Speed (1994)
The simple, one-sentence plot: Keanu Reeves (Point Break, A Walk in the Clouds) plays LAPD SWAT officer Jack Traven, who is desperately trying to thwart a madman’s plans to explode a city bus with a bomb...
by Vincent Leo · Published April 7, 2013 · Last modified December 27, 2018
The simple, one-sentence plot: Keanu Reeves (Point Break, A Walk in the Clouds) plays LAPD SWAT officer Jack Traven, who is desperately trying to thwart a madman’s plans to explode a city bus with a bomb...
Neil McCauley (De Niro, Casino) is a professional criminal who has earned a living with big “scores”. After pulling off an armored car heist in which three guards are killed, he and his cohorts find they...
2010s / Action / Drama / Thriller
by Vincent Leo · Published November 21, 2012 · Last modified August 8, 2018
Written and directed by David Ayer (Street Kings, SWAT), the filmmaker with a special interest in the workings of the Los Angeles PD, the city where he was raised, in End of Watch, he has directed his...
1980s / Comedy / Mystery / Thriller
by Vincent Leo · Published May 31, 2009 · Last modified December 9, 2019
As with so many movies that would be written and starring SNL alums, Dragnet is a case of an amusing sketch comedy idea dragged out beyond its ability to truly entertain in a feature film. ...
1990s / Action / Comedy / Martial Arts
by Vincent Leo · Published August 14, 2007 · Last modified February 25, 2019
Consul Han’s (Tzi Ma, Chain Reaction) 11-year-old daughter is kidnapped and held for a $50 million ransom. The FBI are on the case, but he flies in an old friend and police inspector named Lee...
by Vincent Leo · Published February 11, 2007 · Last modified February 11, 2019
It’s difficult to divorce Lethal Weapon 2 from the first Lethal Weapon, as it assumes a certain familiarity with the characters that is crucial in order to understand their nature and motivation, as well as to relate...
When a screwball spoof is successful, it is stupid in an intelligent kind of way. Loaded Weapon 1 is just plain stupid. While a few of the quips and sight gags might elicit a mild chuckle...
1980s / Action / Horror / Science Fiction
by Vincent Leo · Published January 4, 2006 · Last modified December 23, 2020
Screenwriter Jim Kouf came up with the plot of The Hidden after was musing about the escalating reports of random acts of violence he watched on the evening news. Often the perpetrator is described...
1980s / Action / Comedy / Thriller
by Vincent Leo · Published April 19, 2005 · Last modified May 20, 2019
Setting the standard for cop buddy movies for years to come, Lethal Weapon may not have revolutionized the genre, but definitely proves to be an exceptionally efficient example of how the formula can work when the...
1990s / Action / Horror / Science Fiction / Thriller
by Vincent Leo · Published September 12, 2004 · Last modified May 14, 2019
Predator 2 shows how important star charisma and crisp direction are to an action film, as the first one had it and this one doesn’t. Predator was an exciting and very interesting take on a very simple...
Reviews from film writer Vince Leo, covering all eras and genres of films from classics to the latest releases.
Film reviews from Vince Leo, from classics to new releases, since 1996.