True Lies (1994)

Director:

James Cameron

Writers (WGA):

Claude Zidi (screenplay) and
Simon Michaël (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

15 July 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

When he said I do, he never said what he did.

Plot:

When a secret agent learns of his wife's extra-marital affair, he pursues her and uses his intelligence resources in a job he kept secret from her.

Plot Keywords:

Terrorist | Secret | Agent | Mission | Secret Agent

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 6 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Arnold Schwarzenegger	...	Harry Tasker
Jamie Lee Curtis	...	Helen Tasker
Tom Arnold	...	Albert Gibson
Bill Paxton	...	Simon
Charlton Heston	...	Spencer Trilby
Tia Carrere	...	Juno Skinner
Art Malik	...	Salim Abu Aziz
Eliza Dushku	...	Dana Tasker
Grant Heslov	...	Faisil
Marshall Manesh	...	Jamal Khaled
James Allen	...	Colonel
Dieter Rauter	...	Boathouse Guard (as Deiter Rauter)
Jane Morris	...	Janice
Katsy Chappell	...	Allison
Crystina Wyler	...	Charlene

Runtime:

141 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French | Arabic | German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby Digital (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 (original rating) | Iceland:14 (original rating) | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Hungary:16 | New Zealand:M | Brazil:14 | Portugal:M/12 | France:U | Netherlands:12 | South Korea:12 (cable rating) | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Chile:14 | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-14 | Germany:16 | Netherlands:16 (original rating) (cinema release) | Norway:18 | Peru:14 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:15 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | USA:R | UK:15 (cut)

Filming Locations:

Ambassador Hotel - 3400 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

James Cameron remembered Art Malik's work in City of Joy (1992) and offered him the role of Salim Abu Aziz without an audition.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Harry is being chased from the mansion, he is attacked by two Dobermans. The Dobermans jump at him and get 'coconut crunched' together. The dogs used at that point were rubber. One of the rubber dogs' eyes pops out and can be seen flying off the right side of the screen when using frame-by-frame advance, as well when they fall to the ground they bend and crease like rubber (they also bounce).

Quotes:

Gib: [when Harry tells Gib to tap Helen's phone] Ok, I've got two words for that. In. Sane.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Kung kaya mo, kaya mo rin! (1996)

Soundtrack:

Alone in the Dark

This is how an action movie should be like!

Biggest problem with most action movies is that they take themselves way too serious. "True Lies" is mainly fun and entertaining and on top of that, the action is top class!

Finally a movie of which I can say: "Budget well spend!" The action really jumps off the screen but it never feels overdone or forced, which is thanks to action-director veteran James Cameron. He should stick to directing action movies like this, the Terminator movies and "Aliens". Please no more movies like "Titanic"! (not that it was a VERY bad movie) Stick to were your talent lies.

The movie can be described as an American James Bond, meaning that everything is bigger and I'm not just talking about Arnie's chest. Just like the James Bond movies, it doesn't take itself seriously without making itself ridiculous.

Many people seem to have problems with the whole "wife side track, story-line" I guess I'm one of the few that doesn't mind it at all and actually find it an extra addition to the story.

The movie has everything a good action movie need: A believable action hero, explosions, chases, gun fights, a stereotype villain and a high entertainment value.

I wish more action movies like this would be made.

10/10