The Park Is Mine

I saw this on HBO in the mid '80s and I loved it. Tommy Lee Jones was so cool and I had no problem buying the premise. It was kind of like Assault on Precinct 13 or The Warriors in its cartoonish depiction of violence. I remember especially the part where he's in full military garb and grease paint on his face with an arsenal of weapons around his body and he tells a woman to leave the park because its filled with "thugs and perverts and weirdos." Check it out if you can, it won't change your life, but it's good.

Think of Rambo, but more tone down in the violence and having a political angle focusing on how certain situations / individuals are undeservedly swept under the rug. 'The Park is Mine' is a passable, up-tempo little made-for-TV feature. Even with it's firework shows, expensive set-up and unique setting with , it's still merely low scale where at the heart it's all about the one man standing up for the underprivileged. At times it can manipulate, but manages to be respectable and hardly overwrought. It can be a fascinating tussle between Tommy Lee Jones' character and political big-heads, as what eventuates is a circus-show for the crowds and media. Some actions are a bit unbelievable; however you seem to take it with a grain of slat.

A Vietnam veteran takes over the plans of his now deceased war-time buddy (who committed suicide) who had thought-up an idea to take over Central Park for 72 hours, before Veterans Day. He eventually goes ahead and sets the plan in motion, where he doesn't intend to hurt anyone, but to only grab everyone's attention. However some powerful figures don't like this and try to change the situation (by any dirty means) in their favour, so society don't side with the vet and paint them in the wrong. Also a media reporter also finds herself caught up in it all when she tries to get closer to the action.

His definitely gotta plan. Packed with ammo, a lot of ammo. The material is formulaic, but tactically trimmed to suit Steven Hilliard Stern's tidy direction and sustained tension. I found it to get better the further along it goes, as the tricks and themes turn to the real thing. 'The Tangerine Dream' contributes a bellowing score that overwhelms the joint, but I don't believe to be as bad as a lot seem to make sound. Performances shape up pretty well. Tommy Lee Jones superbly instills a hard, tough shell to his character, but one we can feel and root for too. He's no troublesome, or unstable person, but someone that just wants to make a difference. A wonderfully affable Helen Shaver adds plenty of kick to her role and Yaphet Kotto provides some serious class. Lawrence Dane is picture-perfect as the scummy Commissioner.

You might say this is a passionate action movie. Probably did not cost much to make, but is somewhat interesting. Tommy Lee Jones plays a veteran from the Vietnamese conflict and he wants to raise awareness to how veterans, the elderly and underprivileged are overlooked. He decides to take Central Park hostage. Then he is forced to defend his position with gunfire. Who said all is fair in love and war?

Also in the cast are Helen Shaver and Yaphet Kotto. Not too far fetched; and this movie does grab your attention.

The premise of this movie - a lone ex-soldier unraveling a plan to take over New York's Central Park singlehanded and managing to keep the police at bay over several days - does seem kind of hard to swallow. However, with the way the movie is executed, you'll almost believe it could happen. The movie does have a good amount of merit to it. While it's a mid-'80s Canadian movie, the production values are surprisingly good; this movie obviously had a budget. Tommy Lee Jones gives a fairly commanding performance at the Vietnam vet with a plan, and there are other good performances by Helen Shaver as the curious news reporter, and Yaphet Kotto as a chief police officer (though he's given little to do until near the ending.) Director Steven Hilliard Stern creates some good action sequences and keeps things moving at a rapid rate. Though maybe the movie is a little bit too swift; we hardly learn anything about Jones' character at the beginning, and before the twenty minute mark he's already taken over the park. Some people may be offended that Jones' Vietnam vet character is yet another cinematic Vietnam vet who is a "loser" (unemployed, estranged from his wife, etc.), despite surveys that show that most Vietnam vets in real life are adjusted and happy. But if you can look over this "loser" portrayal, chances are you'll find some enjoyment with this movie.

Tommy Lee Jones, in an updated version of Taxi Driver, plays a disillusioned, disenchanted Vietnam Vet who only truly feels at home while on patrol. He takes over Central Park in downtown New York City in a believable scenario; seeking control, and seeking recognition, he dominates the city by shutting down the Park.

Jones becomes the indigenous guerrilla, the one who controls the fight by setting the scene and drawing the inept Police into his traps. An excellent movie, ahead of its time, imagine a very human Rambo in downtown New York. The movie does not have a neat ending, like Taxi Driver or even Dog Day afternoon. Instead, it ends as you might like it too.