly focused exclusively on movies that were critical or financial flops. Previous entries have included Jaws: The Revenge, Battlefield Earth and RoboCop 3, which all suffered in both critics' reviews and at the box office.
This time, our choice isn't a notorious flop at all - it's Tango & Cash, a film which actually made a few million dollars more than it cost to make. At this stage in Sylvester Stallone's career, which featured the critical and financial nightmares Rocky V, Oscar and Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot, Tango & Cash was a comparative blockbuster.
In terms of critical reception, though, Tango & Cash fared less well. It was nominated for three Razzies (though won precisely none) and reviews...
Jack Palance kisses mice. Teri Hatcher plays drums. Just two of the many remarkable things we've discovered in Tango & Cash...
In this occasional series of 'remarkable things' articles, we've mostly focused exclusively on movies that were critical or financial flops. Previous entries have included Jaws: The Revenge, Battlefield Earth and RoboCop 3, which all suffered in both critics' reviews and at the box office.
This time, our choice isn't a notorious flop at all - it's Tango & Cash, a film which actually made a few million dollars more than it cost to make. At this stage in Sylvester Stallone's career, which featured the critical and financial nightmares Rocky V, Oscar and Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot, Tango & Cash was a comparative blockbuster.
In terms of critical reception, though, Tango & Cash fared less well. It was nominated for three Razzies (though won precisely none) and reviews...
- 1/22/2013
- by ryanlambie
- Den of Geek
Editor’s note: With our own Junkfood addict Brian Salisbury busy writing through the typhoon that is SXSW, we’ve farmed out his column to similarly-minded Rejects. First up – Adam Charles! Welcome back to Junkfood Cinema. Our jokes are as good as our speling. I’m just kidding…we are good speller. You’ve found yourselves in the annals of a column dedicated to nearly all of the works of Sylvester Stallone except for that one when his Mom will shoot and he’ll warn you about it. We eventually plan on retitling this column Junkfood Cinema: It Is The Laauuwww and today we add one more notch onto the “Stallone takes over Junkfood Cinema” tally, but just before we draw the line to make it complete we’ll offer up a suggestion of something to throw down your kisser in celebration. This week, we give you Tango & Cash. What Makes It Bad? You...
- 3/9/2012
- by Adam Charles
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
2012 Tribeca Film Festival Announces Film Selections
For Spotlight And Cinemania Sections And Special Screenings
***
Tribeca/Espn Sports Film Festival Lineup Also Revealed
The Tribeca Film Festival (Tff), presented by American Express, today announced its feature film selections in the Spotlight and Cinemania sections, as well as Special Screenings and the Tribeca/Espn Sports Film Festival lineup. The 11th edition of the Festival will take place from April 18 to April 29 in New York City.
The Spotlight section screens 34 films, 22 narratives and 12 documentaries that demonstrate the breadth of films at the Tribeca Film Festival. Nineteen films in the selection will have their world premieres at the Festival. The Cinemania section offers a largely international assortment of seven thrilling narrative films.
.The Spotlight program is a wonderful encapsulation of the originality and diversity of filmmaking that Tribeca seeks to highlight. We have films from emerging filmmakers as well as seasoned veterans, narratives that...
For Spotlight And Cinemania Sections And Special Screenings
***
Tribeca/Espn Sports Film Festival Lineup Also Revealed
The Tribeca Film Festival (Tff), presented by American Express, today announced its feature film selections in the Spotlight and Cinemania sections, as well as Special Screenings and the Tribeca/Espn Sports Film Festival lineup. The 11th edition of the Festival will take place from April 18 to April 29 in New York City.
The Spotlight section screens 34 films, 22 narratives and 12 documentaries that demonstrate the breadth of films at the Tribeca Film Festival. Nineteen films in the selection will have their world premieres at the Festival. The Cinemania section offers a largely international assortment of seven thrilling narrative films.
.The Spotlight program is a wonderful encapsulation of the originality and diversity of filmmaking that Tribeca seeks to highlight. We have films from emerging filmmakers as well as seasoned veterans, narratives that...
