A young pilot finds himself recruited unwittingly into a covert and corrupt C.I.A. airlift organization operating in Vietnam War-era Laos.
Director:
Roger Spottiswoode
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Title: Air America (1990)
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1 nomination.
See more awards »
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Mel Gibson | ... | Gene | |
| Robert Downey Jr. | ... | Billy | |
| Nancy Travis | ... | Corinne Landreaux | |
| Ken Jenkins | ... | Major Donald Lemond | |
| David Marshall Grant | ... | Rob Diehl | |
| Lane Smith | ... | Senator Davenport | |
| Art LaFleur | ... | Jack Neely (as Art La Fleur) | |
| Ned Eisenberg | ... | Pirelli | |
| Marshall Bell | ... | O.V. | |
| David Bowe | ... | Saunders | |
| Burt Kwouk | ... | General Lu Soong | |
| Tim Thomerson | ... | Babo | |
| Harvey Jason | ... | Nino | |
 |
Sinjai Plengpanich | ... | Gene's Wife (as Sinjai Hongthai) |
|
|
Natta Nantatanti | ... | Gene's Daughter |
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Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
Storyline
Air America was the CIA's private airline operating in Laos during the Vietnam War, running anything and everything from soldiers to foodstuffs for local villagers. After losing his pilot's license, Billy Covington is recruited into it, and ends up in the middle of a bunch of lunatic pilots, gun-running by his friend Gene Ryack, and opium smuggling by his own superiors. Written by Jeff Cross <blackjac_1998@yahoo.com>
Taglines:
The Few. The Proud. The Totally Insane. See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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Did You Know?
Trivia
The production rented twenty-six planes from the Thailand military for use in the movie. See more »Goofs
When the helicopter holds his licence when it says suspended he holds it on the top left corner but in the next scene he is holding the bottom right corner. See more »Alternate Versions
On the R1 Special Edition DVD, all of the Vietnamese/Laosian translations between Gene and the locals are missing. See more »Frequently Asked Questions
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Details
Country:
USARelease Date:
10 August 1990 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Air America See more »Filming Locations:
Santa Ventura Studios - 5301 North Ventura Avenue, Ventura, California, USA See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
$35,000,000 (estimated)Opening Weekend USA:
$8,064,480, 12 August 1990Gross USA:
$31,053,601Cumulative Worldwide Gross:
$33,461,269Company Credits
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Technical Specs
Runtime:
Color:
ColorAspect Ratio:
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Yeah, it's an "action flick"--lots of explosions, tough-guy posturing, bombast--but it also has depth.
If you like good writing, good scenario work, fine acting (including "minor" roles), and realpolitik, you could spend a far worse 90-odd minutes of an evening.
And seeing it reminds me of an amazing fact: Behind the macho action swagger of Gibson beats the heart of a truly great actor. And, I guess, the same has to be said for Downey; I watched this, in part, as a sort of "catch up" on his career after seeing Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Nice to see him in his nubile years, and realize that he has accomplished more *with* his personal issues in tow than some of us accomplish while living within conventional bounds of correctness.
And... Why does Downey always get these parts where he's the voice of down-home morality in a sea of squalor? Anyway: Check it out.