Reviews (13)

What in the world were these people thinking?
Straight to Hell (Alex Cox, 1987)

Alex Cox made a very fast name for himself in the mid-eighties, releasing two classic films in the space of three years, Repo Man and Sid and Nancy. Then the downward slide began, and precipitous it was. Straight to Hell, Cox's fourth film, may well have been the nadir; it's hard to imagine a filmmaker this talented making a film this bad, and impossible to imagine a filmmaker this talented making one worse.

Straight to Hell is a spaghetti western that's ingested a large number of psychedelic drugs. It follows three hitmen (scriptwriter Dick Rude, ex-Clash guitarist Joe Strummer, and the only actor in the bunch, Sy Richardson) through a couple of botched jobs in Mexico, after which they flee to the strangest desert town to be found outside Jodorowsky's similarly muddy western El Topo. In fact, not only the town has Jodorosky written all over it in unreadable graffiti; the whole film, with the exception of the added love interest, could have been cut from the same cloth as was El Topo. There are, no doubt, art film fans who would consider that a boon, but I always found El Topo to be the weakest of Jodorowsky's movies, and Cox undercuts an already unstable base with amateur acting, and then adds the always-annoying Courtney Love in a major role. The project was bound for disaster from day one. If you've seen El Topo (or the better distillation of it that is the last third of David Lynch's film Wild at Heart), you can safely pass this up and head straight for Cox's more recent documentary work. * ½

of course it's weird- it's Alex Cox
I saw this movie once, in college and was boggled by all the randomness- it seems like every character has a different foreign accent, Zander Schloss sings a song about Disco Hotdogs, Grace Jones makes out with Dennis Hopper (and in the 'making of' featurette he forgets her last name!!!! oh my god!!!!!), Joe Strummer gets his vampire love on, and Courtney Love wails a lot of catchy phrases in her pre-plastic surgeries, screechy voice.
It's pretty sweet, all in all.
If you like that sort of thing.
The 'making of' part explains how the film came about and why it's so disjointed.... and it is a pretty sloppy piece of film making... but it's cool that it was made and had enough support to make it out on DVD.
The only thing that disturbs me about the film is that they keep saying 'Shikso' or maybe 'shiksa' when I think they meant to say 'meshuggah' or something. I dunno. It's really odd.
I like this movie in the same way that I like the Fishing with John episodes, Buckaroo Banzai and The South Park Movie...and maybe Liquid Sky.

I've Been There...
...just by watching this movie.

Straight to Hell comes off as a purely self-indulgent vanity piece. Like the road to Hell, I'm sure director Cox had very good intentions when he got together with many of his friends in a small Mexican ghost town (actually Spain) and just let the camera roll while everyone improvised. Given all of the peronas involved (including many legends from the early 1980s punk scene and independent filmmakers) you would expect something at least slightly interesting to occur. Unfortunately, the result is just directionless and meandering. Whereas films like Repo Man are iconoclastic and make interesting comments about the disintegration of society, this is just a mess about a bunch of adults acting silly. It may have been fun to film, but it is a chore to sit through.

I wonder if Cox truly felt he had created a worthwhile movie, or if he just tried to salvage whatever he could from the footage he shot after going to the expense. Whatever the case, this disaster bascially ended Alex Cox's career by making it impossible for him to find any further financial backing (he only made one more cheap film in Mexico). Talk about going out with a whimper.

For those who care, this is Courtney Love's first film, from before she became famous through marriage. Everything else about Straight to Hell is equally as trivial as that piece of information.

Good to be bad
There's a difference between "film" and "movies". Film is a serious endeavor to be studied and savored. Movies are to be enjoyed. This is a great movie in the tradition of "Little Shop of Horrors" and "Santa Clause Conquers the Martians". As film it was a sorry mess. Dang good thing we came to see a movie eh?

Many people have made the mistake of expecting a serious drama here or a common comedy. I think the movie was made to be a strange as possible. Come on gang, a gang of Irish coffee addicts terrorizing a South American town?

Look at it as good clean fun and silliness and you can't go wrong

Alex Cox has been eaten by an alien
"Straight To Hell" is a complete waste of money. The only reason I continued to watch... was to see how Dennis Hopper and Grace Jones could possibly elevate the film, but even their brief and unsatisfying appearances could not resuscitate this dead dog... ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great movie, seems very like something that occurs for real.
I rented this movie while out with some friends. We watched it and all agreed it was great. We liked the area in which it was taped(desert, cactus, sand). It made it all seem very true to life. I liked the idea that this movie had well known and very professional actors. The movie is about two guys who are traveling, they run across two mexicans( a women and a man). They get entangled in a drug smuggling ring which only leads to more and more problems for these guys. The border patrol, the local Sheriff, the mexican police and the drug dealers all become involved. It's great. I recommend this movie to anyone. There's a little violence, but it doesn't contain any sex scenes, bloody battles or offensive language.

3 MAYBE 4 STARS, GOOD MOVIE WITH GREAT ACTORS
Watching this movie was a pleasant change from the far too common sex, violence and nudity that seems to be in all of todays movies. This movie can be watched by the entire family without having to make the little ones cover their eyes.

The movie is about a mexican drug dealer who comes into the Country with drugs and a female alien. It covers their journey and troubles with other drug dealers, border patrol and other law makers.

This movie is not the greatest, but it has great actors who portray their characters well.

GOOD MOVIE, I THOUGHT IT WAS WORTH WATCHING
My friends and I rented this movie and we watched it together. We all agreed that this movie was pretty good. It wasn't fantastic, but we all throught it was worth watching. I am also a big Matthew McConaughey fan, so I was a little disappointed that he had a small role in this film. He plays the part of a bad guy, but you'll only see him during the last 20 minutes of the movie, but the film does have other great actors such as, RUBEN BLADES(who in real life is not only an actor but a song writer). He's the Border patrol agent that goes after the illegal aliens and drug smugglers. He's a very talented actor and turns his role as a Border patrol agent into a very real charactor. And let's not forget ESAI MORALES(the coyote and drug smuggler), who's a superb actor. He's well known for his roles in movies such as, "the Elian Gonzalez story", "Mi familia", "The principal" and "La bamba". I'm a really big fan of Esai morales and enjoyed watching him in this movie, which in my opinion was filled with suspense, drama and it gave me the sense of being in a small Arizona border town. I enjoyed the movie and would recommend it to anyone..........

Not so Good
I did not like the movie. It was long and had no plot. It is hard to keep up with the subtittels. A good thing however is you could never Guess who was on what side. So you had to finish the movie to find that out. Matthew McConaghey Did not show up untill the very end so Matthew McConaghey fans will be disapointed. The movie did not pull together untill the very end.If you want a movie were you dont have to think to hard this is it. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

What Movie Were They Making?
This must have been a real turkey at the box office. True, Dean is a hunk, and Talia Soto, who played the victimized girlfriend of the Cuban drug lord in LICENSE TO KILL, is good, though she almost always sounds on the verge of tears. Her son, played by Kristian de la Osa, is fine. The casting was wonderful in his case, because he could very easily have been Talia's kid.

What's wrong with the film is that it doesn't know what it's about...or even what kind of movie it is. On one level, it's a straight-ahead drama of an American pilot forced to land in a storm and how he interacts with the locals, including becoming a father-figure to a boy whose mother is attracted to the pilot, despite her being engaged to a planter on whose property the plane lands. Fine. Good enough for one movie.

