Allan C
Not a classic, but an enjoyable 80s action flick with the always charming Sam Elliott as a gruff NYPD detective and Peter Weller as a quirky lawyer teaming up to take down some dirty cops. From writer/director James Glickenhaus, who brought us the grindhouse classic THE EXTERMINATOR, this is his most polished film, but its major weakness is how conventional it is compared to his rule-breaking grindhouse classic. Still, the leads are great, even if Elliott doesn’t get enough screen time, 80s character actors litter the screen everywhere, and the film does a great job of using practical locations on the filthy streets of NYC before Giuliani cleaned it up. Behind the scenes, Weller and Elliot were assigned bodyguards for the night shoots in Times Square, back when it was still populated with peepshows, pimps, and criminals before it became Disneyland. Another strength of the film is all of the practical stunt work. There’s no CGI here! Stuntmen really did all the leaping from buildings, crazy car rolls, and hanging off of bridges. Outside of some awful blue screen during the film’s finale, the film has a gritty and grounded feel to the action that makes it a must-see for fans of 80s action films. Below is my review from the last time I watched the film.
4-7-19
Enjoyably cliched 80s buddy cop film with more mullets than you can shake a stick at!
Shakedown (1988) ***
I don’t think I’d seen this film since it originally came out in the theater. I remember thinking it was pretty ridiculous then, but it’s aged better than I’d expected, mainly thanks to it’s cast, the use of actual NYC locations, and 80s action film nostalgia value. Peter Weller plays a groovy lawyer and Sam Elliott plays a renegade narcotics detective. It’s a cliche ridden story of Weller and Elliott then face off against drug dealers, corrupt police officers, and other assorted low-lifes. The script by writer/director James Glickenhaus is pretty awful, but his action sequences are serviceable. In the film’s favor is the fun pairing of Elliott and Weller and also the use of grimy pre-Giuliani NYC locations, including one action sequence filmed at 42nd Street in Times Square when it was still a den of go-go bars, peep shows, and adult theaters. It was certainly a good thing that Giuliani cleaned up the streets of NYC, but when it comes to movies filmed in The Big Apple, I have a fond affection for films like “The Warriors”, “Maniac”, “Gloria”, “C.H.U.D.”, “Black Caesar”, “Across 110th Street”, “Combat Shock”, or even Glickenhaus’ own “The Exterminator” which all prominently featured the seedy side of the city that never sleeps. Also in the film’s favor is that it featured more mullets than any recent action film I can think of outside of “Roadhouse”. Overall, “Shakedown” is a highly routine buddy cop picture to the degree of being a genre stereotype, but it has enough positives to be enjoyed by fans of these sorts of films.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
02/09/25
Full Review
Audience Member
Don't call the cops especially when a shake down is happening Peter Weller and Sam Elliot star as an attorney and an undercover cop directed by James Glickenhaus Both of them attempt to bust a drug ring running their city But along the way they discover more corruption in the police force Honestly it stinks Sam Elliot and Peter Weller don't share enough screen time together You'd think it would be more of a tightly knit buddy flick The conspiracy portion isn't really that interesting The only highlight was the action scenes which are inventive and expertly filmed The film ends rather quickly too which is surprising Should've been so much better in many respects There's much higher films like this that go further
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
05/07/23
Full Review
Steve D
There are far better options for this kind of material but it is entertaining enough.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
02/27/23
Full Review
Audience Member
This movie was fine and then completely lost me when the cop climbs on the wheel of the jet and then blows it up, killing the bad guys and pilots, did the pilots deserve to die?
Rated 2/5 Stars •
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
02/26/23
Full Review
Audience Member
none of the reviews i read mentioned how casual police brutality was part of the story. very telling of how acceptable that behavior was for police back then. i suppose in many areas it still is. i understand why someone would give this film a bad review but looking at it from 2021 eyes it explains a lot about boomers & their sense of right/wrong as this was the kind of action movies they watched when they were young. you know the good guy that'll do whatever it takes to get the bad guys. Sam Elliot the good cop catches the Antonio Fargas drug dealer who is escaping on private jet plane. Sam just catches up as they take off jumping on to landing gear. flying over a NYC he shoots the engine & throws a grenade into the plane that somehow doesn't blow up until they land. if doesn't make sense but it's funny.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
02/05/23
Full Review
uncle p
Story/Screenplay: (2/5) Unoriginal, but a bit entertaining. However, the end of the story was overwhelmingly silly. Just too much to ignore.
Duration/Tempo: (3/5) At 1 hour and 37 minutes, it's a short movie that felt longer.
Cast & Crew: (3/5) I love Peter Weller and Sam Elliott, but not so much in this film. The poor story may have done them in.
Summary: (2.5/5) The film didn't feel long, but the story was flawed and the cast was mediocre. A thumbs down.
Rated 2.5/5 Stars •
Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars
03/31/23
Full Review
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