Bad Boys (1995)

Director:

Michael Bay

Writers (WGA):

George Gallo (story)
Michael Barrie (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

7 April 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Whatcha gonna do?

Plot:

Two hip detectives protect a murder witness while investigating a case of stolen heroin.

Plot Keywords:

Drugs | Murder | Heroin | Police | Witness

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Lisa Boyle	...	Girl Decoy
Will Smith	...	Mike Lowery
Martin Lawrence	...	Marcus Burnett
Michael Taliferro	...	Carjacker
Emmanuel Xuereb	...	Eddie Dominguez
Tchéky Karyo	...	Fouchet (as Tcheky Karyo)
Marc Macaulay	...	Noah Trafficante
Ralph Gonzalez	...	Kuni
Vic Manni	...	Ferguson
Frank John Hughes	...	Casper
Mike Kirton	...	Andy
Will Knickerbocker	...	Officer Bill O'Fee
Theresa Randle	...	Theresa Burnett
Tiffany Samuels	...	Megan Burnett
Cory Hodges	...	James Burnett
Scott Cumberbatch	...	Quincy Burnett
Anna Levine	...	Francine (as Anna Thomson)
Joey Romano	...	Detective
Sam Ayers	...	Detective
Joe Pantoliano	...	Captain Howard
Marg Helgenberger	...	Alison Sinclair
Nestor Serrano	...	Detective Sanchez
Julio Oscar Mechoso	...	Detective Ruiz
Michael Imperioli	...	Jojo
Karen Alexander	...	Max Logan
Fawn Reed	...	Woman at Boxing Gym
Heather Davis	...	Lois Fields
Téa Leoni	...	Julie Mott
Saverio Guerra	...	Chet the Doorman
Maureen Gallagher	...	Yvette
Juan F. Cejas	...	Ether Van Driver (as Juan Cejas)
Ed Amatrudo	...	Ether Van Boss
Jimmy Franzo	...	Club Bartender
Tony Bolano	...	Drunk Guy at Urinal
Shaun Toub	...	Store Clerk
Marty McSorley	...	Henchman
Norman Max Maxwell	...	Henchman
Kevin Corrigan	...	Elliot
Buddy Bolton	...	Wally
Stan Miller	...	News Anchor
Dug Jones	...	Man #1
John Salley	...	Hacker 'Fletcher' (as John Spider Salley)
Dana Mark	...	Police Technician
Mario Ernesto Sánchez	...	Drug Buyer (as Mario Ernesto Sanchez)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kim Coates	...	White Carjacker (uncredited)
Cherie Wimberly	...	Club Dancer (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Bay

Writing credits (WGA)
George Gallo		(story)
Michael Barrie		(screenplay) &
Jim Mulholland		(screenplay) and
Doug Richardson		(screenplay)

Produced by
Jerry Bruckheimer	....	producer
Lucas Foster	....	executive producer
Bruce S. Pustin	....	executive producer
Don Simpson	....	producer

Original Music by
Mark Mancina

Cinematography by
Howard Atherton		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Christian Wagner

Casting by
Lynn Kressel
Francine Maisler

Production Design by
John Vallone

Art Direction by
Peter Politanoff

Set Decoration by
Kate J. Sullivan		(as Kate Sullivan)

Costume Design by
Bobbie Read

Makeup Department
Caridad 'Cuqui' Collazo	....	hair stylist (as Caridad Collazo)
Jeni Lee Dinkel	....	makeup artist
Jeni Lee Dinkel	....	makeup department head
Laini Thompson	....	makeup artist: Mr. Lawrence and Mr. Smith

Production Management
Christopher Cronyn	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jeffrey T. Barabe	....	second second assistant director
Kenny Bates	....	second unit director (as Ken Bates)
Bruce Moriarty	....	first assistant director (as Bruce G. Moriarty)
Lisandra Soto	....	second assistant director: second unit
Barry H. Waldman	....	first assistant director: second unit (as Barry Waldman)
Jonathan Watson	....	second assistant director (as Jonathan M. Watson)
Michelle Marx	....	assistant director: Miami (uncredited)