But then we get this bearded old man who may or may not be just a local eccentric: he makes hand gestures and the control sticks of the plane move, birds take off, etc. At one point he seemingly turns into a hen! Then we get parts of the plane, after being smashed up, moving of their own volition in response to things the boy says, almost in CHRISTINE fashion. And we get another boy, a sort of rival with the main kid for the attention of a local girl (an annoying addition), who climbs down into an extinct volcano crater, uncovers what he thinks is buried treasure hidden there by the bearded old man, only to unearth a skull that jumps up at him in an obvious CGI effect. All of this adds up to a supernatural tale. Fine. Almost good enough for a different movie.

Put together, though, there are simply too many disparate elements for the thing to work. So I'm pretty sure it was a BOMB and went to video pretty quick. I found my copy at Wal-Mart for $5.50. It was worth it.

Facing boredom
I'm a fan of Dean Cain, and I usually find his B-quality direct-to-video releases entertaining. But not "Facing Fear." This movie was actually a chore to watch at times, though there were some enjoyable parts.

"Facing Fear" is the story of a plantation owner's family on a Central American island. The owner is getting married to a woman, Mercedes, and planning to adopt her distant young son Gabriel. Mercedes's husband left her alone with the child, so she considers the fact that a rich man (by the island's standards) wants to take her and her son in a blessing. But Gabriel doesn't see it like that. He sees the owner, Frank, as a substitute father (something he does not want). Then a young aviator's plane crash lands on the island as he is attempting to fly around the world. The pilot, Clay, temporarily shacks up with Frank, Mercedes, and Gabriel as he fixes his plane. Gabriel is initially distant with Clay, but begins to warm up to him. As Clay's plane takes longer and longer to repair, Gabriel and Mercedes become more and more attached to him.

It's a sort of Lifetime, feel-good movie. It had the potential to be a decent film, but it was bogged down with annoying and unintelligent substories. One involved a love triangle between 10 year olds, an island voodoo practitioner, and the plane supposedly speaking to Gabriel. These stories were uninteresting and unentertaining and just held the main storyline back.

Some high points though include a wonderful, subtly moving performace by Talisa Soto as Mercedes and a stoic yet still equally touching performance by Dean Cain as Clay. These two actors deserve better material to work with, though the scenes they had were some of the best the film had to offer.

If you like the sort of movies that have good moral messages, you might want to rent "Facing Fear." Otherwise, my advice would be to stay clear of this one.

Facing Fear
This is a great family film. A great example of independent film making and definately worth seeing. However, this is the American release of 'Flight' (same movie different title). Save some money and order 'Flight'

One of the Worst Movies I've Ever Seen
Facing Fear is an independant, low-budget production that is not worth seeing at all. In fact, it could easily be classified (in my opinion) as a waste of time, a film that one might regret taking the time to watch.

There is not much to it in the area of plot construction and character development. The storyline, what there is of it, concerns a pilot who crashes on an island when a massive storm strikes. Throughout the course of the movie, he is trying to find a way to return home. He meets a small family living on the island, a young boy, his mother, and her fiancee. The boy becomes fascinated with the fallen plane, a discovers that the plane is magical. Together the boy and the pilot endeavor to rebuild the plane. But then the pilot falls in love with the boy's mother, and there is some OK chemistry involved in their growing relationship. But the boy's mother knows the right thing to do, and endeavors to remain faithful to her fiancee. That whole situation is just a sub-plot, too much like a stupid soap opera. Meanwhile, the boy has mixed feelings concerning his family situation, and takes comfort in trying to learn all he can about the mysterious plane. At one point, when onew of the boy's friends releases an ancient curse on accident, the heavens open and a severe storm erupts. The boy rescues the plane from plummeting into a gorge during the storm. The boy and the stranded pilot become best friends, and together they continue reparing the plane.

Another crisis strikes when the pilot attempts to leave the island in his newly rebuilt plane. It strikes a line of tall trees, and the pilot ver narrowly survives. The endeavor to get away from the island community continues . . .

This film is one of the most cheesiest films I've ever seen, a film about a magical plane, an old mystic man who is transformed into a chicken because of a curse, and a living skull. It is cheesy and not intelligent in any way that really counts. The character development is almost non-existent, and, as you can probably tell from this review, the plot is overly cheesy and weak. Not worth even the rental price. Rated PG. 1 star out of five

Great Movie!
This movie was GGGGRRREEEEAAATTTT!!! Wow! What chemistry! This is a perfect example of true independent moviemaking, telling a non-Hollywood story. Four stars (out of 5)!!! ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Put Away Your Preconceptions
Before I saw "The Crew," I didn't have many expectations of it. To my surprise and pleasure, "The Crew" turned out to be much better than a mere formula movie about oldsters.

Four former mob "goodfellas" (played by Burt Reynolds, Seymour Cassel, Richard Dreyfuss and Dan Hedaya) live on the edge of poverty in South Miami. Their art-deco neighborhood is rapidly gentrifying, and soon their apartment is going to go condo, which they can't afford. Immediate action is required.

What do goodfellas do? They "whack" (kill) people, of course. And there is killing in this surprise of a movie, but not the type you'd expect. This is a fast-paced, zippy movie that happens to have a lot of black humor. You know who the heroes are, but it takes almost until the end of the film, but where and how the enemies get their due is nicely surprising.

All the performances were just fine. Early in the movie, Burt Reynolds, reduced to fast-food work to make ends meet, growls at a customer, "Special orders DO upset us," and promptly loses his job. The film is ripe with situational wit of that type. The relatively unknown Seymour Cassel had to carry a lot of the acting, and he held his own along with the three other stars.

A special plot twist involves former singer (and now character actress) Lainie Kazan, the wife of a restaurant owner who runs into the Crew at an inopportune moment. Her scenes are played way over-the-top and in this context, it works brilliantly.

The Crew is certainly not the best gangster comedy ever, but it holds up well. I can heartily recommend it.

Geriatric Goodfellas
"The Crew" is comprised of Richard Dreyfuss (Bobby), the brains of the outfit, Burt Reynolds (Bats), the hot-tempered muscle, Seymour Cassel (Mouth), the quiet ladies man and Dan Hedaya, who plays "The Brick." He's not stupid but, as Dan says in his interview segment, "I guess his thought process is a little different from most people." The movie starts out with a flashback of them as four young wiseguys pulling a job, then flashes forward to them as four old men sitting on a porch. Bat turns to Bobby and complains, "You said the good times were gonna last forever." Bobby replies, "I thought we'd be dead by now!" The story concerns them trying to save their rundown, Miami Beach apartment house (the Raj Mahal) from going condo. Each of their schemes backfires and gets them further into trouble with the local drug lord and the police. The plot twists hold one's interest throughout the film, but the quirky lead characters really carry this picture. "The Crew" is a movie that proves that Mafioso are people too!

Watch them do their stuff!
This movie was not a box office hit when it was released just a few months ago, but dreams do sometimes come true.

Starting in New Jersey in 1968, we follow the lives of four 'has-been' gangsters. Now retired and living peaceably in The Raj Mahal in Miami Beach, they attempt to make one last heist. So as not to be evicted (who wants to be homeless?) from this run-down hotel, they plot a way to save their special home. Look for the pink ostrich.