- 3/8/2012
- by Melissa Howland
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
A new big batch of films have been added to the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival line-up, and while there aren't a lot of big premieres in the bunch, there's a lot to catch up with for those of you (and us) who didn't attend Tiff 2011, Sundance 2012, etc. etc.
Highlights for us include Sarah Polley's sophomore directorial effort "Take This Waltz," starring Seth Rogen and Michelle Williams, Julie Delpy's "2 Days In New York," starring herself and Chris Rock in a sequel to "2 Days in Paris," Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud's "Chicken With Plums," their directorial follow-up to the very excellent 2007 animated film "Persepolis," Lynn Shelton's "Your Sister's Sister" starring Emily Blunt, Rosemarie DeWitt and Mark Duplass, and "Lola Versus," Daryl Wein and Zoe Lister Jones' follow-up to the celebrated 2009 micro-budgeted indie "Breaking Upwards" starring Lister Jones herself alongside Greta Gerwig, Joel Kinnaman (AMC's "The Killing," the new "RoboCop"), Bill Pullman,...
Highlights for us include Sarah Polley's sophomore directorial effort "Take This Waltz," starring Seth Rogen and Michelle Williams, Julie Delpy's "2 Days In New York," starring herself and Chris Rock in a sequel to "2 Days in Paris," Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud's "Chicken With Plums," their directorial follow-up to the very excellent 2007 animated film "Persepolis," Lynn Shelton's "Your Sister's Sister" starring Emily Blunt, Rosemarie DeWitt and Mark Duplass, and "Lola Versus," Daryl Wein and Zoe Lister Jones' follow-up to the celebrated 2009 micro-budgeted indie "Breaking Upwards" starring Lister Jones herself alongside Greta Gerwig, Joel Kinnaman (AMC's "The Killing," the new "RoboCop"), Bill Pullman,...
- 3/8/2012
- by The Playlist
- The Playlist
Tribeca 2012 Announces Final Line-Up Including ’2 Days,’ ‘Take This Waltz,’ ‘Sleepless Night’ & More
After an initial unveiling earlier this week, Tribeca Film Festival 2012 have announced the rest of their feature film line-up and it is a surprisingly strong one. We’ve got lots of great films that have premiered at previous fests.
There is July Delpy‘s 2 Days In New York (our Sundance review here), Sarah Polley‘s Take This Waltz (our Vancouver review here), the awesome action thriller Sleepless Night (our Tiff review here), as well as one of my favorites from Toronto, Chicken with Plums (our Tiff review here), from the Persepolis directors. We’ve also got premieres of Jenna Fischer‘s Mechanical Man and Chris Colfer‘s Struck by Lightning, as well as docs by Billy Corben, Morgan Spurlock and Keanu Reeves‘ filmmaking doc Side by Side. Check them all out below.
Spotlight Section
2 Days in New York, directed and written by Julie Delpy. (France) – New York Premiere, Narrative. This...
There is July Delpy‘s 2 Days In New York (our Sundance review here), Sarah Polley‘s Take This Waltz (our Vancouver review here), the awesome action thriller Sleepless Night (our Tiff review here), as well as one of my favorites from Toronto, Chicken with Plums (our Tiff review here), from the Persepolis directors. We’ve also got premieres of Jenna Fischer‘s Mechanical Man and Chris Colfer‘s Struck by Lightning, as well as docs by Billy Corben, Morgan Spurlock and Keanu Reeves‘ filmmaking doc Side by Side. Check them all out below.
Spotlight Section
2 Days in New York, directed and written by Julie Delpy. (France) – New York Premiere, Narrative. This...
- 3/8/2012
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
HollywoodNews.com: The Tribeca Film Festival (Tff), presented by American Express, today announced its feature film selections in the Spotlight and Cinemania sections, as well as Special Screenings and the Tribeca/Espn Sports Film Festival lineup. The 11th edition of the Festival will take place from April 18 to April 29 in New York City.