Art Department
Mark Dane	....	set dresser
Rod England	....	set dresser
Charles Guanci Jr.	....	property master (as Charles P. Guanci Jr.)
Arturo Mendez	....	sign painter
Jeremy Alan Read	....	set dresser
Carl Ritz	....	construction coordinator (as Carl L. Ritz)
Elaine Victoria	....	set dec buyer
Eric Weiler	....	assistant property master
Cary Whittaker	....	greensman
Cary Whittaker	....	set dresser
Lewis Zucker	....	set dresser
Jerry Blohm	....	leadman (uncredited)
Curtis Carlin	....	swing gang (uncredited)
Robert Crowley	....	props (uncredited)
Erik Grasteit	....	assistant property master (uncredited)
Kevin Long	....	props (uncredited)
Carlos Menéndez	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
John Patteson	....	assistant props (uncredited)
Michele Tedlis	....	art department coordinator: additional photography (uncredited)
Valarie Wise	....	set decoration buyer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Willy Allen	....	foley editor (as Willie Allen)
James Ashwill	....	foley mixer (as Jim Ashwill)
Nancy Barker	....	adr assistant
William C. Carruth	....	adr editor (as Bill Carruth)
Virginia Cook-McGowan	....	sound editor
Samuel C. Crutcher	....	sound editor
Ali Derakhanan	....	assistant sound editor
Peter J. Devlin	....	production sound mixer
Greg Dillon	....	sound editor
Nerses Gezalyan	....	foley mixer
Gary A. Hecker	....	foley walker (as Gary Hecker)
Robert G. Henderson	....	supervising sound editor (as Robert Henderson)
David L. Horton Jr.	....	supervising foley editor (as David L. Horton)
David M. Horton	....	sound editor
Adam Johnston	....	sound editor
Rick Kline	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dan O'Connell	....	foley walker
Kevin O'Connell	....	sound re-recording mixer
David M. O'Dell	....	boom operator
Rodney Sharpp	....	assistant sound editor
James Simcik	....	supervising adr editor
Brooke H. Ward	....	assistant sound editor (as Brooke Henderson Ward)
Gregory H. Watkins	....	additional sound re-recording mixer
David Williams	....	foley editor
Marshall Winn	....	sound editor
Kevin Cerchiai	....	second boom operator (uncredited)
David Diamond	....	boom operator: second unit (uncredited)
Fred Peck III	....	foley recordist (uncredited)
Bruno Roussel	....	assistant sound engineer (uncredited)
Gregg Silk	....	second engineer (uncredited)
Samuel Webb	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Marc Banich	....	special effects foreman
Richard Lee Jones	....	special effects coordinator
Michael Meinardus	....	chief pyrotechnician (as Mike Meinardus)
Ray O. Hardesty	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Christine Onesky	....	pyrotechnician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Kent Demaine	....	creative director: interactive design
Steve Rodriguez	....	digital colorist (uncredited)

