Mel Gibson, Danny Glover and Gary Busey in the Richard Donner movie ‘Lethal Weapon’

It’s not every day that an action and thriller movie is set against the backdrop of a holiday. It has become more common to see moves themed as romances or romantic comedies set against Christmas. The Richard Donner directed Lethal Weapon (1987) managed to mix the action thriller against a Christmas in the households of the characters that inhabit the movie’s universe. Today, we look into the happenings of Los Angeles policemen, one celebrating a birthday while the other recently lost his wife.

(From left, Blackie Dammett as Drug Dealer #3 and Mel Gibson as Sergeant Martin Riggs in the Richard Donner movie Lethal Weapon).

Mel Gibson portrays Sergeant Martin Riggs of the narcotics division of the police, who we meet in a borderline suicidal anxiety in his home. The audience sees Riggs in the depth of his feelings while looking at a framed picture of his wife with what presumably is his service firearm. Captain Ed Murphy and Dr. Stephanie Woods as a mental health practitioner argue over whether Riggs is in a proper condition to serve. Riggs is given a new partner in the face of this. Steve Kahan and Mary Ellen Trainor portrayed Captain Murphy and Dr. Woods, respectively.

(From left, Traci Wolfe as Rianne Murtaugh and Danny Glover as Sergeant Roger Murtaugh in the Richard Donner movie Lethal Weapon).

Sergeant Roger Murtaugh, as portrayed by Danny Glover, is introduced amongst his family on his birthday. Murtaugh’s kids surprise him as he soaks in the family bathtub with a birthday cake, which simultaneously embarrasses the father while showing him to be the consummate family man. By the next day, Murtaugh and Riggs are partners with experience in the Vietnam War and special forces of the military.

(From left, Mitchell Ryan as General Peter McAllister and Gary Busey as Mr. Joshua in the Richard Donner movie Lethal Weapon).

The past military lives of Murtaugh and Riggs come to relevance without discreet attempts by either man to specifically seek it out. This and other coincidences conspire when the daughter of Michael Hunsaker, a friend Murtaugh knew from the men’s time serving in Vietnam, dies in Los Angeles. Hunsaker had called Murtaugh just before Hunsaker’s daughter had suffered a death that seemingly had something to do with her life in an unsavory world. The possibility of there being more to this isn’t revealed until after Murtaugh and Riggs dig into their own professional relationship. Tom Atkins portrayed Michael Hunsaker.

(From left, Danny Glover as Sergeant Roger Murtaugh and Mel Gibson as Sergeant Martin Riggs in the Richard Donner movie Lethal Weapon).

The plot thickens with the introduction of Mitchell Ryan as General Peter McAllister and Gary Busey as Mr. Joshua. A criminal enterprise brings a genuine edge to the law enforcement perspective of the story that pairs with stylized comedic turns involving Riggs, Murtaugh, their relationship and the history both bring to their initial pairing as partners.

(From left, director Richard Donner and actor Mel Gibson on the set of the Richard Donner movie, Lethal Weapon).

The pace of Lethal Weapon works to a positive effect in setting a comprehensible story that feels entertaining. I found myself engaged and giggling at some of the silly humor while rooting for things to end well for both sergeants. The full impact of Lethal Weapon as directed by Richard Donner leads me to grant the movie 4.25-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.

Matt – Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Clint Eastwood and the Don Siegel movie ‘Escape from Alcatraz’

Malpaso Productions was founded in 1967 as the production company closely tied to Clint Eastwood. Don Siegel directed five movies for the company, with the movie Escape from Alcatraz (1979) serving as the fifth. This day we look at the movie of a prison break inspired by the J. Campbell Bruce book Escape from Alcatraz: The True Crime Classic.

(From left, Clint Eastwood as Frank Morris and Paul Benjamin as English in the Don Siegel movie Escape from Alcatraz).

Escape from Alcatraz opens with a boat ride onto Alcatraz Island for prisoner Frank Morris, as portrayed by Clint Eastwood. The early part of the film acclimates Morris and the audience to the reality of prison life, including a visit with the warden. Patrick McGoohan protrays the warden.

(From left, Bruce M. Fischer as Wolf Grace, Roberts Blossom as Chester ‘Doc’ Dalton and Frank Ronzio as Litmus in the Don Siegel movie Escape from Alcatraz).

It’s at mealtime the day after arrival that Murray becomes acquainted with some of the prison regulars, including English, Wolf Grace, Chester ‘Doc’ Dalton and Litmus. Paul Benjamin portrays English, who serves as a leader of sorts among the prisoners. Bruce M. Fischer offers an undercurrent animosity in portraying Wolf Grace. In portraying Chester ‘Doc’ Dalton and Litmus, Roberts Blossom and Frank Ronzio offer distinct and interesting color to what the prison experience is like.

(From left, Clint Eastwood as Frank Morris and Larry Hankin as Charley Butts in the Don Siegel movie Escape from Alcatraz).

You might consider now that the nature of prison life is great and all, but when do things turn into an attempted escape. The notion of this was always on the mind of movie protagonist Frank Morris. When Charley Butts, as portrayed by Larry Hankin is moved into the cell next to Frank Morris, the makings of a potential plan are started.

(From left, Fred Ward as John Anglin and Jack Thibeau as Clarence Anglin in the Don Siegel movie Escape from Alcatraz).

When John and Clarence Anglin, as portrayed by Fred Ward and Jack Thibeau were moved to Alcatraz, the plan became a degree more serious. The drama of how the administration of the prison functioned made for intense drama as the plan for escape proceeded. The drama as the warden performed cruel and psychologically harmful things to the Alcatraz inmates prompted a certain stick it to him feeling for the audience and inmates alike. Then there’s the question of how things work out.

(From left, Hank Brandt as Associate Warden and Patrick McGoohan as Warden in the Don Siegel movie Escape from Alcatraz).

I’ll leave it to you to watch the movie Escape from Alcatraz to see if the folks aiming to escape made it out of the prison. I’ll leave it to you to determine what became of the inmates and that were not attempting to escape. The realism of the filming combined with filming that occurred onsite at Alcatraz Island offered to the feeling the feeling of true crime that the movie, as well as the book it was based on, were meant to portray. I give Escape from Alcatraz as directed by Don Siegel 3.75-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.

Matt – Wednesday, March 3, 2021