John Frankenheimer’s 52 Pick-Up is one of the better of the willfully decadent American thrillers from the 1980s that are preoccupied with drugs, guns, strippers, prostitutes, money, and the men who kill each other attempting to obtain them. Though this film isn’t generally mentioned in discussions of the adaptations of Elmore Leonard’s work, the crime master’s imprint is felt on the scenes that routinely threaten to elevate 52 Pick-Up from a sleazy, well-paced time-killer to an authentically good movie. Leonard’s sense of humor is under-emphasized, but his satirical notion of crime as a business beholden to the same petty political trivialities as more “legitimate” enterprises is explicitly accounted for.
When self-made industrialist Harry Mitchell (Roy Scheider) is blackmailed by a couple of vicious hoods, he remains unflappable while amusingly entering into negotiations with them over the terms of his exploitation. Though this is never fully acknowledged in Frankenheimer’s film,...
When self-made industrialist Harry Mitchell (Roy Scheider) is blackmailed by a couple of vicious hoods, he remains unflappable while amusingly entering into negotiations with them over the terms of his exploitation. Though this is never fully acknowledged in Frankenheimer’s film,...
- 8/1/2023
- by Chuck Bowen
- Slant Magazine
When you think of 1980s action movies, visions of steroidal juggernauts like Schwarzenegger and Stallone are likely to spring to mind, but there was always another, if less numerous, stream running through their midst: gritty, downbeat, and cynical films typically helmed by New Hollywood stalwarts whose careers were in various stages of diminution. Among them were Hal Ashby’s strident, coke-fueled 8 Million Ways to Die, John Frankenheimer’s seamy extortion saga 52 Pickup, and William Friedkin’s To Live and Die in L.A., a neon-hued noir reworking of the morally ambiguous cops-versus-criminals terrain he had staked out a decade earlier in The French Connection.
Like Friedkin’s earlier film, To Live and Die in L.A. cannily blends quasi-documentary procedural realism with an unpredictable modernist sensibility. The story is succinct in its pulpy purity: loose-cannon Secret Service agent Chance (William Petersen) vows to take down elusive counterfeiter Rick Masters (Willem Dafoe), no matter the cost,...
Like Friedkin’s earlier film, To Live and Die in L.A. cannily blends quasi-documentary procedural realism with an unpredictable modernist sensibility. The story is succinct in its pulpy purity: loose-cannon Secret Service agent Chance (William Petersen) vows to take down elusive counterfeiter Rick Masters (Willem Dafoe), no matter the cost,...
- 7/24/2023
- by Ed Gonzalez
- Slant Magazine
“The Cannon Film Guide is a treasure trove of info for Golan/Globus fans. Even diehard Cannon scholars will learn from this tome.” – Paul Talbot, author of the Bronson’s Loose! books
The unbelievable story of the legendary 1980s B-movie studio continues in The Cannon Film Guide Volume II, which covers the company’s output from 1985 to 1987, their peak production years under maverick moguls Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus. This highly-anticipated sequel to the original Cannon compendium takes an up-close look at sixty Cannon movies, from deep cuts to cult classics, including American Ninja, The Delta Force, Over the Top, Invasion USA, Masters of the Universe, Runaway Train, Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, King Solomon’s Mines, Lifeforce, Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, and many more. Order the book Here
With hundreds of photos and more than forty interviews with Cannon directors, writers, and stars, this is an indispensable reference book for...
The unbelievable story of the legendary 1980s B-movie studio continues in The Cannon Film Guide Volume II, which covers the company’s output from 1985 to 1987, their peak production years under maverick moguls Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus. This highly-anticipated sequel to the original Cannon compendium takes an up-close look at sixty Cannon movies, from deep cuts to cult classics, including American Ninja, The Delta Force, Over the Top, Invasion USA, Masters of the Universe, Runaway Train, Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, King Solomon’s Mines, Lifeforce, Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, and many more. Order the book Here
With hundreds of photos and more than forty interviews with Cannon directors, writers, and stars, this is an indispensable reference book for...
- 5/6/2022
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Clarence Williams III, an actor known for portraying Linc Hayes on “The Mod Squad” and Prince’s father in “Purple Rain,” died on June 4. He was 81.
Williams’ management confirmed his death to Variety, citing the cause as colon cancer.
Williams broke through in 1968 as one of the stars of the counterculture cop show “The Mod Squad,” also starring then-unknown actors Peggy Lipton and Michael Cole. He was a mainstay of the series until its end in 1973, and went on to have a career in film, television and theater spanning four decades.
Williams portrayed Prince’s father in 1984’s “Purple Rain” and had a recurring role as FBI Agent Roger Hardy on beloved TV show “Twin Peaks.” He also had a long-running collaboration with director John Frankenheimer, playing Bobby Shy in 1986’s “52 Pick-Up,” Chaka in 1994’s “Against the Wall,” Archie in the 1997 TV movie “George Wallace” and Merlin in 2000’s “Reindeer Games.
