A mercenary is hired to rescue his ex-girlfriend, a singer who has been kidnapped by a motorcycle gang.A mercenary is hired to rescue his ex-girlfriend, a singer who has been kidnapped by a motorcycle gang.A mercenary is hired to rescue his ex-girlfriend, a singer who has been kidnapped by a motorcycle gang.
- Awards
- 2 wins & 1 nomination
Grand L. Bush
- The Sorels - Reggie
- (as Grand Bush)
Mykelti Williamson
- The Sorels - B.J.
- (as Mykel T. Williamson)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe Attackers were the real-life band-mates of Laurie Sargent, who provided the singing voice for Ellen Aim. Their band was called Face to Face and they played mainly "new wave" music around the Boston area. The group split up in 1988.
- GoofsWhen the Sorels' bus is stopped by the cop roadblock, as McCoy is pulling the bus to a stop, there's a shot of her in the driver's seat. Seated directly behind Amy Madigan is a middle aged woman who looks like a crew member, present throughout the entire shot. She disappears immediately after the cut and is never seen again, nor was she a passenger on the bus prior to this scene.
- Alternate versionsAn 'R' rated version of the film was shown to theater exhibitors before being cut to a 'PG' for theatrical release.
- ConnectionsEdited into Quantum Leap: Miss Deep South - June 7, 1958 (1990)
- SoundtracksNowhere Fast
Performed by Fire Inc.
Vocals: Holly Sherwood, Rory Dodd, Eric Troyer
Written and Produced by Jim Steinman
Featured review
Walter Hill, whose fine directorial achievements include "Hard Times", "The Warriors", "Southern Comfort", "Crossroads", "Johnny Handsome" and "Extreme Prejudice", scored another creative bullseye with this self-proclaimed "rock and roll fable". Though it is simplistic in the extreme, it is an extraordinarily kinetic work with great music, stunning cinematography, cutting edge editing (from Hill regular Freeman Davies) and fantastic production design.
From a purely visual perspective, it was way ahead of its time, and like most things that were ahead of their time, it flopped badly (at the box office). So much of the film is worthy of praise -- the opening credit sequence employs a bravura graphic technique that has been much imitated; the kidnapping of Ellen Aim (Diane Lane) is a stunningly staged sequence, as is Lane's mimed rendition of Jim Steinman's fabulous "Tonight Is What It Means To Be Young". The climactic fight sequence between Michael Pare and Willem Dafoe (in one of his first screen roles) is magical, as are all the film's scenes of physical combat.
Hill makes mean, lean, muscular movies and populates them with both fresh faces and screen vets. Michael Pare, who had a limited career, is just fine as the mythical Tom Cody, the film's reluctant hero (is there any other?). Dafoe shines as Raven Shaddock, the lead of the kidnappers, and the MIA Amy Madigan is just terrific as the tough-talking McCoy, Pare's feisty sidekick.
Andrew Laszlo, who worked with Hill on "Southern Comfort" and even shot Tobe Hooper's "The Funhouse", does a knockout job with the cinematography and, working with ace production designer John Vallone (another Hill reg) creates a magnificent retro universe on the Universal backlot.
Not to be missed!
From a purely visual perspective, it was way ahead of its time, and like most things that were ahead of their time, it flopped badly (at the box office). So much of the film is worthy of praise -- the opening credit sequence employs a bravura graphic technique that has been much imitated; the kidnapping of Ellen Aim (Diane Lane) is a stunningly staged sequence, as is Lane's mimed rendition of Jim Steinman's fabulous "Tonight Is What It Means To Be Young". The climactic fight sequence between Michael Pare and Willem Dafoe (in one of his first screen roles) is magical, as are all the film's scenes of physical combat.
Hill makes mean, lean, muscular movies and populates them with both fresh faces and screen vets. Michael Pare, who had a limited career, is just fine as the mythical Tom Cody, the film's reluctant hero (is there any other?). Dafoe shines as Raven Shaddock, the lead of the kidnappers, and the MIA Amy Madigan is just terrific as the tough-talking McCoy, Pare's feisty sidekick.
Andrew Laszlo, who worked with Hill on "Southern Comfort" and even shot Tobe Hooper's "The Funhouse", does a knockout job with the cinematography and, working with ace production designer John Vallone (another Hill reg) creates a magnificent retro universe on the Universal backlot.
Not to be missed!
- fertilecelluloid
- Dec 22, 2005
- Permalink
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $14,500,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $8,089,290
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $2,426,500
- Jun 3, 1984
- Gross worldwide
- $8,090,173
- Runtime1 hour 33 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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