Burt Reynolds looks good as an old man and is funny like in those 'Bandit' movies. Richard Dreyfuss who won an Academy Award for his role in THE GOODBYE GIRL and was great in MR. HOLLAND'S OPUS (I loved that music!) showed his winning style. Seymour Cassel who was in Bill Murray's RUSHMORE and Dan Hedaya (Detective Jack in SHAFT), round out the foursome.

When you need a laugh, rent this one from the local video store (better yet, buy it here at Amazon.com), sit back and enjoy. If you liked GRUMPY OLD MEN, you'll love these "grandfatherly gangsters" who are not quite 'over the hill' yet. Stephen Iervolino compared this film ro 'GoodFellas' in LAUNCH. This parody is better than either or both/and in a class all its own.

An Easy Movie To Watch !
Just sit back and enjoy this flick. It's not going to win any awards but it is good lighthearted fun.

Definatly worth a look, very funny and well done
The Crew is acually a very funny enjoyable movie. I will admit the plot is a little weak, but it's not horrible. It is basically about four ex crew members {Dreyfuss and company} want to stay in their appartment, so of course they set up a fake killing to keep their appartment. And along the way they meet a firy widow { Kazan}, a tenasious stripper { Jeniffer Tilly}, and a policeinvestogator who might just be Dreyfuss's long lost daughter { Carrie Anne Moss}. A bit corny......Yes but still very enjoyable. Without a doubt the three major female roles are what holds together this film. Kazan is hillarios as the old widow deli owner. Tilly is great and very enthusiastic as the female stripper "dating" one of the crew members for the money. And Moss is exellent as the police officer { in a short seen you get to see her do two more matrix kicks! don't miss it} and her part is no doubt way to short. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

A forgotten film with a great cast
I bought White Sands in the cheapy bin at my local DVD retailer. I never heard of the film but I decided to buy it because I like both Willem Dafoe and Mickey Rourke. Upon viewing the film, I was only glad I payed $5.50 for it. Though it is far from bad, it's not all that great either. William Dafoe is a small Texas town sherriff that goes undercover when he finds a man dead with a half a million dollars in a briefcase. Not a bad story but all I could think is "what is this guy doing!" throughout this film as he goes deep undercover. He must have been bored with his small town life. There's plenty of twists and turns in the plot throughout the film but after awile one won't care. The film itself is also far from exciting. Mickey Rourke gives a fine performance but Willem Dafoe is a little below par. I'm sorry but he failed to convince me of his role in this film. After viewing theis film, I could see why it has been forgotten over the years because it is just not that memorable. White Sands ends up being a good way to waste an afternoon and is worth a buy if you can find it cheap. You also get to see Samuel L. Jackon early in his carrier as he is credited as Sam Jackson.

A diamond in the rough
Okay, the movie has Mickey Rourke in it, that doesn't automatically make it a bad film (though yes that usually isn't a good sign). Most of you may never have heard of this film before and that is a shame. Its unfortunate that the studio that released this film never took the time to watch it. It was released in the middle of the summer, most definitely wrong time of the year for such a film. The summer is for mindless action and laughs and unfortunately this flick just got lost in the mix.(I have nothing against mindless action and laughs.) This is a smart film with a very engaging plot, but you are required to actually pay attention. Not to give too much away but Defoe plays a small town cop who gets caught up rather large mess after the discovery of "suicide" victim out in the middle of nowhere. The acting is very well done in this film (even Rouke's). This is definitely one of the films that helped make Sam Jackson one of my favorites. If you like well done mystery/suspense flicks then this one is well worth your time.

Actually, a 4 1/2.
You're a cop, you live in New Mexico. You get a call that there's been a dead body found in the desert near you, near some old Indian ruins. Next to his body is a briefcase, with half a million dollars inside. If your Defoe, (in this show) a cop, you want to find out where it came from. How can it be a suicide? Who would want to kill themselves while possessing a half million dollars? The more he investigates and finds out gets him in over his head. He takes on the identity of the deceased, this sheriff from New Mexico is smarter than he acts but much less experienced than he tries to appear. Mickey Rourke gets to be the bad guy in this one. Guess what? He's a CIA agent. He's on whoever's side they pay him to be on. This is enough. The rest I'll leave to your imagination. I should mention that Samuel Jackson is also in this show. He's an FBI agent. It's not really sand, it's gypsum.

Excellent thriller with superb cast
This smart thriller makes you both wonder what gonna happend next and be suprised that Mickey Rourke is good. Samuel Jackson, Willem Dafoe and M Emmet Walsh is all good. But it is Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio who steals the show. Her best since "The Abyss". If you like this movie, check out "Thunderheart", "Consenting Adults" and "Unlawful Entry".

Great cast, plot twists, amazing landscapes
This film was generally overlooked upon release. Predating Lone Star and Thunderheart, this film has three amazing things going for it: (1) the cast is stellar. You get Dafoe, in a good guy role, M Emmett Walsh as a lazy coroner, Mary Elizabeth Mastronantino in an amazing lead role, Sam Jackson (how he's listed on the end credits) tearing up the scenery, Mickey Roarke in a GOOD performance, and even an uncredited thankless role. (2) the plot is much better than No Way Out. With Donaldson directing, you might think that it would just be a remake/remuddle, but the plot does keep twisting, and once you think you have it even remotely figured out, BANG something else happens. (3) the scenery is amazing. The only film that comes closer to capturing the feel of the New Mexican landscape is Backtrack, which is also very good. The widescreen adds (although it is fair to ask when it DOESN'T), so, if you were like me and didn't see this until it came out on VHS, you're in for a treat. Not all of it does work--you do keep waiting for Dafoe to become the creep he is in most of his films since Wild at Heart, or Roarke to make little sense, but like Angelheart, he is focused and amazing here, but it doesn't happen. Not a whole lot of extras here, unfortunately (maybe there's a director's edition somewhere with more of Mimi Rogers in it, but as it stands, this is a terrific movie. Four stars out of five. ... Read more

Album Description

Canadian DVD of the final film in the Death Wish series. Starring Charles Bronson & Lesley-Anne Down. Originally released in 1994. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Bronson Really Lets Them Have It This Time!!!
In this, the fifth (and probably final) film of the "Death Wish" series, Paul Kersey has entered the Witness Protection Program and has moved back to New York City (actually Toronto, Canada) to settle down with a famous fashion designer. Unfortunately, his fiancé's mobster/ex-husband (played by Michael Parks) is getting involved in the fashion industry and begins to make life hell for both Kersey and his future wife, Olivia (played by Lesley-Anne Down). When Olivia decides to testify against her ex-husband, she is brutally disfigured and then killed at her home. That is when Kersey goes to work!

Using chemicals, military weapons and even children's toys, Kersey gives the mob something they wish they never got (and does he ever give it to them!).

Definitely one of the best and one of the most violent in the series, this film shows many scenes (albeit brief) of graphic torture, so parents should definitely keep their children away until they're at least 16. Even Bronson (72 when he made this) is still in peak physical shape and it is great watching him kick ass with the best of them. Forget Schwarzenegger, Stallone or Seagal. Charles Bronson is indeed the quintessential tough guy and there's no beating him!

Film lovers who love watching bloopers will have fun with this one (watch for the Canadian mailboxes in front of the fashion factory, especially when it suppose to be New York City)!

If there does happen to be a "Death Wish 6" (and the ending of this film leaves that possibility), I can only hope it was as good as this one and not nearly as horrible as some of the earlier entries (eg: Death Wish II) in the series.

