Maximum Risk (1996)

A cop/flic discovers that he had a twin who just got murdered in Nice, France. In order to find out who did it, he takes his place including the cute girlfriend in Little Odessa, NYC.

Director:

Ringo Lam

Writer:

Larry Ferguson

Stars:

Jean-Claude Van Damme, Natasha Henstridge, Jean-Hugues Anglade

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jean-Claude Van Damme	...	Alain Moreau / Mikhail Suverov
Natasha Henstridge	...	Alex
Jean-Hugues Anglade	...	Sebastien
Zach Grenier	...	Ivan Dzasokhov
Paul Ben-Victor	...	Agent Pellman
Frank Senger	...	Agent Loomis
Stefanos Miltsakakis	...	Red Face
Frank van Keeken	...	Davis Hartley
David Hemblen	...	Dmitri Kirov
Stéphane Audran	...	Chantal Moreau
Dan Moran	...	Yuri
Donald Burda	...	Nicholas
Rob Kaman	...	Morris
Herb Lovelle	...	Martin
Denis Costanzo	...	Innkeeper

Storyline

A policeman finds out that he had a twin brother who was killed in a violent altercation. He takes his twin brother's place, inheriting his problems and his girlfriend, determined to expose corruption and collusion between the FBI and the Russian mafia.

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Plot Keywords:

sex scene | twin | russian mafia | martial arts | sex in a bathroom | 

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Taglines:

The nearer he gets to the truth, the closer he gets to the edge.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence, and for some sexuality and language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 September 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bloodstone

Filming Locations:

Dundas Square, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,611,707, 15 September 1996, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$14,502,483, 20 October 1996

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$51,702,483

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Roger Birnbaum Productions, Moshe Diamant Production

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby SR Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

"Maximum Risk" was a box-office disappointment in the U.S., but performed well in Europe, grossing almost 40 million dollars.

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Goofs

When Alain is fighting with Red Face in the fire in the beginning, as he is striking his face, you can see Red Face's lips are bloodied. However just before his last strike, there is no blood on Red Face's lips.

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Quotes

Mikhail Suverov: [Tape recording] Only you can access this box. Therefore, one of things has happened. We are together again as we should had been, a family. Or I'm dead and you shouldn't trust anyone. I know you are a great marksman. Therefore, I'm leaving you a gift. One of the boxes contains evidence against government agents and the Russian mob. Hand it over to the American embassy. Alain, when I found about you, it was luck. A newspaper. The moment I saw the picture, I knew I had a brother in this world. ...

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Alternate Versions

18-rated UK video version cut by 9 seconds for violence.

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Connections

Featured in Gargoyle (2004)

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Soundtracks

Strip Club Metal
Written by Bernie Greenspoon

User Reviews

Decent US Debut for Ringo Lam.

French Cop,Alain(Jean Claude Van-Damme)one day finds out he had a twin Brother,travels to America to find answers about who he was,and who murdered him.Running afoul of the Russian Mob,a Brian Bosworth Looking Hit-man,and crooked FBI agents along the way in New York.He also finds himself Protecting/falling in love with the dead bro's squeeze played by Natasha Henstridge.All leading up to a big shoot out in an abandoned Wherehouse...Sorta.This is not your usual Van Damme movie.

Matured Van Damme?Yep.

For starters Maximum risk is helmed by Asian-action-man,Ringo Lam.He gives the movie a lot of atmosphere and style.The fight scenes are realistic,gritty,and for the most part brutal.Notice Van Damme goes for the Jugular here.Breaking bones as well as high flying kicks. The gunfights are staged well.Some good chases.And a nice scene involving a chainsaw.

The scenery is worth it too.We start out in warm,beautiful,summertime France to Dead of winter, smelly, New York city.I think its a nice contrast arc on the story.

Lam gets one of the very best acting gigs outta Van Damme Yet.He is at his darkest and most volatile here.Natasha Henstridge is kinda wasted to anything but eye candy.Zach Grenier and Paul Ben Victor are just okay as the bad guys calling the shots.Trouble is they are not really a physical threat for Van Damme.Stefanos Miltsakais as Redface fits this bill very well.His 3 confrontations with Alain are worthwhile.although its get to be a little tedious bordering on parody.

This would probably be the best Van Damme movie if it were not for the slow pace and excessive dialog,which does serve a purpose.Its just we get some flashy action.Then 15 minutes go by leaving us wanting more.Then it starts up again.Brake.Gas.Brake.Gas.

The gunfights are good,but It seems Ringo was holding back a little from his usual trademark stuff to pacify the suits behind the scenes.

If your looking for the usual from JC,then go watch the Quest.This is a much more complex,adult-themed movie.