Williams’ management confirmed his death to Variety, citing the cause as colon cancer.
Williams broke through in 1968 as one of the stars of the counterculture cop show “The Mod Squad,” also starring then-unknown actors Peggy Lipton and Michael Cole. He was a mainstay of the series until its end in 1973, and went on to have a career in film, television and theater spanning four decades.
Williams portrayed Prince’s father in 1984’s “Purple Rain” and had a recurring role as FBI Agent Roger Hardy on beloved TV show “Twin Peaks.” He also had a long-running collaboration with director John Frankenheimer, playing Bobby Shy in 1986’s “52 Pick-Up,” Chaka in 1994’s “Against the Wall,” Archie in the 1997 TV movie “George Wallace” and Merlin in 2000’s “Reindeer Games.
- 6/6/2021
- by Ellise Shafer
- Variety Film + TV
Clarence Williams III, who was a Black power icon in the 1960s and 1970s as the cool detective “Linc Hayes” on television’s The Mod Squad, has died. Williams died in Los Angeles on Friday June 4 of colon cancer, according to his management
Beyond The Mod Squad role, which lasted from 1968 to 1973, he also appeared in such films as Purple Rain, 52 Pick-Up, Reindeer Games and Tales from the Hood.
(More)...
Beyond The Mod Squad role, which lasted from 1968 to 1973, he also appeared in such films as Purple Rain, 52 Pick-Up, Reindeer Games and Tales from the Hood.
(More)...
- 6/6/2021
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Hollywood stars such as Josh Gad, Russell Crowe, Maria Shriver paid tribute to Kelly Preston,who died Sunday night at age 57 after a two-year battle with breast cancer that was kept private among her family.
Her husband, John Travolta, announced the news on his Instagram.
“She fought a courageous fight with the love and support of so many,” Travolta said. “My family and I will forever be grateful to her doctors and nurses at MD Anderson Cancer Center, all the medical centers that have helped, as well as her many friends and loved ones who have been by her side. Kelly’s love and life will always be remembered.”
Also Read: Kelly Preston, 'Jerry Maguire' Actress, Dies at 57
Crowe on Monday shared a brief anecdote in which he remembered auditioning with Preston in the film “Breaking Up” for a role that eventually went to Salma Hayek.
“Can’t remember where,...
Her husband, John Travolta, announced the news on his Instagram.
“She fought a courageous fight with the love and support of so many,” Travolta said. “My family and I will forever be grateful to her doctors and nurses at MD Anderson Cancer Center, all the medical centers that have helped, as well as her many friends and loved ones who have been by her side. Kelly’s love and life will always be remembered.”
Also Read: Kelly Preston, 'Jerry Maguire' Actress, Dies at 57
Crowe on Monday shared a brief anecdote in which he remembered auditioning with Preston in the film “Breaking Up” for a role that eventually went to Salma Hayek.
“Can’t remember where,...
- 7/13/2020
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Actress Kelly Preston, who broke out in the 1980s in such films as “Secret Admirer” and “Twins” before making a memorable turn in the 1996 classic “Jerry Maguire,” died Sunday after a two-year battle with breast cancer. She was 57.
Husband John Travolta shared the news on his Instagram account Sunday. “It is with a very heavy heart that I inform you that my beautiful wife Kelly has lost her two-year battle with breast cancer. She fought a courageous fight with the love and support of so many,’ he wrote. “My family and I will forever be grateful to her doctors and nurses at MD Anderson Cancer Center, all the medical centers that have helped, as well as her many friends and loved ones who have been by her side. Kelly’s love and life will always be remembered. I will be taking some time to be there for my children who have lost their mother,...
Husband John Travolta shared the news on his Instagram account Sunday. “It is with a very heavy heart that I inform you that my beautiful wife Kelly has lost her two-year battle with breast cancer. She fought a courageous fight with the love and support of so many,’ he wrote. “My family and I will forever be grateful to her doctors and nurses at MD Anderson Cancer Center, all the medical centers that have helped, as well as her many friends and loved ones who have been by her side. Kelly’s love and life will always be remembered. I will be taking some time to be there for my children who have lost their mother,...
- 7/13/2020
- by Wrap Staff
- The Wrap
It’s a brand new month, and though it might seem like all hope is lost for 2020, at least streaming services have kept us occupied with plenty of stuff to watch. And like most platforms, Amazon Prime is dropping a ton of new movies on day one of July so that you can fill up your list and stay glued to your television. Not every flick releasing today is a winner, but you’re likely to find at least a handful of things you’re going to be dying to see.