Definitely check out "Death Wish 5: The Face Of Death". You won't regret it.

Worth while seeing
No joke Charles Bronson's Death Wish V is a enjoyable thrilride from start to finnish. Paul Kersey has been retired from the viglante game for several years now is a professer of Arctitecture and has found love and is about to get married. But somehow fate won't leave Kersey alone His girlfried's ex big time mobster Tommy o Shea tries to take over her fashion empire, she goes sees the District attorny ends up with her face disfigued and is killed. Bronson shows more acting ablity this time around and the action is well staged and less idiotic than in previous Death Wish films. Michael Parks is a meanicing presence with a bad haircut, & dopey looking eyewear. This is only Death Wish Entry worth remembering next to the original Death Wish.

creative deaths kept me laughing
The way the bad guys are dispatched in this one is classic. Boy did they deserve it. The smile on Bronson's face...! I loved this series. Thanks for the fun Kersey.

Bad Ending
This was a bad ending to both this movie and the entire sequel. While this movie does have explosions, gunfire, and a story line unlike the previous movies, it seems to abruptly end without a full close to the story.
As far as a close to the sequel, it would have been much better if they would have had Jeff Goldblum come back to face Bronson; after all, he did get away with murder in the first movie.

Over all, I do recomend this movie to all Death Wish lovers. Charles Bronson was correct when he defended thsese movies, it does give a sence of satisfaction to all those who are fustrated with the legal system.

Last time has its charms.
Paul Kersey now lives in the witness protection program (why?) and is preparing to settle down with another woman, a fashion designer in New York, and her daughter. But this new love comes with some ugly baggage. Her ex-husband is a local hood who is using his ex-wife's business to clean his dirty money. When this operation is threatened said ex makes violent threats and then follows through on them with his trio of thugs. Of course the law seems to be unable to do anything about it and Kersey (who everybody on the planet seems aware of) returns to his old ways - nobody puts up much of a fight. There is very little steam in this entry, but writer/director Allan A. Goldstein does manage a few nice touches, just not as many as previous entries had. Bronson still has more star charisma and presence in his winter years than just about any action star of today. You could believe his punch would still pack a wallop. What is sad though is that Goldstein's script is so choked with illogic. As I mentioned before, it seems that every law enforcement officer in New York City (actually cost saving Canada this time around) knows that Kersey is back to his creep killing ways and their only reaction is. "Cut it out, will ya?" That does not tension make. Heck, even Death Wish 4: The Crackdown handled it better. Nonetheless, the cast plays their roles with just the right amount of winking and/or phoning in and one or two inventive dispatchings of the love-to-hate-them bad guys spices up the overly routine aspects of the movie. But it's for the die hard fans only. ... Read more

Amazon.com

When a teenage schoolgirl is kidnapped by Mexican bandit El Diablo (Star Trek: Voyager's Robert Beltran), her clumsy, awkward schoolteacher Billy Ray Smith (Anthony Edwards) sets out to save her. The would-be hero in this offbeat Western teams up with crotchety veteran gunslinger Van Leek (Louis Gossett Jr.), who helps him form an unlikely posse to rescue Smith's damsel in distress. What sets this low-key, made-for-cable production apart from numerous other Westerns is its humorously skewed take on the myths and legends of the Old West, as it not only deconstructs Hollywood's romanticized view of the genre but Billy Ray's veneration of a mythical gunfighter named Kid Durango, whose literary adventures he regularly reads to his students. Gossett is wonderfully droll as unscrupulous six slinger Van Leek, whose motives are always suspect; Edwards is charming as the bumbling teacher; and the supporting cast--which includes Branscombe Richmond (Renegade), Miguel Sandoval (Get Shorty), and John Glover (Brimstone)--imbue life into their quirky gun-for-hire roles. Indeed the best aspect of El Diablo is the way in which many of its characters' façades are gradually revealed. The very tongue-in-cheek screenplay was coauthored by Halloween director John Carpenter. --Bryan Reeseman ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Great movie - bad reproduction
This is one of my favorite movies ... I love it! BUT, I returned the DVD after finding out that it is not made in Widescreen or Dolby Digital. I know .. I should have looked first, but I assumed.:( Why does anyone even bother to make a DVD in Full Screen - HiFi? A tape is almost as good. This movie, and dozens more that I know of, deserve much more.

Thoroughly Enjoyable Fun
I began watching this movie because there was simply nothing else on, and I like Lou Gossett Jr & Anthony Edwards. About 15 minutes into the film, I was hooked and really enjoying the ride. This is a very clever, witty, and funny screenplay, full of jokes both subtle and not, and it has a score that is nearly flawless, accentuating both action and comedy. There are a lot of laugh-out-loud moments, and some truly unique comedic situations. In many respects, the whole film reminded me of "The Frisco Kid" with Harrison Ford and Gene Wilder, another of my favorite Western comedies.

Anthony Edwards (Billy Ray Smith) plays a tenderfoot schoolteacher prone to falling off and accidentally shooting horses. One of his students is kidnapped by the stunningly attractive El Diablo ("Star Trek: Voyager's" Robert Beltran,) and Edwards sets out to find the girl and bring her home. His misadventures with a band of misfit outlaws brings a lot of laughs and even some tender moments.

With only minor bad language and some blood here and there, this is a movie the whole family can enjoy. I highly recommend it, and plan to watch it again and again.

Surprises and scares at every turn of this fun Western.
The unlikely pairing of Louis Gosset Jr. and Anthony Edwards makes this movie intensly engaging. These actors and their supporting cast take the viewer on a wild ride through the old west as a mild mannered school teacher "beats the devil". The rescuing of a lovely young school girl from the hands of a very sexy Mexican bad guy, is done with humor through the awkwardness of the rescuer Billy Ray, and lots of help from savy gun slinger Louis Gosset Jr.and his wonder horse Rio. Though this movie was made for cable TV it sacrificed nothing in quality. El Diablo is well cast, funny, sweet, action packed, and very worthwhile.

*********HILARIOUS********
I have seen this movie a million times. I definately recommend it to....well, anyone!! My brother and I rolled around on the floor the first, like, twenty times we saw it.(Sometimes we still do) The music was what really made the movie great, so pay attention to it!! :)

Love It.
This is one of my favorite movies. It pokes fun at the legends of the Old West without being broody. HBO pictures at its best. ... Read more

Reviews (37)

baldwins' bakin' brownies
I don't own the DVD and in fact I didn't even rent the flick...technically -- it was mistakenly placed within the case of another movie. Nonetheless, I watched it...or rather experienced the movie as it required much more than passive viewing. In fact, I had to utilize every ounce of will, stress each fiber of muscle, and fight every suicidal urge to make it through this thing.

Plot = Max Kirkpatrick (Baldwin boy #4) is the cop/hero who must protect the lovely Kate McQuean (Crawford playing a civil law attorney) from a KGB team dedicated to eradicate the beauty. What the movie lacks in acting, it makes up for in EXPLOSIONS and CHASES shot from multiple angles played again and again....and again.

Apparently Crawford's role was too demanding for the likes of Julianne Moore and Geena Davis, who both turned it down. On the plus side we do get to see Salma Hayek in one of her earlier theatrical performances (Frida this role is not) and Christopher McDonald (bad guy Shooter McGavin from Happy Gilmore) as the angry Lt.