The Spotlight section screens 34 films, 22 narratives and 12 documentaries that demonstrate the breadth of films at the Tribeca Film Festival. Nineteen films in the selection will have their world premieres at the Festival. The Cinemania section offers a largely international assortment of seven thrilling narrative films.
‘The Spotlight program is a wonderful encapsulation of the originality and diversity of filmmaking that Tribeca seeks to highlight. We have films from emerging filmmakers as well as seasoned veterans, narratives that showcase stellar performances and insightful writing, and documentaries that challenge and inform their audiences,’ said Frédéric Boyer, newly appointed Artistic...
The Spotlight section screens 34 films, 22 narratives and 12 documentaries that demonstrate the breadth of films at the Tribeca Film Festival. Nineteen films in the selection will have their world premieres at the Festival. The Cinemania section offers a largely international assortment of seven thrilling narrative films.
‘The Spotlight program is a wonderful encapsulation of the originality and diversity of filmmaking that Tribeca seeks to highlight. We have films from emerging filmmakers as well as seasoned veterans, narratives that showcase stellar performances and insightful writing, and documentaries that challenge and inform their audiences,’ said Frédéric Boyer, newly appointed Artistic...
- 3/8/2012
- by Josh Abraham
- Hollywoodnews.com
The Tribeca Film Festival announced its Spotlight and Cinemania programs today, including Morgan Spurlock’s latest documentary, Mansome, period drama Cheerful Weather for the Wedding with Like Crazy’s Felicity Jones (right), and Struck By Lightning, written by Glee’s Chris Colfer. “It was important that we head into Tribeca’s second decade highlighting projects that were attuned to the pulse of our cultural climate,” said director of programming Genna Terranova, in a release. “That said, both consciousness and levity play a prominent role in this year’s selection. We are also eager to introduce audiences to a group of...
- 3/8/2012
- by Jeff Labrecque
- EW - Inside Movies
The Berlin International Film Festival has just announced the first five films lined up for the Competition and five more for the Berlinale Special. The 62nd edition runs from February 9 through 19.
Update: The Berlinale's also announced that the members of the International Jury, presided over by Mike Leigh, will be Anton Corbijn, Asghar Farhadi, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Jake Gyllenhaal, François Ozon, Boualem Sansal and Barbara Sukowa.
Competition
Captive
France/Philippines/Germany/Great Britain
By Brillante Mendoza (Serbis, Kinatay, Lola)
With Isabelle Huppert, Katherine Mulville, Marc Zanetta
World premiere
From Ioncinema: "Based on a real-life event that occurred in 2001. It centers on Thérèse Bourgoin (Huppert), a French woman who works for a humanitarian organization on Palawan Island in the Philippines. While she is transporting equipment to Puerto Princesa, she is kidnapped by mistake with a colleague by Muslim extremist group Abu Sayyaf, who are fighting for Mindanao independence."
Dictado (Childish Games)
Spain
By Antonio Chavarrías (Susanna,...
Update: The Berlinale's also announced that the members of the International Jury, presided over by Mike Leigh, will be Anton Corbijn, Asghar Farhadi, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Jake Gyllenhaal, François Ozon, Boualem Sansal and Barbara Sukowa.
Competition
Captive
France/Philippines/Germany/Great Britain
By Brillante Mendoza (Serbis, Kinatay, Lola)
With Isabelle Huppert, Katherine Mulville, Marc Zanetta
World premiere
From Ioncinema: "Based on a real-life event that occurred in 2001. It centers on Thérèse Bourgoin (Huppert), a French woman who works for a humanitarian organization on Palawan Island in the Philippines. While she is transporting equipment to Puerto Princesa, she is kidnapped by mistake with a colleague by Muslim extremist group Abu Sayyaf, who are fighting for Mindanao independence."
Dictado (Childish Games)
Spain
By Antonio Chavarrías (Susanna,...