For starters, Buried is an underrated Ryan Reynolds thriller launching on the service today, and if you can manage to sit through an hour and a half of a film that takes place entirely within a coffin, you’ll find a hell of a riveting experience. This extraordinarily tense pic tells the story of an American civilian truck driver...
For starters, Buried is an underrated Ryan Reynolds thriller launching on the service today, and if you can manage to sit through an hour and a half of a film that takes place entirely within a coffin, you’ll find a hell of a riveting experience. This extraordinarily tense pic tells the story of an American civilian truck driver...
- 7/1/2020
- by Billy Givens
- We Got This Covered
Perhaps the most exciting piece of content coming to Hulu in July 2020 is…a movie? Remember those? You would buy a ticket and then go sit in a dark room with other people eating Buncha Crunch. Sounds wild!
Yes, more and more feature films are turning to streaming services for their summer releases. And with their list of new offerings for July 2020, Hulu got itself a big fish. Palm Springs is a Groundhog Day-style comedy starring Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti as star-crossed lovers forced to live the same day over and over again. It premieres on Hulu on July 10.
And that’s not the only original movie coming to Hulu in July. Romanian crime thriller The Whistlers premieres on July 2. Sasheer Zamata comedy The Weekend follows on July 15. Then Hulu caps the month off with the Julia Garner-starring The Assistant on July 20. There’s good movie news...
Yes, more and more feature films are turning to streaming services for their summer releases. And with their list of new offerings for July 2020, Hulu got itself a big fish. Palm Springs is a Groundhog Day-style comedy starring Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti as star-crossed lovers forced to live the same day over and over again. It premieres on Hulu on July 10.
And that’s not the only original movie coming to Hulu in July. Romanian crime thriller The Whistlers premieres on July 2. Sasheer Zamata comedy The Weekend follows on July 15. Then Hulu caps the month off with the Julia Garner-starring The Assistant on July 20. There’s good movie news...
- 6/17/2020
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Tarence Ray and Tom Sexton from the Trillbilly Worker’s Party take Joe and Josh on a cinematic journey through the South.
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
The Story of Film: An Odyssey (2011)
The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia (2009)
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)
Deliverance (1972)
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Boogie Nights (1997)
In Bruges (2008)
The Birds (1963)
Cleopatra (1963)
The Blind Side (2009)
Moneyball (2011)
Next of Kin (1989)
Speed (1994)
Gravity (2013)
Ghosts of Mississippi (1996)
Hustle and Flow (2005)
Black Snake Moan (2007)
Dolemite Is My Name (2019)
Black Snake (1973)
Mandy (2018)
Sling Blade (1996)
One False Move (1992)
The Fast And The Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006)
George Washington (2000)
Prince Avalanche (2013)
Halloween (1978)
Halloween (2018)
Halloween: H20 (1998)
Halloween (2007)
Joe (2014)
All The Real Girls (2003)
Chrystal (2005)
The Accountant (2001)
O Brother Where Art Thou? (2000)
Wild River (1960)
The Ladykillers (2004)
The Ladykillers (1956)
Baywatch (2017)
Tin Men (1987)
52 Pick-Up (1986)
Gremlins (1984)
Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)
Mad Max (1978)
Mad Max 2 – The Road Warrior (1980)
Alien (1979)
Aliens (1986)
Fire Down Below (1997)
Coal Miner’s Daughter...
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
The Story of Film: An Odyssey (2011)
The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia (2009)
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)
Deliverance (1972)
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Boogie Nights (1997)
In Bruges (2008)
The Birds (1963)
Cleopatra (1963)
The Blind Side (2009)
Moneyball (2011)
Next of Kin (1989)
Speed (1994)
Gravity (2013)
Ghosts of Mississippi (1996)
Hustle and Flow (2005)
Black Snake Moan (2007)
Dolemite Is My Name (2019)
Black Snake (1973)
Mandy (2018)
Sling Blade (1996)
One False Move (1992)
The Fast And The Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006)
George Washington (2000)
Prince Avalanche (2013)
Halloween (1978)
Halloween (2018)
Halloween: H20 (1998)
Halloween (2007)
Joe (2014)
All The Real Girls (2003)
Chrystal (2005)
The Accountant (2001)
O Brother Where Art Thou? (2000)
Wild River (1960)
The Ladykillers (2004)
The Ladykillers (1956)
Baywatch (2017)
Tin Men (1987)
52 Pick-Up (1986)
Gremlins (1984)
Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)
Mad Max (1978)
Mad Max 2 – The Road Warrior (1980)
Alien (1979)
Aliens (1986)
Fire Down Below (1997)
Coal Miner’s Daughter...
- 5/5/2020
- by Kris Millsap
- Trailers from Hell
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