Dead Bang (1989)

Simply A Masterpiece

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

I never really got into "Miami Vice" nor do I really want to. However, this Don Johnson cop movie was rather good. Nothing special, for the most part your standard run of the mill cop movie, the only difference is that the cop in question is a really burned out cop. I know you are thinking "so are most cops in films such as these", but no he is really burnt out to the point of puking on a guy after chasing him down. He also has some wicked shouting matches with his ex-wife who from the sounds of it is a mega word that rhymes with witch. Still, it moves at a good pace, just a movie though that really kind of ticks you off. I mean the wife ticked me off though I never saw her, and that one agent did as well. Still, it was a good cop movie seeing him track down the person, or persons responsible. Don Johnson does a fairly good job in this one, he is not the smooth cop he was in "Miami Vice" which I rather like. He is more human here and seems like a guy going through a very rough patch in his life. Despite all of his character flaws his main goal throughout the movie is getting his man. Not great by any means, but like I said I found it rather enjoyable.

I saw this in the theater and the only thing I remembered about it was Don Johnson puking on a guy. So with all the talk of Frankenheimer on the other board, I decided to revisit it and was more than happy I did. Don Johnson stars as Jerry Beck (apparently based on a real LAPD cop) who begins to investigate the murder of a fellow officer. The investigation ends up taking him all over the US on the trail of white supremacists. The film is pretty gritty and realistic but suffers from a terrible Hollywood "We blinded you with convenience" ending. That aside, there is much to like here from Johnson's anti-Crockett cop to great supporting turns by William Forsythe and Bob Balaban to the witty script. And, of course, the aforementioned puke scene. Not as good (or as sleazy) as my 52 PICK UP, my favorite 80s Frankenheimer vehicle, but still worth checking out.

Don Johnson plays real life police detective Jerry Beck who's hot a the trail of a white supremacist group that's leaving behind them a bloody trail.This a fast paced, gritty and exciting police thriller that's criminally underrated. It may be a bit clichéd at times, but Frankenheimer keeps things moving along nicely.Don Johnson is excellent as Beck, also a very underrated actor in my opinion. His tough guy attitude is never taken to extreme and his confrontations with straight arrow FBI agent Forsyth are well played out. Supporting cast does well also. It's well written, with some genuine laughs along the way (the Woody Allen bit is hilarious and the vomit scene also) and has enough action sequences to keep it from ever slowing down too much.Fans of action-suspense thrillers should definitely check this one out.

Excellent direction as usual from John Frankenheimer. This movie gives you more than enough action and bang for your buck. Don Johnson is a homicide cop that stretches the rules; drinks too much; sleeps too little; is crude; foul mouthed and absolutely great. On Xmas morning, Johnson starts his trek to find a cop killer that is associated with a White Supremacy group. This hard headed cop follows his suspect to Oklahoma and Colorado before all hell breaks loose. On the trail of Johnson is a pansy, but arrogant FBI agent played by William Forsythe. Johnson gets help when he needs it from Tim Reid and his police department. Very entertaining and sometimes comical fact-based story from Jerry Beck.Penelope Ann Miller provides the all too short sexual content. Wow, what a charmer. And Michael Jeter plays a shrink that resembles Woody Allen.Have never really been a Don Johnson fan; but this role is a hell of a lot better than his TV Miami Vice persona. This is a non-stop attention grabber.