- 12/19/2011
- MUBI
People have been trying to recapture the buddy action/comedy vibe that peaked during the '80s for years, with varying degrees of success. By far the best attempt has been Shane Black's Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (pictured above)...but that may be because Shane Black wrote the first Lethal Weapon, the movie that best defines the genre. One of the scripts trying to recapture a little bit of that Shane Black magic is Fully Automatic, which pairs two rookie cops with a female Delta Force-r to take down a dangerous mercenary armed with stolen weaponry. The script originated as spec by Randy Feldman in 2002. Feldman is no stranger to the buddy action/comedy genre himself, having written Tango & Cash way back in 1989. Now it looks like Warner Bros. is trying to get the project up and running again, because THR says the studio has hired up-and-comer Michael Starrbury...
- 11/4/2011
- cinemablend.com
Popeye
"The Smurfs" writers Jay Scherick and David Ronn have been set to write the screenplay for a 3D animated feature adaptation of the classic cartoon character "Popeye" for Sony Pictures Animation and Arad Productions. [Source: Heat Vision]
Spectral
Ian Fried has sold his supernatural action spec script "Spectral", described as a dark and serious Ghostbusters-like story, to Legendary Pictures.
The premise follows a special ops group formed to bring down evil ghosts that have taken over Manhattan. The approach is said to be modern-day, militaristic and gritty. [Source: Heat Vision]
Fully Automatic
Michael Starrbury has been hired to rewrite the action thriller "Fully Automatic" into a classic buddy action movie at Warner Bros. Pictures and Silver Pictures.
The project, set up as a spec by Randy Feldman in 2002, centers on two smart-mouthed rookie cops who team up with a female Delta Force operative to stop a mercenary who's stolen a cache of weapons. [Source: Heat Vision]...
"The Smurfs" writers Jay Scherick and David Ronn have been set to write the screenplay for a 3D animated feature adaptation of the classic cartoon character "Popeye" for Sony Pictures Animation and Arad Productions. [Source: Heat Vision]
Spectral
Ian Fried has sold his supernatural action spec script "Spectral", described as a dark and serious Ghostbusters-like story, to Legendary Pictures.
The premise follows a special ops group formed to bring down evil ghosts that have taken over Manhattan. The approach is said to be modern-day, militaristic and gritty. [Source: Heat Vision]
Fully Automatic
Michael Starrbury has been hired to rewrite the action thriller "Fully Automatic" into a classic buddy action movie at Warner Bros. Pictures and Silver Pictures.
The project, set up as a spec by Randy Feldman in 2002, centers on two smart-mouthed rookie cops who team up with a female Delta Force operative to stop a mercenary who's stolen a cache of weapons. [Source: Heat Vision]...
- 11/4/2011
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Alex De La Iglesia recently commented on his chosen screen pair for the still-in-production La Chispa de La Vida, “I know it's an unbelievable starring couple: the top Latin representative in the Spanish-speaking star system and a Spaniard comedian. I know they do not match up, but because of this they're going to be the perfect couple. I chose them because I am fed up with all that is conventional, I am tired of films having to be coherent and I believe it is going to be very funny to have them together.” Apparently the filmmaker hasn't heard of either Javier Bardem or Penélope Cruz, as the big star he is referring to is Salma Hayek and comedian José Mota. Unlike his previous films, this one wasn't scripted by De La Iglesia or long time collaborator Jorge Guerricaechevarría, but Randy Feldman (Tango & Cash). More specific plot details were revealed: Mota plays Roberto,...
- 6/9/2011
- IONCINEMA.com
After the cold reception at the box office, mixed reaction from critics and only two tech award wins at the recent Goya awards with A Sad Trumpet Ballad a.k.a The Last Circus, director Alex de la Iglesia has commenced filming on “La Chispa De La Vida”. Based on an original screenplay by Randy Feldman (“Tango & Cash”), the film stars Salma Hayek (“Frida”) and Spaniard comedian José Mota. Although De la Iglesias has claimed this will be a dramatic feature film, in his own words ”…it has a lot in common with “The Last Circus” intentions wise. A strange story that also makes to think about “La Cabina” by Antonio Mercero in which it resembles story wise since it's about a man that has an accident and is left trapped in such a way that nobody knows how to rescue him, but in this case, the character being a publicist,...