This movie is so awful that you almost feel compelled to watch it, to earn your red badge of courage, and to join the ranks of the many who have suffered before you.

such a bad film
This is one of the worst movies of all time. The plot is so cheesy and the acting and action is so stupid. The romance is not good because there is no chemestry.

YES, FOR GOD'S SAKE...IT IS THAT BAD!!!
I like Cindy Crawford. I really do. I respect the class she has maintained in an often classless fashion and modeling industry. But some people should stick to what they know.

Cindy, my God! In this movie, you were just in your lovely apartment overlooking the water. Your apartment is then blown up, you are blown off the balcony into the water, your cat is toast and all your possessions are gone. Oh, and by the way, a bunch of very bad people are now trying to shoot you dead. You get out of the cold water, run for your life and get taken to a safe house where the 2nd rate Baldwin asks you `So, how do you feel?' And Cindy says with the intensity of a heroin addict, `Like my life just exploded. What is this place, Motel Hell?' She said it like she was reading the phone book! A real actress would have been looking at the cop like he was nuts! And she would have delivered the lines accordingly. It gets worse...

Did you see the very first scene in the movie where Cindy's character is jogging and gets shot? Did you notice her slowing down to hit her mark and wait for the shot? I've never heard or seen anyone more stilted and lifeless except for a really bored telemarketer.

The writing was just BAD, and the movie was just about look how good Cindy looks after being dumped in water and having no shower. Notice her lips still had color? Did they have the long-lasting stuff back then?

Luckily it wasn't the kind of bad where you can't sit and laugh at it. You can sit and laugh at this one. In fact, you don't have a choice.

Cheesy but....
The acting is mechanical, and the plot was written by space aliens. Incredibly, there are some good points to the movie. The graphic violence alone is worth the money. There is also the mandatory love scene. It is basically an R-rated kid movie, because as far as the plot is concerned, it assumes the viewer is a brain-dead zombie who only responds to images of Cindy Crawford. Yes, that would be me. If you are a fan of hers, you just can't miss this brainless piece of.. entertainment. Seriously, it IS fun, but don't expect it to be a deep film. It is one of the shallowest movies ever made. And if those are KGB agents, then I am Michael Jackson.

'Fair' Enough
William Baldwin, why? Cindy Crawford, yes! A tough cop has to protect a lawyer after she discovered a ship full of computer hackers. Got it? Good. Funny KGB dudes think they are imbosols after following a tapped cell phone into a pig farmer's truck. They grab the fat driver, throw him to the dirt and force him to open his truck where the cop and lawyer may be stashed. The driver says, "hey don't push, ok, ok, hello pigs." It was the funniest moment in the movie. You will burst an organ. Decent action scenes, Crawford running, what more do you want? Oh yeah, Salma Hayek is in the movie for about three minutes. Thankfully. Funny stuff. ... Read more

Reviews (49)

Look at me...
"Get Shorty" is a humdinger of a movie - smart, funny, and VERY full of itself...kinda like its "hero", Chili Palmer.

Every character and performance hits all the right notes, starting with John Travolta's right-on portrayal of Palmer, a loan shark who has tired of the mob business and would like to try his hand at a REAL mob business: the movies.

Palmer isn't a bad guy; he's just all business, which certain characters (especially Ray Bones) should have figured out early on. But they don't, and we get to see Chili eliminate his enemies one by one through sheer guile and smarts. In particular, his payback on Bones is an absolute classic.

One of the film's truly great pleasures is watching great actors like Gene Hackman and Danny DeVito try to play Chili. Hackman's performance gets him a very unwelcome audience with Bones ("I heard you shot the guy four times in the chest and once in the foot"), while DeVito's simply doesn't work, and by the end of the movie Chili is looking to "get" someone other than "shorty".

Also look for James Gandolfini in his best pre-Tony Soprano role as an ex-stuntman.

You Just Got to Get "Get Shorty"!
"Get Shorty " in my opinion is one of the most hilarious send ups of the Hollywood movie industry ever put to film.Director, Barry Sonnenfeld and writer, Elmore Leonard have put their talents together to create a satirical film, which 'takes no prisoners' in its look at the underhanded ways, that folks wheel and deal to get movies made.The film centers on a charismatic mobster (John Travolta), who while on a trip to L.A., decides to switch careers. He wants to make movies!This is not as far fetched as it seems. Apparently being a movie producer isn't that far of a jump from being a loan shark or racketeer! Along the way Chilly meets up with with a schlock movie producer, a scream queen, a L.A. hood and his henchman, another mobster from Miami and finally the 'Shorty' (a self-involved, superstar actor)of the film's title. All of them underestimate Chilly and think he is just a dumb hood, who can be conned out of some major, illegal money waiting in a locker at the L.A. airport. But Chilly seems to know all the right moves and plays everyone at their own game.Writer, Elmore Leonard wrote this fast paced, witty story after experiencing a real life, frustrating job of trying to write a script for vertically challenged actor, Dustin Hoffman... Revenge must be sweet, because it inspired a great piece of comic writing.The cast of actors in this movie is wonderful. Normally, I'm not the biggest John Travolta fan, but his take on mobster, Chilly Palmer is electrifying. Travolta plays the character with a swagger, confindence, and a smile that is sheer perfection! Gene Hackman is also hilarious as the sleaziest of sleazy Hollywood producers. This guy would sell out his own mother if it ment getting a piece of the gross!.Finally, Danny DeVito just makes this movie with his send up of every spoiled rotten, self-indulgent Hollywood actor that could ever come to mind. Kudos should also go for great, comic supporting roles from James Gandolfini and Dennis Farina.For an evening of some very funny Hollywood satire, I recommend you to get..."Get Shorty"!

The worst movie ever created by man
This movie was a waste of money. Only good part was that one guy saying the F word a lot. This movie is dull, boring, and is slow developing. I took this DVD and broke it into pieces after I watched it, I had more fun breaking this DVD than watching it. For anyone who is going to buy this DVD I warn you, it is a retarded movie, and waste of your money.

are you out of your minds
Anyone who gives this hunk of junk movie more than 1 star is either a moron or generously sympathetic.Then again 1 star is too much. AMAZON should incorperate a ZERO star selection.I bet the reviewers that raved about this one were payed to do so, and it could only have been in cash. Penny Marshall?? Uhggg!!! give me a break. She should have yelled CUT! before this was crap was made.An ex friend recommended this film. He wasn't an ex friend before I watched t it.

A very fun movie!
This is one of the cleverest comedies out there. John Travolta plays a bookie (Chili Palmer) in Miami Beach, FL. He is one of these respected hard nose, no BS type of people that just demands respect wherever he goes. But for a change of pace and a change of heart, not to mention money that is owned to him, he flies out to California. He is searching for a man who took a very large some of money, but in the mean time is caught up in the Hollywood movie making industry. He meets up and makes friends with Gene Hackman, a B movie director always looking for the next big break. Rene Russo plays a B movie washed up actress who is helping Travolta get into the movie industry. Mean while, old friends and enemies follow Travolta to the sunshine state to find out what he is up to and possibly move in on the action. This movie also has Danny DeVito, Dennis Farina, cameo by Penny Marshall, Delroy Lindo, James Gandolfini, and more twists and turns that you can imagine. If you are looking for a really fun comedy with lots of stars then this is the movie to get! ... Read more

Reviews (65)

Wars Abroad, Wars At Home
Clear And Present Danger is the third Tom Clancy novel, featuring hero Jack Ryan, to be made into a movie. The story deals with the war on drugs and corruption in the government. The end result is a better film than Patriot Games, taking its cues more from the original novel, than that film did.

