Double Tap

Double Tap was a film relegated to HBO's cheesy Friday night premieres and that's a shame because it deserved so much more. It stars Heather Locklear (!), no I did not stutter, as a FBI agent involved in a sting operation who gets caught in the middle of a hitman's grocery list, seemingly he's taking down all the drug dealers in town. Along for the ride is Kevin Gage and Mykelti Williamson from Heat and the great Peter Greene. What distinguishes this effort is its terse dialogue, vivid characterizations, and stylish camera moves (loved the score by Moby). Double Tap should be held as a model for what a B movie low on cash but high on content can do. And Premiere magazine liked Montana, ha! This is the real deal folks.

Yet another movie that I had never heard about prior to sitting down to watch it. So I suppose writers Erik Saltzgaber, Alfred Gough, Miles Millar and director Greg Yaitanes had every opportunity to entertain and impress me with this 1997 crime thriller.

The writers put together a fair enough script that started out nicely and actually kept a good pace throughout the course of the movie. It was an interesting storyline, though it was a bit generic. I am not saying that it was a bad thing, but I just could have wished for a couple of twists to the storyline along the way, to thrown a curveball at the audience and thus make it less generic. But it definitely was an entertaining enough movie and watchable movie.

The cast ensemble in the movie is quite good. I have to say that I didn't believe that Heather Locklear was capable of carrying a movie such as this with her acting talent. But she proved me wrong, because she definitely carried the role and the movie quite nicely. The movie also has the likes of Mykelti Williamson, Stephen Rea, Terrence Howard, Peter Greene, Robert LaSardo and A Martinez on the cast list. So you have some familiar faces on the screen. The acting performances in "Double Tap" were good.

While "Double Tap" was watchable, I have to say that I doubt that the movie will ever grace my screen a second time. Why? Well, because there just simply wasn't enough meat on the storyline, and the generic aspect of the narrative just doesn't support more than a single viewing.

My rating of director Greg Yaitanes's 1997 movie "Double Tap" lands on a five out of ten stars.

Stephen Rea is a philosophical gardener. Because gardening doesn't pay enough, I suppose, he's also a hit man with a signature of leaving a rabbit's foot next to his victims. Heather Locklear is in some law enforcement agency, although which is never quite clear. While she's trying to track him down, he's hired to kill her, so of course they fall in love which is never consummated.

It's a mildly ridiculous script, but director Greg Yaitanes manages some nice touches, like filming Miss Locklear in her group scenes so she is tiny. The leads underact, there are a few performers who will later become notable, like Mykelti Williamson, and the 90- minutes slid by before I noticed.

It doesn't sound like much. A direct-to-video flick with a generic title, starring Heather Locklear. However, Stephen Rea -not the type of actor you would expect in this kind of movie- gives a full-fledged characterization of a hit-man with a conscience and idiosyncratic habits (and I don't mean the double tap to the head of each of his victims; his other skills include gardening...). His relationship with the FBI agent played by Heather Locklear rings true. Add to this a flamboyant directorial style and a good soundtrack, and you get one of the better B movies of the year. Rating: 7.

Stars Stephen Rea, oscar nominated for Crying Game. Does a lot of vampire, underworld stuff. Heather Locklear, model and star of Dynasty, TJ Hooker. Locklear is agent Hanson, who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. When her meeting with some shady characters is interrupted, she is hauled in to figure out what's going on. Rea is Cypher, assassin for hire. But when she finally tracks him down, things are MUCH more complicated than they seem. Who are the good guys anyway? It's barely okay. Like a dog chasing its own tail. Gets weird towards the end. It deserved better. Directed by Greg Yaitanes, who does a LOT of television series work.