US (1987): Action/Crime/Comedy/Thriller
Mel Gibson set aside his art-house credentials to star as a crazy cop paired with a stable one (Danny Glover) in this full-blown 1987 Richard Donner action picture. The most violent film in the series (which includes three sequels -- 1989, 1992 & 1998), it is also the edgiest and most interesting. After Gibson's character jumps off a building handcuffed to a man, and Gary Busey (as a cold, efficient enforcer) lets his hand get burned without flinching, there is a sense that anything can happen, and it usually does. The cast also features Mitch Ryan, Tom Atkins, Darlene Love, Traci Wolfe, Jackie Swanson and Damon Hines. Donner's strangely messy visual and audio style doesn't make a lot of aesthetic sense, but it stuck with all four movies. (Warner Bros.) (Tom Keogh, Amazon.com)
1 nomination
· Sound 1987: Les Fresholtz, Dick Alexander, Vern Poore, Bill Nelson
