Ricochet (1991)

A District Attorney is terrorized by the criminal he put away years ago when he was a cop.

Director:

Russell Mulcahy

Writers:

Fred Dekker (story), Menno Meyjes (story)

Stars:

Denzel Washington, John Lithgow, Ice-T

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Denzel Washington	...	Nick Styles
John Lithgow	...	Earl Talbot Blake
Ice-T	...	Odessa (as Ice T)
Kevin Pollak	...	Larry Doyle
Lindsay Wagner	...	DA Priscilla Brimleigh
Mary Ellen Trainor	...	Gail Wallens
Josh Evans	...	Kim
Victoria Dillard	...	Alice
John Amos	...	Reverend Styles
John Cothran	...	Councilman Farris (as John Cothran Jr.)
Linda Dona	...	Wanda (as Linda Doná)
Matt Landers	...	Chief Floyd
Lydell M. Cheshier	...	R.C.
Starletta DuPois	...	Mrs. Styles
Sherman Howard	...	Kiley

Storyline

In this action thriller, Denzel Washington plays Nick Styles, the assistant district attorney of L.A. The film opens in his early days as a cop on the L.A.P.D. During a carnival, master criminal Earl Talbot Blake creates a scene after a botched drug deal. Styles and Blake confront each other, during which Blake is wounded by Styles and later sent to prison. Seven years later, Blake escapes from prison during a parole board hearing to carry out his revenge against Styles, and what follows is a violent series of events that destroys Styles' career. This sets the stage for one last bloody duel between Styles and Blake.

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Plot Keywords:

district attorney | escape from prison | tower | african american | empty swimming pool | 

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Taglines:

This is one case that's going to be settled out of court.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence and sensuality, and for language and drug content

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ricochet (1991) is the first of two movies to feature Denzel Washington and John Lithgow, the next one is The Pelican Brief (1993), that time around, Lithgow isn't a villain.

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Goofs

When the replay of the situation at the carnival between Nick and Blake is being watched at the office, Nick adds the word "please", which he clearly did not say just seconds before when it happened.

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Quotes

[Nick Styles approaches a car driver that almost ran him down, and suddenly sees it's Blake]
Nick Styles: Jesus Christ.
Blake: Almost.

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Alternate Versions

Re-rating in 2007 by the BBFC in the UK waived the cut to the butterfly knife, but still cut the shot of the child-porn magazine.

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Connections

Spoofed in The Cable Guy (1996)

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Soundtracks

Killer
Words and Music by Adamski (as Adam Tinley) and Seal
Published by MCA Music Ltd. Beethoven Street Music, Ltd/Perfect Songs/Virgin Music
Performed by Seal
Courtesy of Sire Records/ZTT Records Ltd./Warner Music U.K. Ltd.
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

Outlandish cop thriller...

Over-the-top vehicle for Denzel Washington, here playing policeman-turned-District Attorney who puts slimy killer John Lithgow away, but quickly becomes the psycho's main target after Lithgow escapes from prison (in what must be the most nondescript prison-breakout in movie history!). Ridiculous, sometimes enjoyable non-think entertainment doesn't take itself too seriously, and Washington is solid throughout. Lithgow appropriately hams it up, but Lindsay Wagner is wasted as a fellow D.A. Film tails off near the finish line for a formulaic climax, but otherwise isn't too bad. ** from ****

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 October 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ricochet

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles City Hall - 200 North Spring Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,831,181, 6 October 1991

Gross USA:

$21,756,163

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$21,756,163

Company Credits

Production Co:

Home Box Office (HBO), Cinema Plus, Indigo Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1