Turk 182

As far as films of the 80s go, this is very much of its time, with the acting -- featuring an INCREDIBLY young looking Timothy Hutton! -- the script, the setting, the direction and even the music.

However, this is a very enjoyable "cute" movie about a the brother [Hutton] of a firefighter [Urich] who was injured at a fire and saved a little girl after having a couple of drinks.

Refused compensation, the brother sets off to ruin the election campaign of the mayor of New York with a series of sensational graffiti stunts.

The love interest is predictable, but this is still a fun film without getting serious -- it knows its place.

The Paul Sorvino sequence itself is classic. Timothy Hutton makes a fine hero for this ultimate feel-good movie. I've seen this 3 times, and enjoyed it more each time. Robert Culp is perfect as the mayor. Darren McGavin and Peter Boyle are both wonderful in their supporting roles, as are Robert Urich and David Wohl -- even though they are given less to do. I see a couple people referring to this as a turkey, and I'd like to know why. I thought the characters are very true to themselves, and the relationships were well-thought out, well-paced and well-executed. Forget the critics, just watch and enjoy.

...the directors of this film hired the Columbia University marching band (or several members of it, anyway, including myself) to be the band for the scene at the Queensborough Bridge. Despite having been in the movie, I only watched it for the first time last night, and did it ever stink! We were definitely the highlight of the movie, despite being made to wear those stupid polyester red bandanas to make our official blue and white uniforms more colorful. It was torture to have to wait for our scene, near the end of the movie. What were they thinking when they wrote this dog?? I'm almost glad they didn't bother to credit us...

Back in the day I was given a bit of practical political advice that I follow to this day. Cops are controversial by the nature of their job. But everyone loves a fireman because they're only there to help, everyone is glad to see them and want them to get their just due when they're injured. Take up the case of firemen and you'll never go wrong.

Something that Robert Culp playing a New York City Mayor modeled on John Lindsay should have realized. But he's an arrogant sort and that becomes his downfall.

Turk 182 is the call sign of graffiti artist Timothy Hutton the younger brother of firefighter Robert Urich who is injured off duty when he performs a rescue, it's what firemen do. Then he goes through all kinds of fecal matter trying to get a disability pension. Hutton does not give up and when he's rebuffed at City Hall he wages a one man guerrilla war on the city administration leaving all kinds of graffiti in very public places impugning the integrity and efficiency of the current administration, always with the call sign Turk 182. Turk was Urich's nickname and his ID number with the Fire Department was 182. Takes them a while to figure that out.

Timothy Hutton gives a fine performance as a working class ethic Irish kid from Windsor Terrace one of the last truly ethnic Irish neighborhoods in New York City. But he's the lead in a fine ensemble of players who really make this a New York City story.

Speaking of police there's a contrasting pair in this film with Darren McGavin as a very wise veteran and Peter Boyle as this homicidal maniac of a detective who takes the graffiti activity of Hutton almost as a personal insult. I've seen examples of both in my day. I should also point out the performance of Kim Cattrall as the social worker who gets personally involved in Urich's case when she falls for Hutton.

Turk 182 is a personal favorite of mine in terms of telling stories about New York City. A pity it's not out on DVD or Blu-Ray.

I saw this one a couple years ago on Cinemax, and didn't think it was half bad.

Sure, the plot dragged at times, but how can you hate Turk 182? The film makers had good intentions.

Basically, the plot revolves around a guy (Timothy Hutton) and his brother (Robert Urich) who is injured trying to save children from a fire. Because the guy was intoxicated at the time, the city refuses to foot his medical bills, regardless of the fact that he saved these poor kids from certain death. So, the Timothy Hutton character heckles the mayor by covering the city of New York in graffiti (long story).

Overall, I thought it was a cool idea that was, for the most part, well executed by the cast and crew. So, if you can't find anything good on TV, check out Turk 182.

Zimmerman flew and Tyler knew! :-)