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Action Jackson (1988 film)

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This article is about the 1988 film. For other uses, see Action Jackson (disambiguation).
Action Jackson
File:Action Jackson.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byCraig R. Baxley
Written byRobert Reneau
Produced byJoel Silver
StarringCarl Weathers
Craig T. Nelson
Vanity
Sharon Stone
Thomas F. Wilson
CinematographyMatthew F. Leonetti
Edited byMark Helfrich
Music byHerbie Hancock
Michael Kamen
Production
company
Distributed byLorimar Film Entertainment (Former)
Warner Bros. (Current)
Release date
February 12, 1988 (1988-02-12)
Running time
96 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$7,000,000
Box office$20,256,975

Action Jackson is a 1988 American action film directed by Craig R. Baxley and starring Carl Weathers, Vanity, Craig T. Nelson and Sharon Stone. Paula Abdul was the choreographer. The film was released by Lorimar Film Entertainment. Vanity was nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award as Worst Actress. Both Vanity and Sharon Stone briefly appear topless in this movie.

Plot

The story prologues with two auto-worker union officials addressing the recent death of a peer. Within moments, both are brutally murdered by a group of shadowy, almost supernatural killers that seem to move, disappear and reappear at will during a daring skyscraper assault.

Detroit Police Detective Sergeant Jericho Jackson, known locally as "Action Jackson", was a celebrated lieutenant in the police force but demoted (nearly two years prior) because of a case he headed involving the criminal son of successful businessman Peter Dellaplane. The fall out over the case also collapsed Jackson's marriage and put the law school educated, star athlete and hometown hero of sorts at odds with the public. Even after his demotion, Jackson's continued interest leads to conflicts with his Captain and he begins investigating Dellapane's professional exploits, eventually uncovering the string of murdered trade union members connected to Dellaplane's company. Dellaplane, it is confirmed, is secretly maneuvering his way into a "behind the throne" seat of power and has been using the group of assassins, dubbed The Invisible Men, to kill uncooperative union officials.

Jackson is assisted by Dellaplane's mistress, Sydney Ash, a local lounge singer who the businessman has assisted financially and is also a heroin addict. He is eventually framed for murdering Dellaplane's wife Patrice (after she discovers her husband's plot and goes to Jackson for help). On the run from the police, Jackson is helped by friends from his old neighborhood - Kid Sable, a local hotel owner and retired professional boxer and Dee, a lively local hairdresser (and gossip informant) who gives Jackson a way to discreetly get to Dellaplane.

Jackson and Sydney arrange a meeting with Dellaplane's figurehead replacement for the auto union, unaware that The Invisible Men had been tracking them and allowed the meeting so that Dellaplane could confront Jackson face to face. Before he leaves with Sydney in tow, Dellaplane arrogantly reveals the reasoning for his plans and intends to exact it using Jackson as a pawn. However, Jackson is rescued by Sydney's bodyguard "Big" Edd and the pair kill three of the Invisible Men during their escape.

The showdown leads to a firefight at Dellaplane's mansion at the party of a union leader whom Dellaplane plans to have assassinated. During the melee, the other members of The Invisible Men are foiled by Edd, Jackson's old partner Detective Kotterwell and a rehabilitated young thief named Albert. Jackson and Dellaplane (a trained martial artist) finally confront each other in a fisticuff ending in a crossfire exchange with Jackson fatally wounding Dellaplane and Jackson himself shot in the shoulder. Directly after saving the kidnapped Sydney and subsequently clearing his name, Jackson is restored to his former lieutenant rank as a result. Although admittingly attracted to Sydney but reluctant throughout their ordeal, Jackson finally starts a relationship with a now determined-to-be-rehabilitated Sydney. The couple kiss as the screen fades to black.

Cast

Production

Carl Weathers later called the film:

A creation that came about when I was doing Predator and talking to Joel Silver, who loved blaxploitation movies. Joel said, “Well, you know, why don’t you put something together?” So during that time of shooting down in Puerto Vallarta, I created this story and came up with this guy — or at least this title —Action Jackson. And Joel found a writer [who] wrote the screenplay, and that was it. We got it made.[1]

In 1990 Weathers starred in Dangerous Passion, an action-thriller film, which was released in Germany under the title Action Jackson 2, although it did not relate to the original film.[2]

Soundtrack

The Action Jackson soundtrack features new music by Sister Sledge, The Pointer Sisters, Vanity, and Herbie Hancock.[3] Vanity's two songs, "Faraway Eyes" and "Undress," were produced by musician Jesse Johnson.

Reception

While successful at the box office,[4][5] the movie received a negative reception from critics.[6][7][8]

Weathers said he hoped the film would become a franchise "but Lorimar sold the lot to Sony and sold the library to Warner Bros., and that was that. It never resurfaced again, unfortunately."[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Carl Weathers on Toy Story Of Terror, blaxploitation films, and James Brown" By Will Harris AV Club Sep 2, 2014 accessed 7 Sept 2014
  2. ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099357/releaseinfo?ref_=tt_dt_dt
  3. ^ Allmusic-Action Jackson Soundtrack
  4. ^ "WEEKEND BOX OFFICE : 'Shoot' Leads Black Film Group - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. 2006-11-30. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
  5. ^ "3 Black-Keyed Films a Hit and a First at Theater - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. 1988-02-19. Retrieved 2013-10-19.
  6. ^ Kenny, Glenn (1988-02-12). "Action Jackson Movie Review & Film Summary (1988)". Roger Ebert. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
  7. ^ "MOVIE REVIEW : Gun-Obsessed Hero in 'Jackson' - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. 2010-11-07. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
  8. ^ Goodman, Walter (1988-02-12). "Movie Review - Action Jackson - Film: 'Action Jackson'". NYTimes.com. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
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