- 2/16/2011
- IONCINEMA.com
Salma Hayek and Spanish comedian Jose Mota have signed on for “La Chispa de la Vida” or “As Luck Would Have It.” The official synopsis is “A once whiz-kid publicist (Mota) now out of work for three years. His luck finally appears to take a turn for the better when he accidentally takes a fall and impales his head on a small metal bar in a Roman Amphitheater. Conscious but unable to be moved, surrounded by TV crews, a publicity-craving mayor and an impromptu agent, he sees a chance to monetize his fate through an exclusive primetime death’s door interview, saving his family, led by his loving wife (Hayek), from financial ruin.” The script was originally written in English by Randy Feldman. It is not known if an English version of the film will be made at this time. The Spanish-language satirical dramatic comedy will be directed by Alex de la Iglesia.
- 1/6/2011
- LRMonline.com
Salma Hayek has been floundering a bit in Hollywood lately. Last summer she had a thankless role in the dreadful "Grown Ups" and prior to that she starred in a number of films that ended up being non-starters such as "Cirque Du Freak," "Lonely Hearts" and "Ask The Dust." So, we can't say we're too surprised that she's going abroad for her next film role. Hayek will co-star with Spanish comedian Jose Mota in "La Chispa de la vida" ("As Luck Would Have It"). Originally written in English by Randy Feldman ("Tango & Cash," "Nowhere To Run"), and being called…...
- 1/5/2011
- The Playlist
"Metro" stars Eddie Murphy as a wisecracking but top-notch cop -- only his name is not Axel Foley, he's got a little more facial hair, and he's stationed in Northern, not Southern, California. As "San Francisco's top police hostage negotiator," the actor provides his usual incandescent star power to a vehicle that's not particularly worthy of his talents.
Because of his renewed star wattage from "The Nutty Professor" and the lack of midwinter competition, the film should do respectable opening business, but it's hard not to think that it wouldn't do even better with "48HRS". or "Beverly Hills" in the title.
Murphy plays Scott Roper, who brings his own unorthodox brand of negotiating to tense hostage situations, such as bringing along a dozen donuts. Roper's got the usual problems -- a gambling addiction, a relationship on the ropes, a testy boss (Denis Arndt) -- and now he's even being saddled with a new partner, McCall (Michael Rapaport), a whiz-kid Harvard graduate who can read lips.
Early in the film, Roper's superior (Art Evans) is killed by Korda (Michael Wincott), a vicious jewelry thief. Korda is later involved in a hostage-taking situation of his own. And during his attempted escape, Roper and McCall give chase, resulting in a spectacular sequence involving a runaway cable car in which seemingly half the autos in San Francisco get demolished; between this film and "The Rock", it's hard to imagine that there's anything of the city left.
Although Korda is captured, he still manages to wreak havoc, hiring his cousin to go after Roper's girlfriend (she has succumbed to his charms once more). When that plan goes awry, Korda escapes from prison and attempts to finish the job himself.
Thomas Carter's film is a fairly straightforward, intense cop thriller, enlivened by Murphy's frequent touches of humor. The uneasy blend between action and comedy is only partially successful, with both the film and its lead performer torn between "Dirty Harry"-style fierceness and "Beverly Hills Cop" hijinks. The plotting is strictly formulaic, with the hackneyed romantic subplot particularly egregious. Screenwriter Randy Feldman, no stranger to the genre ("Tango & Cash"), doesn't exactly provide sparkling dialogue, although he does have the chief bad guy comfort an underling by saying: "It's not your fault you're stupid." The best writing comes in the brief sequences where Murphy is training his new partner in the art of hostage negotiating.
Murphy doesn't disappoint here. Rapaport, graduating to a big-time studio feature, is sadly underutilized and is allowed to showcase his own idiosyncratic brand of comic timing only sporadically. Carmen Ejogo, making her American film debut as Murphy's love interest, has the looks and charm to justify his character's leaps of daring to save her. Wincott is a suitably intense and scary villain.
Carter's direction is most effective in the film's many action and chase sequences, which involve the usual copious amounts of people leaping onto the hoods of speeding cars. He's a little too fond of playing tricks on the audience, however. In one scene, he provides a fake-out involving a turning mirror not once, but twice; it was hard to tell if the resulting groans from the audience were relief or derision.
