Slipstream *** (1989, Mark Hamill, Bob Peck, Bill Paxton, Kitty Aldridge, Eleanor David, Robbie Coltrane) – Classic Movie Review 9008

Director Steven M Lisberger’s British shot 1989 science-fiction adventure Slipstream stars Mark Hamill as bearded bounty hunter Will Tasker, who chases murderous android fugitive Byron (Bob Peck), in Star Wars producer Gary Kurtz’s thoughtful sci-fi tale set In the near future after 20th-century man’s destruction of the environment.

Both stars have style, and Bill Paxton livens things up with some wisecracks as Matt Owens, though the film is a bit sombre and the story by Bill Bauer is far too slim to support the film’s pretensions in the screenplay by Tony Kayden.

It is a total waste of Ben Kingsley and F Murray Abraham in tiny roles.

Slipstream has a lot of promise but by and large is a bit of a disappointment, though it remains in the interesting category and is very watchable anyway.

Also in the cast are Kitty Aldridge, Eleanor David, Robbie Coltrane, Susan Leong, Tony Alleff, Paul Reynolds, Rita Wolf, Bruce Boa, Roshan Seth, Richard Huggett, Jennifer Hilary, Murray Melvin, Heathcote Williams, Deborah Leng, Ricco Ross and Eris Akman.

Slipstream is directed by Steven M Lisberger, runs 103 minutes, is made by Entertainment Film, is released by Entertainment Film Distributors (1989) (UK), is written by Tony Kayden, based on the story by Bill Bauer, is shot in Rankcolor by Frank Tidy, is produced by William Braunstein (executive producer), Nigel Green (executive producer), Arthur H Maslansky (executive producer) and Gary Kurtz (producer), is scored by Elmer Bernstein, and is designed by Andrew McAlpine.

It was made in Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, and on location at Malham Rocks, Malham, North Yorkshire, England, and in Cappadoccia, Turkey.

R.I.P Star Wars and American Graffiti producer Gary Kurtz (1940 – 2018). He was 78.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 9008

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