Former CIA analyst Jack Ryan, (Harrison Ford) is asked by his mentor and friend, Admiral Greer (James Earl Jones) to take over for him, while he battles cancer. Ryan reluctantly accepts. When a friend of the President's (Donald Moffatt) is killed, Ryan learns that a drug kingpin (Miguel Sandoval) may be responsible, for the crime. As he briefs the President, forces inside the administration, are working to take the cartel out, even without any proof. Ryan must discover the truth, about who is working against him before it's too late

The cast also includes the great Henry Czerny as Ritter, a smarmy guy at the CIA who butts heads with Ryan, Harris Yullin as the National Security Advisor, and Anne Archer returns as Cathy, Jack's wife. Directed by Philip Noyce, who also directed Patriot Games, the film stays within the framework of the book. The movie also is detailed enough to keep fans of the book happy, while at the same time it is nicely paced Ford proves once again why he's so right for roles like this. He wears his hero hat so well. It is Czerny though, that makes things really interesting for Ryan and, he gives the film an extra spark or two.

As part of the reissued "Jack Ryan" series on DVD, Clear And Present Danger, contains a retrospective featurette on how the film was made. It's pretty good and does a decent job taking you back, to what it was like on the set. The standard theatrical trailer tops off the extras. I wish there was a commentary track to go along with the other stuff--or maybe some deleted footage-that would have helped.

Still the DVD is recommended over the "movie only" edition from a few years ago

Ryan, The Drug Cartels, And CIA Abuse
The third installment in the cinematic series based on Tom Clancy's CIA analyst Jack Ryan, CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER is a long but engrossing political action thriller that once again puts Harrison Ford, the thinking man's action film actor, in the role of Ryan.

This time around, Ford investigates the murder of a close friend of the President (Donald Moffatt) by Colombian drug cartel hitmen. When his mentor (James Earl Jones) falls ill due to pancreatic cancer, Ford is suddenly put in charge as deputy director of the CIA. He continues his investigation of the murders and ties them in with one particular drug cartel leader (Miguel Sandoval) with whom the murdered man had a little issue with ill-gotten money,....

But what Ford doesn't know is that, on orders from the revenge-minded Moffatt, his second deputy (Henry Czerny) and the president's national security advisor (Harris Yulin) have ordered a rogue officer named Clark (Willem Dafoe) in with a covert military team to put a huge dent in the cartel's activities. Dafoe and his team are successful at what they do, but the cartels retaliate with deadly results on Ford's friends in the FBI during a visit to Bogota. And when Ford finds out about the operation, he finds himself going down to Colombia a second time to help spirit Dafoe and the covert team out of harm's way.

Ably directed, once more, by Phillip Noyce (DEAD CALM; PATRIOT GAMES), CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER gives Ford another chance to prove his mettle in the action genre. The suspense and CIA intrigue are all laid out exceptionally well by Noyce and his first-rate cadre of screenwriters, Donald Stewart, Steven Zaillian, and John Milius. Jones is at his usual best as the now-dying Admiral Greer, and Anne Archer returns as Ford's wife.

But a performance really worth noting here is Czerny's as the unconsciously corrupt CIA deputy director Robert Ritter. About as uncouth and conniving a heavy as there has ever been in the movies, his performance is absolutely chilling and believable. It makes the whole notion of our government going beyong reasonable bounds even more credible than it already is.

Some will object to the film not pandering to Clancy's right-wing political points of view or his gung-ho pro-military stance, but that isn't necessarily what this movie is about. It does not condemn covert military action, but it does question the wisdom of sending men into a war zone where the risks are extreme, the reasons for such actions are vague at best, and there is no clear exit strategy. Such points are made extremely well in this film's action format; and for those reasons, it gets the highest marks.

Best Clancy Movie
Out of the four Tom Clancy/Jack Ryan movies, I think Clear and Present Danger is easily the best. Harrison Ford is one of my favorite actors, and even though he's made some dreck in recent years, his string of successes post-Star Wars and Indiana Jones reached their peak around this time.
The story of the film revolves around the U.S. war on drugs, attempting to stop the flow at the source of production in Colombia. To this end, Harrison Ford as Jack Ryan becomes caught up in the action along with the always-great Willem DaFoe as CIA agent Clark. Just about all of the actors in this movie are great, including Joaquim de Almeida, Donald Moffat, Henry Czerny (the slime dripping off his character might damage your TV), and Raymond Cruz.
Not only is this one of my favorite spy/government intrigue movies, but it's just flat-out one of my favorite movies. Great story, great actors, great movie. Highly recommended.

Not even close
Once there was a man named Jack Ryan. That's about where the similarities to the book end.

For what it's worth, I'm not a picky movie viewer. I'll watch nearly anything. So for me to complain about this movie means that something was really off-base.

As far as an action movie goes, it was passable. As far as the technological thriller that the book was, it doesn't even come close. There is no character development (never felt anything towards Ding), random changes in a character's persona (Clark goes from wanting to kill Ryan to making the chopper go back), thing missing that are important to the plot (downing of drug running planes), and things that were never in the book (yacht owner tied to the President).

To make what could be an extremely long review somewhat shorter, if you've read the book and are a fan of Tom Clancy, don't bother. If you're just looking for a film with " 'splosions," this might work.

The Best Jack Ryan on the Screen, and with Good Reason!
Harrison Ford isn't the person who wrote this story, Tom Clancy is. But, Harrison Ford is the perfect Jack Ryan, a spy with a conscience and a man who does the right thing not the expeditious thing. While this is not close to his biggest role or hit, he plays the character, Jack Ryan, as perfectly as he can be portrayed in a movie. He gives the right feeling to his character, the right indignation to wrongs done in the name of Patriotism and Justice, and portrays the right kind of patriotism to the fullest. But, the rest of the cast is also well played, including the good guys, Clark, Chavez, and James Earl Jones' character, and the bad guys, the President and his sleazy administration, as well as the drug dealers. Tom Clancy wrote a great book with this one and the book is well served by the overall excellence of the movie. I strongly recommend the movie to fans of Harrison Ford, Tom Clancy, and William Dafoe. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

A forgotten film with a great cast
I bought White Sands in the cheapy bin at my local DVD retailer. I never heard of the film but I decided to buy it because I like both Willem Dafoe and Mickey Rourke. Upon viewing the film, I was only glad I payed $5.50 for it. Though it is far from bad, it's not all that great either. William Dafoe is a small Texas town sherriff that goes undercover when he finds a man dead with a half a million dollars in a briefcase. Not a bad story but all I could think is "what is this guy doing!" throughout this film as he goes deep undercover. He must have been bored with his small town life. There's plenty of twists and turns in the plot throughout the film but after awile one won't care. The film itself is also far from exciting. Mickey Rourke gives a fine performance but Willem Dafoe is a little below par. I'm sorry but he failed to convince me of his role in this film. After viewing theis film, I could see why it has been forgotten over the years because it is just not that memorable. White Sands ends up being a good way to waste an afternoon and is worth a buy if you can find it cheap. You also get to see Samuel L. Jackon early in his carrier as he is credited as Sam Jackson.

