The Sweeper

THE SWEEPER is another solidly enjoyable action flick from PM Entertainment, made at the height of their powers when they were churning out one action-packed bit of spectacle after another. This one has a great opening car chase involving supporting actor Jeff Fahey, before the plot moves on to maverick cop C. Thomas Howell (virtually unrecognisable behind long hair and a beard) and his efforts to get revenge on the gangsters behind his father's death. The plot is nothing special here, but there are a couple of familiar faces in the supporting cast (Ed Lauter, Fulton Perry) and the action comes thick and fast, with all of the hand-to-hand combat, shoot-outs, vehicle chases, explosions, and big, slow motion crashes that PM used to shoot so well.

Why is it that a lot of low-budget, direct-to-video action movies are more fun that big-budget theatrical films? Take all the action in "The Rock," pump it with 2 trillion CCs of adrenaline, cast one of the boys from Spielberg's "E.T.," toss in a prologue with Jeff Fahey, and you've got "The Sweeper," a hard-charging crime drama with an action sequence occuring nearly every seven minutes. With everything from foot chases to violent shootouts, explosive car chases to a fight on a bi-plane, "The Sweeper" has got more action than most Hollywood films claiming to be action movies. Granted, it's not necessarily a well-written film (then again, there's hardly a film that is), but when it's got as much action and excitement as this film has, darn it - you just don't care. C. Thomas Howell is good, and you're bound to be fighting to catch your breath by the time the credits start rolling. Enjoy!

I was quite skeptical when I picked this up off of the shelf at the video store. This film (about which I have heard nothing before) was probably a direct-to-video release from a no name movie director and producer with a lead actor who isn't that well know. I have seen my share of cheesy low budget action movies before and they can be quite entertaining for how dumb they are. Take some Steven Seagal movies recently: they are embarrassingly bad but if you want to watch a crappy movie and get a laugh they are great.

I approached this movie with that very attitude only to be totally surprised by the all out action scenes and some remarkably awesome car chases. From the intro to the final scene this movie just rolls along with shootouts, chases, and of course, obligatory B-movie sex. What's more is that the action is better than most big-budget, star-laden productions, because the action here is just action, not so much obvious choreography, but s**t blowing up! Cars flipping over! One pistol in each hand and too much ammo! Guys flying back with bloody squibs bursting! Of course the action was, in fact, choreographed, but that factor is much less in your face then say... a Jerry Bruckheimer movie. Bad Boys 2 had a $130 million budget, 2 big stars, other known actors, a big director, and probably Hollywoods current most powerful, money-loaded producer (who has, in fact, made some good films), but that all didn't stop Bad Boys 2 from being a glamorous over done mess. An example from the other end of the spectrum would be Alone in the Dark. That film didn't have an astronomical budget ($20 million) but it was still to glammy and the effects seemed to be there just to show them off. And, in the end, the film was generally hated and now owns a very special spot on the IMDb bottom 100.

The Sweeper is not like that in anyway and, as far as mainstream action films go, it is more like Ronin. Though I must say Ronin is better than The Sweeper, as the story aspect in it is much better. Here the story is pretty much an excuse for all action, but if you want to watch an action film, will you really complain? Entertainment doesn't have to be story perfect. And both Ronin and The Sweeper spare the viewer the "big and overdone" aspect that Jerry Bruckheimer and his good friend Michael Bay love to specialize in. Also, ironically, Ronin didn't fare that well at the US box office despite having respectable actors and good director, because people just want fun and glam too much. I guess truly good action films are like heavy metal: everyone knows they exist, but other forms of the same thing dominate the charts. And both have their own loyal audience. 8/10

Rated R: violence and profanity

Having a past that involves his whole family getting killed and his wife leaving him (granted MANY years apart),an undercover cop is recruited by a secretive vigilante organization, after he proves to be a loose cannon.These are the times that I'm glad to have premium cable channels, as this film has no right to be this good. C. Thomas Howell is NOT a movie actor I particularly like. The writers were responsible for such crap-fests as "Direct Hit", "T-Force", and the Anna Nichole Smith travesty "Skyscraper". The I wouldn't give any of the Director previous movies the time of day. Long story short if I passed it upon a video store self, I'd keep walking, but one restless night when there was nothing else on TV & so I watched it. Was really surprised to find a pretty damn good action movie. Even Mr. Howell is pretty good in it.

My Grade: B+

Where I saw it: Showtime too

Eye Candy: Kristen Dalton as Rachel shows breasts in a shower/sex combo scene

Here we have a movie that carries on screen explosions to new lofty levels. Chase scenes with exploding propane tanks and gasoline trucks, create almost continuous mayhem. So what's not to like about "The Sweeper"? Quite a bit actually, starting with a most unlikable performance by C. Thomas Howell. Long boring diatribes about things as mundane as breakfast cereals permeate this disjointed, loosely connected mess of a film. In addition, continuity problems distract, such as where broad daylight suddenly turns into the blackest night. I say this, the stunts are definitely worth checking out, so simply fast forward between fire balls, and avoid the in between. - MERK