Disaffected Vietnam veteran Mitch (the almighty Tommy Lee Jones in fine rugged form) decides to take over Central Park in New York City so he can raise public awareness about the shamefully neglected plight of fellow Vietnam veterans and other overlooked less fortunate folks.
Director Steven Hilliard Stern treats the delightfully ludicrous premise with utmost seriousness, keeps the gripping story moving along at a brisk pace, and generates plenty of tension. Lyle Gorch's compelling and provocative script offers lots of spot-on stinging social commentary on America's appalling apathy towards Vietnam war veterans and everyday people who feel like they have no control over their lives. Moreover, the sound acting by the able cast keeps this picture humming: Helen Shaver as pesky eager beaver TV reporter Valery, Yaphet Kotto as compassionate cop Eubanks, Lawrence Dane as slimy police commissioner Keller, Peter Dversky as equally smarmy deputy mayor Dix, and Gale Garnett as Mitch's fed-up estranged ex-wife Rachel. Sporting gnarly mirror shades and funky camouflage face paint, Jones cuts a cool and commanding figure as the deeply flawed, yet still sympathetic Mitch. Kudos are also in order for Laszlo George's slick cinematography and the marvelously moody score by Tangerine Dream. Granted, this movie isn't remotely plausible for a minute (for example, the corrupt city officials hire a couple of scumbag mercenaries to take out Mitch after the general public embrace Mitch as an everyman folk hero!), but it's this infectiously delirious sense of giddy absurdity combined with a certain lovably cockeyed sincerity that gives this flick its uniquely wacky 80's charm.
Director Steven Hilliard Stern treats the delightfully ludicrous premise with utmost seriousness, keeps the gripping story moving along at a brisk pace, and generates plenty of tension. Lyle Gorch's compelling and provocative script offers lots of spot-on stinging social commentary on America's appalling apathy towards Vietnam war veterans and everyday people who feel like they have no control over their lives. Moreover, the sound acting by the able cast keeps this picture humming: Helen Shaver as pesky eager beaver TV reporter Valery, Yaphet Kotto as compassionate cop Eubanks, Lawrence Dane as slimy police commissioner Keller, Peter Dversky as equally smarmy deputy mayor Dix, and Gale Garnett as Mitch's fed-up estranged ex-wife Rachel. Sporting gnarly mirror shades and funky camouflage face paint, Jones cuts a cool and commanding figure as the deeply flawed, yet still sympathetic Mitch. Kudos are also in order for Laszlo George's slick cinematography and the marvelously moody score by Tangerine Dream. Granted, this movie isn't remotely plausible for a minute (for example, the corrupt city officials hire a couple of scumbag mercenaries to take out Mitch after the general public embrace Mitch as an everyman folk hero!), but it's this infectiously delirious sense of giddy absurdity combined with a certain lovably cockeyed sincerity that gives this flick its uniquely wacky 80's charm.