Point Blank (1998)

User Rating:

3.7/10   

Director:

Matt Earl Beesley

Writers:

Jim Bannon (screenplay)
Chuck Konzelman (screenplay)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

They're the most dangerous criminals in Texas. And they're seriously out of control.

Plot:

Convicted corporate criminal Howard engineers a prison break as he and a number of fellow inmates are being transferred to a new facility...

Plot Keywords:

Hostage | Shopping Mall | Brother Brother Relationship | Farm Life | Ex Marine

Cast

Werner Schreyer	...	Billy
Michael Wright	...	Sonny
Danny Trejo	...	Wallace
Paul Ben-Victor	...	Howard
Kevin Gage	...	Joe Ray
Robert Zachar	...	Armani
James Gammon	...	Dad
Mickey Rourke	...	Rudy Ray
Nina Savelle	...	Tracey Deakin
Yolanda Williams	...	Darla
Oliver Tull	...	Bathroom Security Guard
Gene Ray Price	...	Woman in Pink
Frederic Forrest	...	Mac Bradford
Todd Gordon	...	Hardwood
Melinda Renna	...	Female Officer

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive violence, sexuality, drug use and language.

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

New Zealand:R18 | Iceland:16 | Australia:R | Germany:18 | Netherlands:16 (video premiere) | USA:R | Spain:18 | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Fort Worth, Texas, USA

Company:

Interlight

Goofs:

Factual errors: The back of the bazooka fired during the opening credits is closed.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Bang Boom Bang - Ein todsicheres Ding (1999)

not as horrid as it's made out to be (almost reached guilty pleasure status)

Gay Howard, a prisoner convicted of white-collar crimes masterminds a prison break while his fellow prisoners are being transported. They succeed and hole up in a local mall where they take hostages and try to make demands of the police who surround the place. Unfortunately for the criminals a former mercenary and all-round tough guy, Rudy Ray (Mickey Rourke) is after them, in no small part because his brother is one of the escaped prisoners. Check your brain at the door for this one, folks. It's all about explosions and lots of gunfire. None of it makes much sense under scrutiny and the films ever so slightly homophobic (I referred to Howard as 'gay Howard' earlier in the review as the film makes it abundantly clear). The action is good, if utterly ridiculous and the film apes from MUCH better films (Die Hard, Leon, etcetera), but fans of Rourke or Danny Trejo (who is suitably over-the-top as the 'crazy' villain) will enjoy this flick. Just don't expect anything more than a fun little weightless diversion. It feels more like an '80's film than one for the late '90's though.

My B-movie grade: B-