Double Frappe

DOUBLE TAP features Heather Locklear in a much grittier than usual role. As FBI agent, Katherine Hanson, she finds herself up against a mysterious hitman whose signature is that of the title.

Hanson and her team must track this person, before every other criminal in town winds up dead! This gets complicated when Hanson gets a bit too close to her quarry.

This is a surprisingly effective thriller, and Ms. Locklear is far better than one might, at first, expect.

Actually, the only complaint is due to the lighting. The late 1990's ushered in the whole every-scene-must-be-dark phenomenon. This film is no exception. So, unless the characters are outside, in full sunlight, they're always cloaked in smoky, shadowy dimness! Even in the daytime! Ugh!

In spite of this, the movie is recommended...

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.

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.

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.

This film was a pleasant surprise to watch. Heather Locklear was realistic and hot as the tough FBI agent with an introspective demeanor. She shows her range, with performances from this film to the cheesy Melrose Place. However, really, do FBI agents actually look like her and Gillian Anderson? The plot was believable and fast-paced, with Stephen Rea as the methodical/conscientious/efficient thug-killer. Some of his hits were pretty imaginative. The score could have been better, as well as the supporting cast. 7 out of 10.