METRO
Touchstone Pictures
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
Director Thomas Carter
Producer Roger Birnbaum
Screenplay Randy Feldman
Executive producers Mark Lipsky,
Riley Kathryn Ellis
Co-producers George W. Perkins,
Ray Murphy Jr., Randy Feldman
Director of photography Fred Murphy
Editor Peter E. Berger
Music Steve Porcaro
Color/stereo
Cast:
Roper Eddie Murphy
McCall Michael Rapaport
Korda Michael Wincott
Ronnie Tate Carmen Ejogo
Capt. Frank Solis Denis Arndt
Lt. Sam Baffert Art Evans
Earl Donal Logue
Running time --117 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
Because of his renewed star wattage from "The Nutty Professor" and the lack of midwinter competition, the film should do respectable opening business, but it's hard not to think that it wouldn't do even better with "48HRS". or "Beverly Hills" in the title.
Murphy plays Scott Roper, who brings his own unorthodox brand of negotiating to tense hostage situations, such as bringing along a dozen donuts. Roper's got the usual problems -- a gambling addiction, a relationship on the ropes, a testy boss (Denis Arndt) -- and now he's even being saddled with a new partner, McCall (Michael Rapaport), a whiz-kid Harvard graduate who can read lips.
Early in the film, Roper's superior (Art Evans) is killed by Korda (Michael Wincott), a vicious jewelry thief. Korda is later involved in a hostage-taking situation of his own. And during his attempted escape, Roper and McCall give chase, resulting in a spectacular sequence involving a runaway cable car in which seemingly half the autos in San Francisco get demolished; between this film and "The Rock", it's hard to imagine that there's anything of the city left.
Although Korda is captured, he still manages to wreak havoc, hiring his cousin to go after Roper's girlfriend (she has succumbed to his charms once more). When that plan goes awry, Korda escapes from prison and attempts to finish the job himself.
Thomas Carter's film is a fairly straightforward, intense cop thriller, enlivened by Murphy's frequent touches of humor. The uneasy blend between action and comedy is only partially successful, with both the film and its lead performer torn between "Dirty Harry"-style fierceness and "Beverly Hills Cop" hijinks. The plotting is strictly formulaic, with the hackneyed romantic subplot particularly egregious. Screenwriter Randy Feldman, no stranger to the genre ("Tango & Cash"), doesn't exactly provide sparkling dialogue, although he does have the chief bad guy comfort an underling by saying: "It's not your fault you're stupid." The best writing comes in the brief sequences where Murphy is training his new partner in the art of hostage negotiating.
Murphy doesn't disappoint here. Rapaport, graduating to a big-time studio feature, is sadly underutilized and is allowed to showcase his own idiosyncratic brand of comic timing only sporadically. Carmen Ejogo, making her American film debut as Murphy's love interest, has the looks and charm to justify his character's leaps of daring to save her. Wincott is a suitably intense and scary villain.
Carter's direction is most effective in the film's many action and chase sequences, which involve the usual copious amounts of people leaping onto the hoods of speeding cars. He's a little too fond of playing tricks on the audience, however. In one scene, he provides a fake-out involving a turning mirror not once, but twice; it was hard to tell if the resulting groans from the audience were relief or derision.
METRO
Touchstone Pictures
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
Director Thomas Carter
Producer Roger Birnbaum
Screenplay Randy Feldman
Executive producers Mark Lipsky,
Riley Kathryn Ellis
Co-producers George W. Perkins,
Ray Murphy Jr., Randy Feldman
Director of photography Fred Murphy
Editor Peter E. Berger
Music Steve Porcaro
Color/stereo
Cast:
Roper Eddie Murphy
McCall Michael Rapaport
Korda Michael Wincott
Ronnie Tate Carmen Ejogo
Capt. Frank Solis Denis Arndt
Lt. Sam Baffert Art Evans
Earl Donal Logue
Running time --117 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
- 1/13/1997
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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