Stunts
Jay Amor	....	stunts
Kenny Bates	....	stunt coordinator (as Ken Bates)
Chick Bernhardt	....	stunts (as Chick Bernharvt)
Nick Brett	....	stunts
Butch Brickell	....	stunts
William H. Burton	....	stunts
David Wayne Campbell	....	stunt driver
Tony De Leon	....	stunts (as Tony DeLeon)
Mitchell Dean	....	stunt driver
Richard L. Duran	....	stunts (as Richard Duran)
Alex Edlin	....	stunts
Kenny Endoso	....	stunts
Steve Filmore	....	stunts (as Steve Fillmore)
Scotty Gallin	....	stunts
Gene Hartline	....	stunts
David Hayes	....	stunts
Leigh Hennessy	....	stunts
Henry Kingi Jr.	....	stunts
Henry Kingi	....	stunts
Randolph LeRoi	....	stunts
Janine Mitchell	....	stunts
Manny Perry	....	stunts
Norb Phillips	....	stunts
Chuck Picerni Jr.	....	stunts
Steve Picerni	....	stunts (as Steven Picerni)
Buddy Reynolds	....	stunts
James Hooks Reynolds	....	stunts (as Jimmy Reynolds)
Stan Lee Rice	....	stunts
J.C. Robaina	....	stunts
Troy Robinson	....	stunts
Danny Rogers	....	stunts
Ronald C. Ross	....	stunts
Robair Sims	....	stunt double
Gar Stephen	....	stunts
Frank Torres	....	stunts
Peter Tors	....	stunts (as Peter A. Tors)
Lisa Vanderpool	....	stunts
Michael M. Vendrell	....	stunts (as Mike Vendrell)
Amy Stephen Wilder	....	stunts
Glenn R. Wilder	....	stunts (as Glenn Wilder)
Leigh Hennessy	....	stunt double: Tea Leoni (uncredited)
Donna Keegan	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jay Krueger	....	stunts (uncredited)
Randolph LeRoi	....	stunt double: Mr. Smith (uncredited)
Robert Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Stan Lee Rice	....	stunt double: Martin Lawrence (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Peter Lyons Collister	....	director of photography: second unit
Biff Delany	....	assistant chief lighting technician (as Biff DeLany)
Jon Baronn Farmer	....	still photographer (as Jon Farmer)
Ken Glassing	....	first assistant camera: second unit
James J. Green	....	dolly grip
Phil Green	....	second grip
Craig Haagensen	....	camera operator
Don Hamzik	....	video assist
Jamie Klein	....	key grip: second unit
Michael Klimchak	....	first assistant camera
Peter Manno	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
John McGowan	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera (as John D. McGowan)
Mike McGowan	....	second assistant camera: second unit (as Michael B. McGowan)
Peter Mercurio	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Gene Moffat	....	chief lighting technician: second unit (as Eugene Moffatt)
Douglas F. O'Neons	....	camera operator (as Doug O'Neons)
Casey Osborne	....	dolly grip: "b" camera
Barry Ryan	....	key grip (as Barry J. Ryan)
Gary Ryan	....	chief lighting technician
Warner R. Wacha	....	second assistant camera (as Warner Wacha)
Andrew Fisher	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Megan Forste	....	additional second assistant camera (uncredited)
Dylan Goss	....	aerial camera operator (uncredited)
Michael Kelem	....	aerial camera operator (uncredited)
Shane D. Kelly	....	gaffer: second unit (uncredited)
Gregory Shummon	....	electrician (uncredited)
Owen Stephens	....	electrician: rigging crew (uncredited)
Fred Valentine	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Scott Genkinger	....	casting assistant (as Scott D. Genkinger)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Kristy Aitken Hernandez	....	wardrobe supervisor
Yvette Ammon	....	set costumer
Robert Mata	....	wardrobe supervisor
Rhona Meyers	....	key costumer
Romeo Pompa	....	costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Clark Campbell	....	assistant editor
Jordan Dawes	....	apprentice editor
David Orr	....	color timer
Dwight Raymond	....	first assistant editor: film (as H. Dwight Raymond IV)
Robin Rosenthal	....	assistant editor
David Lewis Smith	....	assistant editor
Julie Janata	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Michelle Belcher	....	soundtrack coordinator
Michael Dilbeck	....	music supervisor
Bruce Fowler	....	orchestrator
J.J. George	....	assistant music editor
Nick Glennie-Smith	....	composer: additional music
Alan Meyerson	....	score mixer
Jeffrey Pollack	....	music consultant
Curtis Roush	....	music editor
Steven L. Smith	....	music preparation
Happy Walters	....	music supervisor
Christopher Ward	....	composer: additional music
Ryeland Allison	....	musician (uncredited)
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra contractor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Larry Crenshaw	....	transportation captain (as Larry W. Crenshaw)
Pirty Lee Jackson	....	transportation co-captain
Jon Bergholz	....	driver (uncredited)
Greg Koronowicz	....	picture cars (uncredited)

