Dead Bang ** (1989, Don Johnson, Penelope Ann Miller, William Forsythe, Bob Balaban) – Classic Movie Review 8522

Director John Frankenheimer’s hard-edged 1989 actual-life action crime drama Dead Bang stars Don Johnson as burnt-out LA homicide cop Jerry Beck, who uncovers a white supremacy gang while he is investigating the murder of a colleague, gunned down on Christmas Eve.

Based on the actual cop’s true story, this is a tough and professional real-life based thriller with the whiff of uncomfortable reality, but there are no distinctive elements or surprises – and not too many thrills either.

Dead Bang is made for the cinema, but its natural home is home viewing, as it is no better than most average, routine or run-of-the-mill TV movies, or a feature-length episode of Johnson’s then still current TV show Miami Vice (1984-1990).

Johnson is fine, though, pretty much ideal, and so is William Forsythe as the unhelpful FBI agent Arthur Kressler, while Frankenheimer turns in a well-crafted movie, with the help of a distinguished group of professionals. The screenplay is by Robert Foster, based on the story by Jerry Beck.

Also in the cast are Bob Balaban, Tim Reid, Frank Military, Tate Donovan, Michael Higgins, Evans Evans, Antoni Stutz, Mickey Jones, Ron Campbell, William Traylor, Hy Anzell, James B Douglas, Brad Sullivan, Michael Jeter, Tim Reid and Phyllis Guerrini.

It flopped. Costing $14,500,000, it grossed $8,125,592 in the US.

Dead Bang is available with The Last Boy Scout and Action Jackson on a Warner triple feature DVD.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8522

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