Objectif Central Park

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.

I can't imagine Tommy Lee Jones in anything bad... His performance here is solid and believable although a bit hammy at times.... What I like about this movie is the story... With the current state of affairs in the USA at the present time...(2007) It seems very relevant...

Everyone seems to be asleep .. Too preoccupied with their cell phones and Ipods to notice what is going on around them. This movie really grabs you... Too bad this doesn't happen in real life! You still find yourself rooting for the guy who you know is doing wrong but his justification is beyond what is legal.. it's simply the right thing to do! Good supporting cast and Helen Shaver does a good job as the objective reporter. It is an old theme but still a very powerful one and all the key elements are there. Sometimes you have to put your selfish desires aside and find the strength to do what is right even though it may not be popular.

If you like a story with a solid message, decent acting and a few thrills for good measure, I recommend The Park Is Mine!

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.

"The Park is Mine" is a modest yet fervent and well-intended mid-80's TV drama with a noble underlying message and a fabulous lead performance by Tommy Lee Jones. Basically speaking the film belongs in the thriller sub category of 'trouble with Vietnam veterans', but this one is of a different caliber. There where most exploitation movies deal with disillusioned veterans going bonkers and heading out on a violent murder rampage, "The Park is Mine" tries to implement a more emotional and humane approach. Sure the whole premise is completely implausible and even somewhat preposterous, but if you switch off your sense of logic for a good hour and a half, you definitely won't be bored! This is the second time Tommy Lee Jones depicts an embittered Vietnam veteran, after his role in the dark and gritty "Rolling Thunder". Mitch is an aimlessly roaming vet in New York. He can't keep a job, his wife divorced him and he doesn't get any respect from anybody is this damned city where everyone simply minds his own business. When his terminally ill war buddy commits suicide, Mitch finds out he was planning an attention- grabbing initiative in Central Park. Mitch executes the plans and takes control over the park. His peaceful but nevertheless explosive attempt to make people more aware of life receives a lot of interest from the media and support from the populace, but it's quite an embarrassment for the authorities – and particularly for the deputy mayor – so they try to eliminate Mitch in any possible way they can. There are some nice photographic shots and explosions, but this is primarily Tommy Lee Jones' movie! He's excellent, charismatic and quite overpowering with his painted face and mirror sunglasses. His great acting compensates even for the stupidest plot twists (Vietcong mercenary in Central Park? !?) and the clichéd ending. Jones also receives pretty good support from Yaphet Kotto as the likable copper and Peter Dvorsky as the sleazy deputy mayor.

Like many of the Reagan era action movies, it is rampantly xenophobic, incrediably incoherent, and in no way grounded in reality. Tommy Lee (not the hair band drummer)plays a Vet who takes over central park to generate sympathy for the forgotten soldiers of that war. A noble sentiment, but a man would have to be completely out of his gourd to attempt that...its not like the park has a series of fortified bunkers and a moat around it!!! The most insane plot twist (no one is in suspense about this piece anyway) is that the "authorities" hire two Asian assasins to take out the hero. What the $%^#$^! is that all about? It is just one of the many warped plot contrivances that earn this work a lofty six on the Tango and Cash scale of implausability. Forgive the spelling.