A diamond in the rough
Okay, the movie has Mickey Rourke in it, that doesn't automatically make it a bad film (though yes that usually isn't a good sign). Most of you may never have heard of this film before and that is a shame. Its unfortunate that the studio that released this film never took the time to watch it. It was released in the middle of the summer, most definitely wrong time of the year for such a film. The summer is for mindless action and laughs and unfortunately this flick just got lost in the mix.(I have nothing against mindless action and laughs.) This is a smart film with a very engaging plot, but you are required to actually pay attention. Not to give too much away but Defoe plays a small town cop who gets caught up rather large mess after the discovery of "suicide" victim out in the middle of nowhere. The acting is very well done in this film (even Rouke's). This is definitely one of the films that helped make Sam Jackson one of my favorites. If you like well done mystery/suspense flicks then this one is well worth your time.

Actually, a 4 1/2.
You're a cop, you live in New Mexico. You get a call that there's been a dead body found in the desert near you, near some old Indian ruins. Next to his body is a briefcase, with half a million dollars inside. If your Defoe, (in this show) a cop, you want to find out where it came from. How can it be a suicide? Who would want to kill themselves while possessing a half million dollars? The more he investigates and finds out gets him in over his head. He takes on the identity of the deceased, this sheriff from New Mexico is smarter than he acts but much less experienced than he tries to appear. Mickey Rourke gets to be the bad guy in this one. Guess what? He's a CIA agent. He's on whoever's side they pay him to be on. This is enough. The rest I'll leave to your imagination. I should mention that Samuel Jackson is also in this show. He's an FBI agent. It's not really sand, it's gypsum.

Excellent thriller with superb cast
This smart thriller makes you both wonder what gonna happend next and be suprised that Mickey Rourke is good. Samuel Jackson, Willem Dafoe and M Emmet Walsh is all good. But it is Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio who steals the show. Her best since "The Abyss". If you like this movie, check out "Thunderheart", "Consenting Adults" and "Unlawful Entry".

Great cast, plot twists, amazing landscapes
This film was generally overlooked upon release. Predating Lone Star and Thunderheart, this film has three amazing things going for it: (1) the cast is stellar. You get Dafoe, in a good guy role, M Emmett Walsh as a lazy coroner, Mary Elizabeth Mastronantino in an amazing lead role, Sam Jackson (how he's listed on the end credits) tearing up the scenery, Mickey Roarke in a GOOD performance, and even an uncredited thankless role. (2) the plot is much better than No Way Out. With Donaldson directing, you might think that it would just be a remake/remuddle, but the plot does keep twisting, and once you think you have it even remotely figured out, BANG something else happens. (3) the scenery is amazing. The only film that comes closer to capturing the feel of the New Mexican landscape is Backtrack, which is also very good. The widescreen adds (although it is fair to ask when it DOESN'T), so, if you were like me and didn't see this until it came out on VHS, you're in for a treat. Not all of it does work--you do keep waiting for Dafoe to become the creep he is in most of his films since Wild at Heart, or Roarke to make little sense, but like Angelheart, he is focused and amazing here, but it doesn't happen. Not a whole lot of extras here, unfortunately (maybe there's a director's edition somewhere with more of Mimi Rogers in it, but as it stands, this is a terrific movie. Four stars out of five. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Great movie - bad reproduction
This is one of my favorite movies ... I love it! BUT, I returned the DVD after finding out that it is not made in Widescreen or Dolby Digital. I know .. I should have looked first, but I assumed.:( Why does anyone even bother to make a DVD in Full Screen - HiFi? A tape is almost as good. This movie, and dozens more that I know of, deserve much more.

Thoroughly Enjoyable Fun
I began watching this movie because there was simply nothing else on, and I like Lou Gossett Jr & Anthony Edwards. About 15 minutes into the film, I was hooked and really enjoying the ride. This is a very clever, witty, and funny screenplay, full of jokes both subtle and not, and it has a score that is nearly flawless, accentuating both action and comedy. There are a lot of laugh-out-loud moments, and some truly unique comedic situations. In many respects, the whole film reminded me of "The Frisco Kid" with Harrison Ford and Gene Wilder, another of my favorite Western comedies.

Anthony Edwards (Billy Ray Smith) plays a tenderfoot schoolteacher prone to falling off and accidentally shooting horses. One of his students is kidnapped by the stunningly attractive El Diablo ("Star Trek: Voyager's" Robert Beltran,) and Edwards sets out to find the girl and bring her home. His misadventures with a band of misfit outlaws brings a lot of laughs and even some tender moments.

With only minor bad language and some blood here and there, this is a movie the whole family can enjoy. I highly recommend it, and plan to watch it again and again.

Surprises and scares at every turn of this fun Western.
The unlikely pairing of Louis Gosset Jr. and Anthony Edwards makes this movie intensly engaging. These actors and their supporting cast take the viewer on a wild ride through the old west as a mild mannered school teacher "beats the devil". The rescuing of a lovely young school girl from the hands of a very sexy Mexican bad guy, is done with humor through the awkwardness of the rescuer Billy Ray, and lots of help from savy gun slinger Louis Gosset Jr.and his wonder horse Rio. Though this movie was made for cable TV it sacrificed nothing in quality. El Diablo is well cast, funny, sweet, action packed, and very worthwhile.

*********HILARIOUS********
I have seen this movie a million times. I definately recommend it to....well, anyone!! My brother and I rolled around on the floor the first, like, twenty times we saw it.(Sometimes we still do) The music was what really made the movie great, so pay attention to it!! :)

Love It.
This is one of my favorite movies. It pokes fun at the legends of the Old West without being broody. HBO pictures at its best. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

A forgotten film with a great cast
I bought White Sands in the cheapy bin at my local DVD retailer. I never heard of the film but I decided to buy it because I like both Willem Dafoe and Mickey Rourke. Upon viewing the film, I was only glad I payed $5.50 for it. Though it is far from bad, it's not all that great either. William Dafoe is a small Texas town sherriff that goes undercover when he finds a man dead with a half a million dollars in a briefcase. Not a bad story but all I could think is "what is this guy doing!" throughout this film as he goes deep undercover. He must have been bored with his small town life. There's plenty of twists and turns in the plot throughout the film but after awile one won't care. The film itself is also far from exciting. Mickey Rourke gives a fine performance but Willem Dafoe is a little below par. I'm sorry but he failed to convince me of his role in this film. After viewing theis film, I could see why it has been forgotten over the years because it is just not that memorable. White Sands ends up being a good way to waste an afternoon and is worth a buy if you can find it cheap. You also get to see Samuel L. Jackon early in his carrier as he is credited as Sam Jackson.

A diamond in the rough
Okay, the movie has Mickey Rourke in it, that doesn't automatically make it a bad film (though yes that usually isn't a good sign). Most of you may never have heard of this film before and that is a shame. Its unfortunate that the studio that released this film never took the time to watch it. It was released in the middle of the summer, most definitely wrong time of the year for such a film. The summer is for mindless action and laughs and unfortunately this flick just got lost in the mix.(I have nothing against mindless action and laughs.) This is a smart film with a very engaging plot, but you are required to actually pay attention. Not to give too much away but Defoe plays a small town cop who gets caught up rather large mess after the discovery of "suicide" victim out in the middle of nowhere. The acting is very well done in this film (even Rouke's). This is definitely one of the films that helped make Sam Jackson one of my favorites. If you like well done mystery/suspense flicks then this one is well worth your time.

