By: Todd Wheatley
(c) IQ-2k   Feb. 2016

(c)1994 ____ Rated- R ____ ( good+ )

[ ACTION ]
Cover Art: good
Cinematography: good+

starring: Keanu Reeves, Dennis Hopper, Sandra Bullock

"Pop quiz" ... How many 21st century action movies actually have great dialogue?! The unfortunate answer is very few, if any.

Today filmmakers only want enough dialogue to frame the long running action sequences that appeal to overseas (non-English speaking) audiences. Take the recent box office smash, "Fast 7", for example. No real dialogue stands out only a few pithy lines like "cars don't fly", "my dad kicked your butt", and "Did you just call dibs on that girl?!" .

Contrast that to opening elevator scene in "Speed". Certainly we have the action sequence, but throughout the verbal interaction leads to character development and plot discovery. By the end of the scene they find and nearly apprehend the "bad guy", Dennis Hopper. Who has some choice dialogue with the two heroic police (Keanu Reeves, Jeff Daniels).

Certainly this movie delivers action, but the late Dennis Hopper ("Easy Rider", "Apocalypse Now") absolutely steals this show despite the breakout performance of a young Sandra Bullock and rising star Keanu Reeves.

In this story Hopper plays a maimed ex-bomb squad officer looking to score a multi-million dollar post retirement settlement through ransom demands. In fact he has wired a bus to explode if it slows below 50 mph. But this is no extended car chase as was the recent "Fast 7". In fact a great amount of dialogue takes place despite the action.

Yet another contrast to the all-car-chase-no-dialogue "Fast 7" is the laugh out loud ACTION ROM COM, "Chase", with Charlie Sheen and Kristy Swanson.


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