THE HARD WAY
US, 1991, 111 minutes, Colour,.
James Woods, Michael J. Fox, Annabella Sciorra, Stephen Lang, Penny Marshall, Christina Ricci.
Directed by John Badham.
The Hard Way is a tongue-in-cheek action show. It is an enjoyable star vehicle for James Woods and Michael J. Fox, each playing their expected type with the ironic contrast between the two. Woods plays his intense policeman. Fox plays the lightweight Hollywood star, star of a series called Smoking Gunn 2. When Fox is asked to be a star in a police thriller, he goes to New York and is placed under Woods' protective care while he is investigating a serial killer, the Party Crasher.
The film does well with the contrasts between the two ways of life - parodying the film world as well parodying the police world (while getting the maximum benefit out of car chases and action sequences).
The film has a good supporting cast with Steven Lang as the Party Crasher, Annabella Sciorra (in an early role) as Woods' girlfriend. In the supporting cast are Christina Ritchie as Bonnie, Penny Marshall as Angie the agent and Kathy Najimy as the film star's assistant.
The New York settings are well used and the overall effect is a satisfying Hollywood entertainment. Director John Badham made such films as War Games, Blue Thunder and Short Circuit in the early '80s. He then moved to action adventures like Stakeout, Another Stakeout, Bird on a Wire, The Drop Zone. (His earlier films had a wider range: Saturday Night Fever, Dracula.)
1.The entertainment value of police thrillers? Parodies of the movies? Putting them together in one film?
2.The stunts and action in widescreen style? The New York settings? The musical score?
3.The title, police and their work, the hard work of acting? The two stars working together?
4.Michael J. Fox's style as Nick Lang? The background of Fox and his film and TV work? His appearance and persona? The billboard in Times Square? The movies, the trailer? The world of film? His image? Spoilt? Life in Los Angeles? The discussions with his agent? Hopes, the part in the police thriller? TV and imitation? Arrival in New York, the moustache? His glib style? The police chief being a fan? With Moss? The clash between the two? Action, the ghetto, mistakes? The meeting with Susan, the pizza, the escort? Handcuffed, the escape? Dinner, the subway? The heroics? The growing friendship with Susan, saving her? The two ways of life, talking with Moss, change of attitude? The set-up and his thinking he had killed someone? Leaving, his conscience, returning? The crasher? His involvement, the cinema, the car, television and the finale? His movie? Michael J. Fox and playacting, comedy, serious?
5.The contrast with James Woods as Moss, the NYPD? His personality, nervous energy? His speed of action, the chase? The Party Crasher and the killing at the disco? The truck at the door? His relationship with Susan, standing her up, the job, her anger, his anger? The ghetto and his work being spoilt? The information about the Crasher? The gun, the set-up, the siege? The failure? The pizza? Subway, tough? The decision to set Nick up? His return? The chase, the cinema, the irony of the ending and Nick modelling himself on Moss for the movie?
6.Susan and her daughter, tough, nice, her attraction towards Nick? The subway? The danger, the rescue? The truth? Staying?
7.Themes of police and authority? The background of buddy movies, partners? Playing on the themes, the irony? The picture of the police precinct?
8.The Crasher and his style, the dare, television and Moss, the gun, the siege, the cinema, the crash and the car? The finale on the billboard in Times Square? His death?
9.The background of New York violence, guns, gangs?
10.The contrast with the world of Los Angeles, Hollywood, agents? Lang's Girl Friday?
11.An enjoyable mockery of movies - with the serious tone? Flip as well as action? Humanising the action show?