Other crew
Ernest 'Tron' Anderson	....	assistant: Mr. Smith (as Ernest Tron Anderson)
Simona Aranda	....	assistant: Mr. Pustin
Diane Bandolas	....	production accountant
Viki Cacciatore	....	assistant accountant
Jennifer Cook	....	production assistant
Peaches Davis	....	assistant: Mr. Lawrence (as Nilah Peaches Davis)
Diane DiPrima	....	production secretary
Andrew Form	....	assistant: Jerry Bruckheimer
Wendi Friedman	....	assistant: Mr. Bruckheimer
Carol Green	....	unit publicist
Margery Kimbrough	....	assistant: Mr. Foster
Fay Kladouris	....	assistant: Mr. Bay (as Fay J. Kladouris)
Robert Lawrence	....	assistant: Mr. Lawrence
Melonie Lewis	....	assistant: Mr. Bruckheimer
Todd Marrero	....	assistant: Don Simpson
Nelson Oramas	....	technical advisor (as Major Nelson Oramas)
Jeffrey Scott Pawlak	....	craft service
Jennifer Pepper	....	administrative production secretary
Robert Runge	....	production assistant
Brad Scheel	....	production assistant (as Bradley Scheel)
Andrea Schlupp	....	assistant: Mr. Simpson
Brittani Simberg	....	production assistant
Sam Tedesco	....	location manager (as Samuel P. Tedesco)
Michael Dean Valeo	....	production assistant
Lois Walker	....	production coordinator
Corey B. Yugler	....	script supervisor
Josue Aguilar	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Nigel Arscott	....	assistant location manager (uncredited)
Christian Clarke	....	set production assistant: Los Angeles (uncredited)
Nick Conti	....	voice looping: multiple voices (uncredited)
Pamella D'Pella	....	location scout (uncredited)
Robert Dawson	....	title designer (uncredited)
April Fitzsimmons	....	production assistant (uncredited)
John Patteson	....	armorer (uncredited)
Anthony Petzold	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Ilene Pickus	....	script supervisor (uncredited)
Larry Zience	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1995) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Film (1995) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films AB (1995) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (1995) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de España (1995) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Finnkino (1995) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Fox-Warner (1995) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Prooptiki (1995) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Artisan Entertainment (19??) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (????) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (1999) (Germany) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2003) (UK) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1996) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1995) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1997) (USA) (DVD)
• Egmont Entertainment (1999) (Finland) (DVD)
• Egmont Film (1995) (Sweden) (VHS)
• Fox Network (1998) (USA) (TV)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Nelonen (1999) (2000) (2003) (2005) (2006) (2009) (Finland) (TV)
• Nordisk Film Home Entertainment (1995) (Finland) (VHS)
• Nordisk Film (2001) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Nordic (2006) (Finland) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2001) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2010) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2010) (Sweden) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2010) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2003) (Sweden) (DVD)

Other Companies

• BT Industrial Supply  expendables
• Central Casting  extras casting
• Cinema Research  opticals
• Cop Shop Miami  picture vehicle: rescue truck
• D. Bassett & Associates  negative cutting
• Ellen Jacoby Casting  casting
• High Output  camera cranes: remote heads (Florida)
• Inter Video  24 frame video services
• La-La Land Records  score album released by (limited edition)
• Lightnin' Production Rentals  transportation equipment
• Panavision  camera and lenses
• R.E.D. Productions  titles
• Roll Em  picture vehicles: police cars
• Sony Pictures Studios  sound services
• Trademark Animal Talent  animal wranglers
• Work Records  soundtrack published by

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for intense violent action and pervasive strong language

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR | SDDS

Certification:

Taiwan:R-18 | Brazil:14 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Ontario) | Japan:R | South Korea:18 | Philippines:R-18 | Singapore:NC-16 (re-rating) | Hungary:16 | UK:15 (re-rating) | Chile:14 | Argentina:16 | Peru:18 | Mexico:C | Italy:T | Australia:MA | Finland:K-16 | Germany:18 | Ireland:18 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R | Norway:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R (certificate #33591) | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables, Florida, USA

Company:

Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films

Trivia:

The role of Mike Lowry was destined for Arsenio Hall, until Michael Bay caught an episode of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" (1990) and wanted Will Smith instead.

