The Sweeper - L'exécuteur

The title of the movie doesn't do justice for what the movie is about. If I had it my way, I would have called this movie "Fire and Explosions!" Half the movie has something or other blowing up and catching on fire. Almost a hundred people are shot and killed by either C. Thomas Howell or one of the other hit-men. The acting and direction are good. Surprisingly, for a straight to video release, the movie has excellent production value equal to many Hollywood movies. This is one of C. Thomas Howell better film as he holds most of the movie together. The only problem I had with the movie was its story. Like one of Howell's victims that gets shot up with a number of bullets, this story had a lot of holes in it. A typical story for many action movies you see late at night on Cinemax, The Sweeper is one of th better films to watch. A movie for your typical guy who likes explosions, fire, bullets flying and nudity, The Sweeper is terrific.

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!

C. Thomas Howell stars as Mark Goddard, a cop who witnessed his father Dale (The always welcome Jeff Fahey) murdered by mobsters, however as the lone wolf survivor, it's a psychological problem that carries over into his police career, after killing his ninth suspect, Goddard is asked to join a vigilante squad that wipe out the scum of the earth, however when Goddard suspects the squad had a hand in his father's murder, it's one-man-army time with C. Thomas Howell! The Sweeper, believe it or not is far more well made than you would expect. You go in expecting an overall terrible movie but come out somewhat surprised with the overall over the top approach the director treats the material with. The Sweeper comes from the kitchen-sink mentality in the way its action sequences are conducted. In other words this is a throw-back to the 80's, where action punctuated everything. However what is most shocking is that The Sweeper actually stays consistently entertaining even in its character development sequences and C.Thomas Howell makes for a decent action hero, although his haircut is pretty bad. Overall movies like The Sweeper succeed in delivering what you mainly expect and although the movie has ludicrous moments, The Sweeper works as an adequate action vehicle for C. Thomas Howell. Also for the bargain bin, this far exceeds any expectations.

* *1/2 out of 4-(Pretty good)

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

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.