Dead Bang

14. DEAD BANG (action, 1989) Det. Beck (Don Johnson) is an LA cop whose life is falling to pieces. His wife has just left and his hitting the bottle again. Assigned to a cop killing that seems routine, Beck sees his chance at redemption by immersing himself in the case. The murder has ties to a ruthless and tightly controlled Neo-Nazi sect. He starts a cross-country chase that inevitably leads him to rural America. With the help of an FBI agent, Beck is intent on exposing a network of ruthless criminals.

Critique: "An exercise in futility", that's how one critic summed up Don Johnson's acting. With a squeaky voice, boyish looks, and sparse acting (plus an endless array of 'cool' wardrobes), he became something of a cult favorite playing Det. Stubbs in the hit TV-show Miami Vice (1984-89). Since the end of that show, his movie career has been a total loss. . .well, almost.

At least he can look back proudly on his work in John Frankenheimer's 'Dead Bang': A slick, old style, slam-bang action film. Taking his Stubbs character to new heights (or lows for that matter) he plays the consummate 'burn-out cop'. He has been given a solid script to work from, professional direction by old-hand Frankenheimer, and a good supporting cast including John Forsythe as his FBI partner.

Supposedly based on the real life experiences of LA Det. Jerry Beck, this is Johnson's only film where he proved to be more than "an exercise in futility".

QUOTE: "I got a splitting' headache, I'm seeing double and. . .s#!t! I think I'm gonna throw up again."

John Frankenheimer really outdid himself when he directed this film. What an accomplishment from the director of Birdman Of Alcatraz, The Manchurian Candidate, Seven Days In May, The Train and Black Sunday. Imagine a scene showing the films hero throwing up all over someone! What innovative filmaking. Seriously this is a typical cop thriller. Without the foul words it could have been an episode of Miami Vice. Don Johnson plays an alcoholic, down on his luck, loose cannon on the deck cop chasing white supremists through the Southwest. Johnson is an intense hero even if he isn't likeable in some ways. Theres a wonderful scene where he throws a fit after talking to his ex-wife. Theres a good foot chase involving several car accidents as well. My favorite part though is the one where he threatens the police shrink he compares to Woody Allen. I can understand why they never made Dead Bang 2 but this film is still worth your time if you like cop thrillers.

Being a Don Johnson fan, I liked this film. It's also got a good director(John Frankenheimer). Johnson's a Dirty Harry-type cop this time with all the stereotypical trimmings of the role i.e. divorced, drinks, never sees his kids, no personal life etc. This movie's got action, it's witty, funny, satirical, and it's fact-based but it's not Serpico. William Forsythe is particularly laughable as an FBI straight-man.

This crime drama was barely released by the studio, so not many got to see it. It IS, however, a cut or two above your usual routine action film, with an absorbing (and topical) story, good acting and solid direction by veteran director John Frankenheimer. Not a classic, but there are many WORSE films out there. If you're only used to seeing him on "Miami Vice" as the ultra-cool Sonny Crockett, Johnson may surprise you here with a his performance....he's gritty, funny, flawed and very real (both the character and story here are fact-based). The scene where he vomits on a suspect after a blocks-long foot chase (he's hung over from a previous night's alcohol binge) is a classic....gross, but hilarious.

This movie plays like a typical good detective novel. Except for the hero every character is totally one dimensional and the well written story doesn't really deliver any big surprises. This being said, this film delivers decent acting, a compelling plot, and polished Hollywood production value. Frankenheimer definitely knows his way around the genre and he gets the most of Don Johnson's much-maligned acting chops by casting him in a role which perfectly suits Johnson's trademark 'maverick' cop character.