Stakeout (1987)

Two detectives observe an escaped convict's ex-girlfriend, but complications set in when one of them falls for her.

Director:

John Badham

Writer:

Jim Kouf

Stars:

Richard Dreyfuss, Emilio Estevez, Madeleine Stowe

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard Dreyfuss	...	Chris Lecce
Emilio Estevez	...	Bill Reimers
Madeleine Stowe	...	Maria McGuire
Aidan Quinn	...	Richard 'Stick' Montgomery
Dan Lauria	...	Phil Coldshank
Forest Whitaker	...	Jack Pismo
Ian Tracey	...	Caylor Reese
Earl Billings	...	Captain Giles
Jackson Davies	...	FBI Agent Lusk
J.J. Makaro	...	B.C.
Scott Andersen	...	Reynaldo McGuire
Tony Pantages	...	Tony Harmon
Beatrice Boepple	...	Carol Reimers
Kyle Wodia	...	Jeffrey Reimers (as Kyle Woida)
Jan Speck	...	Kelly McDonald

Storyline

The film opens with a daring escape of a convict imprisoned for killing an FBI agent, then moves on to two Seattle detectives chasing a suspect who gets away, destroying a forklift in the process, these two detectives are reassigned to a stakeout, watching the girlfriend of the escaped federal prisoner. One falls in love with her, the escaped convict eventually catches up to her, with them actually, and in the midst of their getaway, the escaped convict learns that his woman's man is a cop, but the two detectives kill him, saving the day.

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Plot Keywords:

escaped convict | undercover | female rear nudity | stakeout | voyeur | 

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Taglines:

Who Says A Little Danger Can't Be A Lot Of Fun?

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although maybe not intentional, in the scene where Richard Dreyfuss ends up in a tank full of dead fish and tries to resist sliding out the bottom it closely resembles the scene in Jaws (1975) where Robert Shaw tries to escape sliding into the shark's mouth. Richard Dreyfuss also starred in Jaws (1975).

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Goofs

When the rear window of the convict's car is shot out by the police it is obvious that the window is shattered with a hammer from inside the car.

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Quotes

Chris Lecce: [whilst searching Maria's house, Chris holds up a newspaper clipping about Montgomery] Now is no time to be pausing for the news, Chris
Bill Reimers: Now is no time to be pausing for the news, Chris
Chris Lecce: [Chris continues his search]
Chris Lecce: Ah - we have a letter. 'Dear Maria, I hear you are doing okay. I hear you are seeing a couple of guys. Sometimes I get so mad I could wipe out the entire world, and enjoy myself doing it'. Now how could she have dumped a charmer like him?

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: The Living Daylights/Maid to Order/The Lost Boys/Stakeout (1987)

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Soundtracks

Desire To Win
Written and Performed by Ross Vannelli

User Reviews

Fun mix of action and comedy

I really enjoyed this movie! It's filled with laughs and excitement, and never once was I not entertained. Next to "48 Hours" I think this is one of the best buddy cop movies I have yet seen. Richard Dreyfuss and Emilio Estevez make a wonderful team, with dead-on chemistry. Dreyfuss steals the show with his hilarious performance, proving he's just as talented at doing broad comedy as he is intense drama. That especially shows in the scene where he's about to walk out of Madeline Stowe's house, but doesn't want to be recognized, so he asks her to lend him a hat. The way he handled that scene was so magnificent, and there are many other farcical moments that he handled just as efficiently, and with the wrong timing and delivery those scenes could've collapsed. Estevez plays the straight man, also doing a magnificent job, and you really feel his envy when he's spying on Stowe, who's being hit on by Dreyfuss. I loved the scenes where the rival cops pulled pranks on each other. Speaking of which, Forrest Whitaker pops up in a fine early performance. And Madeline Stowe is great and sexy, as always.

Sure, the plot is quite predictable, but as I said I was always entertained, thanks to sharp writing and great performances. John Badham is a fine action director, so he kept those action scenes filled with suspense and tension. "Stakeout" is not a film that will keep your brain occupied--as a matter of fact there are some scenes that require you to check your brain at the door--but I assure you that you'll have a damn good time.

My score: 8 (out of 10)

Details

Country:

USA UK Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 August 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Stakeout

Filming Locations:

Agassiz-Rosedale Bridge, Fraser Valley, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,170,403, 9 August 1987

Gross USA:

$65,673,233

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$65,673,233

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures, Silver Screen Partners II, Cinderella

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) Dolby Stereo (35 mm prints)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1