Goofs:

Factual errors: During the firefight outside of Julie's apartment, Marcus' gun locks open (empty), however at his car he fires again without reloading.

Quotes:

Stake-out crook:Watching the place was my first gig.
Detective Sanchez:Oh, so does that make you union?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Joni's Promise (2005)

Soundtrack:

Nothing

Finally, a successful marriage of comedy and action/thriller

This high-action crime drama stands out for me because it succeeds at doing what other movies* have tried and, in my opinion, failed to do -- integrate genuinely funny comedy into the mix. The success is attributable partly to the comedic talents of Will Smith and Martin Lawrence -- who have the ability to deliver crude, rude dialog such that it's funny nevertheless -- and partly to a story that combines suspense and humor into a believable whole.

Our two heroes are police detectives Mike Lowry (Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Lawrence), who are a kind of tough-cop variation on The Odd Couple . Lowry is suave, slick, self-controlled, well-to-do, heroic, and a real ladies man. Burnett, on the other hand, is an ordinary guy who manages to stumble reasonably effectively, if somewhat ineptly, through his work and his married life.

So imagine what happens when Burnett has to convince a key witness, Julie (Téa Leoni) that he's Mike Lowry -- not just for a few hours, but for a few days. Furthermore, this is no pre-planned, well-orchestrated masquerade. A large stash of confiscated heroin has been un-confiscated right from police headquarters, and both the heroin and the perpetrator must be found within four days, or Internal Affairs is going to take some big-time disciplinary action. Lowry and Burnett are called in because they were the ones who captured the heroin in the first place, and because of the one trait they share -- a renegade approach to police work, which may not have their boss's approval, but which does get the job done (and at one point, causes a store owner to think they're out to rob him). The various twists and turns of the investigation lead to Lowry getting knocked out of commission at the same time that Julie witnesses a murder and refuses to deal with anybody but Mike Lowry. But Marcus Burnett is the only one available to deal with her, and since waiting for Lowry to recover isn't an option …

Subsequent events include Lowry's bachelor pad being invaded by Julie and her dogs, while Lowry stays with Burnett's wife, Burnett trying to keep his wife from finding out what's really going on, and Burnett and Lowry trying to find the heroin and keep Julie alive.

For all you action movie fans, plenty of cars, plenty of buildings, and plenty of people get blown up along the way. (Looking over this review, I see that I've belied the high level of violence, which I definitely should warn you against.)

BAD BOYS kept me both amused and on the edge of my seat throughout. I'm afraid I did have two small complaints, however. First, I wish the resolution of the Burnett-pretending-to-be-Lowry story had been timed to coincide with the resolution of the main plot.

As it is, the comic subplot ends, leaving the rest of the movie to proceed in a rather formulaic and pedantic fashion. Second, I wish more time had been spent on Lowry's problem of stepping into Burnett's shoes. The swinging bachelor having to play family man would have been good for a few laughs that we never got.

Aside from that, however, this is an action movie that stands out among the rest.

One final note concerning the DVD "Special Edition" release. BAD BOYS was a movie in which the music was particularly effective, and the DVD actually lets you listen to the music track by itself. I wish DVDs of other movies with great music had this option.

* Three examples that come to mind are 48 HOURS, KINDERGARTEN COP, and another Michael Bay film, ARMAGEDDON. 48 HOURS was grim enough to seriously stifle the humor, even with Eddie Murphy in the lead role. KINDERGARTEN COP made me laugh, but the crime drama felt like an unwelcome intrusion. In ARMAGEDDON, I felt the stakes were high enough that humor didn't seem appropriate.