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The Hard Way
1991
Los Angeles glitz meets New York grit in director John Badham's action-packed comedy. In New York's Times Square a billboard looms larger than life for a new Hollywood blockbuster starring Nick Lang (Michael J. Fox), an Indiana Jones-style superstar. The real Nick Lang is holed up in a neighboring apartment studying every move .. Read more
| Starring | Michael J. Fox, James Woods, Stephen Lang, Annabella Sciorra |
|---|---|
| Director | John Badham |
| Genres | Action/Adventure, Comedy |
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The Hard Way
Los Angeles glitz meets New York grit in director John Badham's action-packed comedy. In New York's Times Square a billboard looms larger than life for a new Hollywood blockbuster starring Nick Lang (Michael J. Fox), an Indiana Jones-style superstar. The real Nick Lang is holed up in a neighboring apartment studying every move and mannerism of Lieutenant John Moss (James Woods), a hard-nosed, streetwise cop who has been taken off of a serial killer case for a new assignment: showing the Hollywood star how a real cop lives, in preparation for a new film role. With rapid-fire dialogue and a hysterical high-energy performance, Fox brilliantly parodies a spoiled Hollywood celebrity complete with model girlfriends, and a tough cookie agent played with ease by Penny Marshall. Woods ignites the screen as the explosive New York cop who must learn how to get along with his new "partner."
| Starring | Michael J. Fox, James Woods, Stephen Lang, Annabella Sciorra, Delroy Lindo, Christina Ricci, Luis Guzman, LL Cool J, Penny Marshall |
|---|---|
| Director | John Badham |
| Studio | UNIVERSAL PICTURES UK |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 46 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Collections | 100 Cops & Robbers |
| Genres | Action/Adventure, Comedy |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Dubbed | German |
| Hearing-impaired | English |
| Subtitles | DVD: Danish, Dutch, Finnish, German, Norwegian, Swedish |
| Released | DVD: 24 Dec 2001 Production year: 1991 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (5)
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This above-average blaxploitation flick teams a triumvirate of black action stars — Jim Brown, Fred (Black Caesar) Williamson and ex karate champion Jim (Enter the Dragon) Kelly. The preposterous plot involves a bunch of neo-Nazis attempting to infect the water supply of several US cities with a serum that kills only black people. Director Gordon Parks Jr, who made the seminal Superfly, just about keeps a straight face amid the numerous shoot-outs and bouts of kung fu fighting. This is one of those films where you literally lose count of the number of people being killed. It's so gloriously over the top that it was itself spoofed in I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, Keenen Ivory Wayans's hilarious send-up of the blaxploitation genre, which ironically also starred Jim Brown.
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Action-man actor Nick Lang (Fox), tired of cartoon characters (his latest is 'Smoking Gunn II') wants to land the part... read more on Time Out
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Most helpful member's review
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
A nice little surprise
Being a fan of James Woods, I rented this looking for a nice, easy watch. As I always do, I checked out the trailer on the DVD before I watched it, and it instantly lowered my expectations. It really did the film no favours. I was about to send it straight back, but decided to give it a try. Thank God I did.
Starting a bit slow, the film finally starts to settle in and it's great. Who cares if it's just another odd couple cop movie. If it keeps you entertained, that's the main thing.
The serial killer bad guy, however, known as the Party Crasher, is not a good thing. the actor is terrible, and the dialogue usually results into him just bursting out laughing. Sure, you hate him. But, it's not for the right reasons. -
Most recent members' review
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Hidden Gold
I rented this with the expectation of being greatly let down. This only goes to show how people should make thier own opinions of movies, instead of avoiding them on the advise of critics.
This is no classic by any stretch of the imagination, but it is good entertainment. Woods & Fox have superb chemistry together and the action and comedy is executed well.
Give it a try you might be suprised. -
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