Actually, a 4 1/2.
You're a cop, you live in New Mexico. You get a call that there's been a dead body found in the desert near you, near some old Indian ruins. Next to his body is a briefcase, with half a million dollars inside. If your Defoe, (in this show) a cop, you want to find out where it came from. How can it be a suicide? Who would want to kill themselves while possessing a half million dollars? The more he investigates and finds out gets him in over his head. He takes on the identity of the deceased, this sheriff from New Mexico is smarter than he acts but much less experienced than he tries to appear. Mickey Rourke gets to be the bad guy in this one. Guess what? He's a CIA agent. He's on whoever's side they pay him to be on. This is enough. The rest I'll leave to your imagination. I should mention that Samuel Jackson is also in this show. He's an FBI agent. It's not really sand, it's gypsum.

Excellent thriller with superb cast
This smart thriller makes you both wonder what gonna happend next and be suprised that Mickey Rourke is good. Samuel Jackson, Willem Dafoe and M Emmet Walsh is all good. But it is Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio who steals the show. Her best since "The Abyss". If you like this movie, check out "Thunderheart", "Consenting Adults" and "Unlawful Entry".

Great cast, plot twists, amazing landscapes
This film was generally overlooked upon release. Predating Lone Star and Thunderheart, this film has three amazing things going for it: (1) the cast is stellar. You get Dafoe, in a good guy role, M Emmett Walsh as a lazy coroner, Mary Elizabeth Mastronantino in an amazing lead role, Sam Jackson (how he's listed on the end credits) tearing up the scenery, Mickey Roarke in a GOOD performance, and even an uncredited thankless role. (2) the plot is much better than No Way Out. With Donaldson directing, you might think that it would just be a remake/remuddle, but the plot does keep twisting, and once you think you have it even remotely figured out, BANG something else happens. (3) the scenery is amazing. The only film that comes closer to capturing the feel of the New Mexican landscape is Backtrack, which is also very good. The widescreen adds (although it is fair to ask when it DOESN'T), so, if you were like me and didn't see this until it came out on VHS, you're in for a treat. Not all of it does work--you do keep waiting for Dafoe to become the creep he is in most of his films since Wild at Heart, or Roarke to make little sense, but like Angelheart, he is focused and amazing here, but it doesn't happen. Not a whole lot of extras here, unfortunately (maybe there's a director's edition somewhere with more of Mimi Rogers in it, but as it stands, this is a terrific movie. Four stars out of five. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Put Away Your Preconceptions
Before I saw "The Crew," I didn't have many expectations of it. To my surprise and pleasure, "The Crew" turned out to be much better than a mere formula movie about oldsters.

Four former mob "goodfellas" (played by Burt Reynolds, Seymour Cassel, Richard Dreyfuss and Dan Hedaya) live on the edge of poverty in South Miami. Their art-deco neighborhood is rapidly gentrifying, and soon their apartment is going to go condo, which they can't afford. Immediate action is required.

What do goodfellas do? They "whack" (kill) people, of course. And there is killing in this surprise of a movie, but not the type you'd expect. This is a fast-paced, zippy movie that happens to have a lot of black humor. You know who the heroes are, but it takes almost until the end of the film, but where and how the enemies get their due is nicely surprising.

All the performances were just fine. Early in the movie, Burt Reynolds, reduced to fast-food work to make ends meet, growls at a customer, "Special orders DO upset us," and promptly loses his job. The film is ripe with situational wit of that type. The relatively unknown Seymour Cassel had to carry a lot of the acting, and he held his own along with the three other stars.

A special plot twist involves former singer (and now character actress) Lainie Kazan, the wife of a restaurant owner who runs into the Crew at an inopportune moment. Her scenes are played way over-the-top and in this context, it works brilliantly.

The Crew is certainly not the best gangster comedy ever, but it holds up well. I can heartily recommend it.

Geriatric Goodfellas
"The Crew" is comprised of Richard Dreyfuss (Bobby), the brains of the outfit, Burt Reynolds (Bats), the hot-tempered muscle, Seymour Cassel (Mouth), the quiet ladies man and Dan Hedaya, who plays "The Brick." He's not stupid but, as Dan says in his interview segment, "I guess his thought process is a little different from most people." The movie starts out with a flashback of them as four young wiseguys pulling a job, then flashes forward to them as four old men sitting on a porch. Bat turns to Bobby and complains, "You said the good times were gonna last forever." Bobby replies, "I thought we'd be dead by now!" The story concerns them trying to save their rundown, Miami Beach apartment house (the Raj Mahal) from going condo. Each of their schemes backfires and gets them further into trouble with the local drug lord and the police. The plot twists hold one's interest throughout the film, but the quirky lead characters really carry this picture. "The Crew" is a movie that proves that Mafioso are people too!

Watch them do their stuff!
This movie was not a box office hit when it was released just a few months ago, but dreams do sometimes come true.

Starting in New Jersey in 1968, we follow the lives of four 'has-been' gangsters. Now retired and living peaceably in The Raj Mahal in Miami Beach, they attempt to make one last heist. So as not to be evicted (who wants to be homeless?) from this run-down hotel, they plot a way to save their special home. Look for the pink ostrich.

Burt Reynolds looks good as an old man and is funny like in those 'Bandit' movies. Richard Dreyfuss who won an Academy Award for his role in THE GOODBYE GIRL and was great in MR. HOLLAND'S OPUS (I loved that music!) showed his winning style. Seymour Cassel who was in Bill Murray's RUSHMORE and Dan Hedaya (Detective Jack in SHAFT), round out the foursome.

When you need a laugh, rent this one from the local video store (better yet, buy it here at Amazon.com), sit back and enjoy. If you liked GRUMPY OLD MEN, you'll love these "grandfatherly gangsters" who are not quite 'over the hill' yet. Stephen Iervolino compared this film ro 'GoodFellas' in LAUNCH. This parody is better than either or both/and in a class all its own.

An Easy Movie To Watch !
Just sit back and enjoy this flick. It's not going to win any awards but it is good lighthearted fun.

Definatly worth a look, very funny and well done
The Crew is acually a very funny enjoyable movie. I will admit the plot is a little weak, but it's not horrible. It is basically about four ex crew members {Dreyfuss and company} want to stay in their appartment, so of course they set up a fake killing to keep their appartment. And along the way they meet a firy widow { Kazan}, a tenasious stripper { Jeniffer Tilly}, and a policeinvestogator who might just be Dreyfuss's long lost daughter { Carrie Anne Moss}. A bit corny......Yes but still very enjoyable. Without a doubt the three major female roles are what holds together this film. Kazan is hillarios as the old widow deli owner. Tilly is great and very enthusiastic as the female stripper "dating" one of the crew members for the money. And Moss is exellent as the police officer { in a short seen you get to see her do two more matrix kicks! don't miss it} and her part is no doubt way to short. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A well-rounded, but still limited, B-movie actioner
Michael Biehn stars as a low-level criminal who unintentionally gets caught up in a high-level struggle to control a drug cartel. At the center of this struggle is a CD-ROM that holds all the cartel's dirty secrets. Further complicating this scenario is a female FBI agent who's not shy at playing all the angles to get the CD-ROM so the FBI can prosecute the cartel, sometimes at Biehn's expense.

This is a very decent B-movie, despite the budget limitations. While it does get cliched at the end, the movie never lets you rest until the final confrontation between Biehn, the FBI, and the drug cartel.

You'll be surprised. (Not bad, not bad at all).
While the title alone is likely to discourage you, "Breach of Trust" was a dece