Shakedown (1988)

A drug dealer shoots a corrupt police officer in Central Park, New York. Though the drug dealer admits his guilt, he pleads self-defence.

His lawyer, savvy public defender Roland Dalton (Peter Weller), and honest but unorthodox NYPD narcotics agent Richie Marks (Sam Elliott) work together (both inside and outside the law) to pursue evidence in his favour, encountering opposition from other corrupt police officers, drug dealers, and various street scum.

Their aggressive investigation makes them moving targets for both the law and the underworld. Dalton’s life is further complicated by the fact that prosecuting attorney Susan Cantrell (Patricia Charbonneau) is a former lover.

The movie is basically action and stunts – a high-tech series of explosions, hurtling automobiles, shattering glass and impossible feats.

Exhibit one: A private jet is taking off from LaGuardia airport in New York. Dalton and Marks are chasing it down the runway in a Porsche. At the last moment, Marks leaps from the car and grabs one of the wheels of the plane. As the plane gains altitude, he shoots a bullet through an engine, forcing the pilot to turn back.

As the plane approaches the runway for an emergency landing, he slips a hand grenade under the wheel well and falls into the water below. The grenade explodes, making it look like the plane crashed, while the cop swims to safety and is hauled ashore by Dalton.

Elsewhere, Marks leaps out of the third-story of a building onto the piping of the facade which bends to suspend him over Broadway, from where he can drop onto a bus, jump down onto a motorcyclist, steal the bike and chase down a bad guy who stole a police car.

The body count soars accordingly, with a roller coaster smash up at Coney Island, shoot-outs in Times Square, an accidentally on-purpose electrocution, and other such business-as-usual for the urban warfare game.

Weller and Elliott are not doing Hamlet here, but they’re pretty good at nailing Hollywood’s favourite 1980s format – the cop buddy drug action movie.

Roland Dalton
Peter Weller
Richie Marks
Sam Elliott
Susan Cantrell
Patricia Charbonneau
Nicky ‘NC’ Carr
Antonio Fargas
Gail Feinberger
Blanche Baker
Officer Kelly
Tom Waites
Michael Jones
Richard Brooks
Patrick O’Leary
Jude Ciccolella
Officer Varelli
George Loros
Dr Watson
Daryl Edwards
Ruben
Jos Laniado
Sean Phillips
John McGinley
Irma
Shirley Stoler
Dean Howland
Walter Bobbie
Big Leroy
Judd Henry Baker
Billy
Andrew Johns
Preacher
Roy Milton Davis
Margaret O’Leary
Kathryn Rossetter
Rydel
Larry Joshua
Bumpers
Michael Medeiros
Collins
Bill Cwikowski
Stevie ‘Dipshit’
Everett Mendes III
Mary
Mary Beth Lee
Nancy
Julia McNeal (as Julia Mueller)
Monster
Bari K. Willerford
Leon
Roy Thomas
Steve Rosen
James Eckhouse
Larry
David Proval
Tommie
Harold Perrineau
Ira
Rockets Redglare
Suzi
Lisa Ann Poggi
Judge Maynard
Augusta Dabney
Mr Feinberger
William Prince
Mrs Feinberger
Marya D. Dornya
Julio
Anthony Crivello
Blade
Richard Epper
Mastrangelo
Ronald Maccone
Muffy
Marie Marshall

Director
James Glickenhaus

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