Blackjack (1998 film)

*Blackjack*
Blackjack
	Official release poster
Written by	Peter Lance
Directed by	John Woo
Starring	Dolph Lundgren
Music by	Micky Erbe; Maribeth Solomon;
Country of origin	United States; Canada;
Original language	English
Production
Executive producers	John Woo; Terence Chang; Christopher Godsick; Peter Lance;
Producer	John Ryan
Cinematography	Bill Wong
Editor	Ron Wisman
Running time	108 minutes
Production companies	Alliance Communications; WCG Entertainment Productions; Baton; USA Pictures;
Budget	$7-8 million
Original release
Network	USA Network
Release	May 12, 1998

Blackjack (also known as John Woo's Blackjack) is a 1998 Canadian-American made-for-television action film and an unsuccessful pilot directed by John Woo and starring Dolph Lundgren as a leukophobic former United States Marshal turned bodyguard who hunts down an assassin.

Plot

After crime boss Kamenev (Géza Kovács) threatens his daughter Casey (Padraigin Murphy), casino owner Bobby Stern (Peter Keleghan) calls in his friend, retired U.S. Marshal Jack Devlin (Dolph Lundgren), to protect her. Devlin fends off a squadron of Kamenev's henchmen sent to abduct Casey from the Stern mansion, but is temporarily blinded by a flashbang grenade in the process; he also gets shot in the leg. While Jack and Casey survive, Devlin develops a debilitating phobia of the color white (leukophobia) due to the traumatic experience of being blinded while fighting for his life (although Casey acted as his eyes).

Some time later, back home in New York City with his roommate/sidekick Thomas (Saul Rubinek), Jack is receiving treatment for his phobia from psychiatrist Dr. Rachel Stein (Kate Vernon). A lawyer arrives at Devlin's apartment, telling him that Bobby Stern and his wife have died in an accident, and that Jack is now Casey's legal guardian. Shortly after this, Jack's old friend, fellow retired U.S. Marshal Tim Hastings (Fred Williamson), is badly wounded while protecting a rising-star fashion model, Cinder James (Kam Heskin) from an insane, obsessive killer (Phillip MacKenzie), and left comatose in the hospital. Jack takes on Tim's job as bodyguard out of loyalty to his friend. Jack now has to juggle his duty as father figure to Casey, coping with his leukophobia, his difficult personal relationship with Cinder, and his rivalry with fellow bodyguard Don Tragle (Andrew Jackson), all while protecting Cinder from further assassination attempts.

Jack discovers that the killer is, in fact, Cinder's deranged, abusive ex-husband, Rory Gaines, a failed actor. Jack and Thomas manage to track Gaines to an abandoned distillery but, forewarned of their arrival, Gaines manages to incapacitate both of them and tie them up. Gaines comes close to murdering Thomas, but Jack manages to cut through his bonds in time to save him. Gaines exploits Jack's leukophobia to escape once more. Tragle conspires with Cinder's manager, Derek Smythe (Albert Schultz), to seize control of the bodyguard agency, forcing Jack out of his job, and leaving Cinder dangerously exposed at a big fashion show.

Jack manages to gain entry to the event, and keeps Cinder covered with a rifle as she walks the catwalk. Gaines appears in disguise as one of the fashion show's costumed performers, and shoots a pistol, then draws attention to Jack- who is there illicitly, and armed- to create a distraction, allowing him to abduct Cinder, who he takes back to his distillery hideout. Gaines compels Cinder to have "one last dance" with him; as he is about to stab her, Jack appears and engages Gaines in a shootout. Overcoming his leukophobia- the room is hung with white curtains- Jack shoots Gaines dead, saving Cinder. Some time later, Tim has recovered from his wounds; Jack and Cinder part ways with a kiss, and go their separate ways.

Cast

Dolph Lundgren as U.S. Marshal Jack Devlin
Kate Vernon as Dr. Rachel Stein
Phillip MacKenzie as Rory Gaines
Kam Heskin as Cinder James
Fred Williamson as Tim Hastings
Andrew Jackson as Don Tragle
Padraigin Murphy as Casey
Tony De Santis as Detective Trini
Albert Schultz as Derek Smythe
Janet Bailey as Connie Hastings
Saul Rubinek as Thomas

Production

The film was intended as a backdoor pilot for a television series, but was not picked up. Its September 15, 1998 showing on the USA Network garnered a 2.7 national rating.^[2]

Reception

Critical response

TV Guide reviewed the film at 2 stars out of 4 and noted: "Though it boasts several rousing action sequences, the film is sabotaged by lackluster acting, thin characterization, and a derivative storyline."^[3]

References

^ DOLPH :: Blackjack (TV)
^ "Cable's Top 25: People's Choice". Broadcasting & Cable. Vol. 128, no. 40. Washington: Cahners Business Information. 28 September 1998. p. 44 – via Nielsen Media Research.
^ "Blackjack".

External links

Blackjack at IMDb

[1] DOLPH :: Blackjack (TV)

[2] "Cable's Top 25: People's Choice". Broadcasting & Cable. Vol. 128, no. 40. Washington: Cahners Business Information. 28 September 1998. p. 44 – via Nielsen Media Research.

[3] "Blackjack".

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[3]

v t e Films by John Woo
Directed	The Young Dragons (1974, also wrote) The Dragon Tamers (1975, also wrote) Princess Chang Ping (1976, also wrote) Hand of Death (1976, also wrote) Money Crazy (1977, also wrote) Hello, Late Homecomers (1978, also wrote) Follow the Star (1978) Last Hurrah for Chivalry (1979, also wrote and produced) From Riches to Rags (1980, also wrote) Laughing Times (1980, also wrote) To Hell with the Devil (1982, also wrote) Plain Jane to the Rescue (1982) The Time You Need a Friend (1984, also wrote and produced) Run, Tiger, Run (1984, also produced) Heroes Shed No Tears (1984, also wrote) A Better Tomorrow (1986, also wrote and produced) A Better Tomorrow II (1987, also wrote) The Killer (1989, also wrote) Just Heroes (1989) Bullet in the Head (1990, also wrote and produced) Once a Thief (1991, also wrote) Hard Boiled (1992, also wrote) Hard Target (1993) Broken Arrow (1996) Once a Thief (1996) Face/Off (1997) Blackjack (1998) Mission: Impossible 2 (2000) Windtalkers (2002, also produced) Paycheck (2003, also produced) All the Invisible Children (2005, segment "Song Song and Little Cat") Red Cliff (2008, also wrote and produced) Reign of Assassins (2010, also produced) The Crossing (2014, also produced) Manhunt (2017) Silent Night (2023, also produced) The Killer (2024, also produced)
Written only	A Better Tomorrow (2010)
Produced only	A Better Tomorrow III: Love & Death in Saigon (1989) Peace Hotel (1995) Somebody Up There Likes Me (1996) The Big Hit (1998) Bulletproof Monk (2003) Blood Brothers (2007) Appleseed Saga: Ex Machina (2007) Seediq Bale (2011)