- Film Review
- Reviewed By Jason Caro
-
4 out of 5
Following on from The Rock, this was the film that cemented Nicolas Cage's reputation as one of Hollywood's most unlikely action heroes. It's a top-notch thrill-athon, with Cage as an ex-Army Ranger jailed for a murder he committed in self-defence, whose release is interrupted when his flight home is hijacked by a bunch of America's most dangerous felons. Cage's impossibly cool macho posturing is irresistible, as is John Malkovich's sneering, tongue-in-cheek turn as super-criminal Cyrus "the Virus" Grissom. John Cusack and Ving Rhames lend snappy support, while Steve Buscemi steals nearly every scene he is in with an inspired pastiche of Hannibal Lecter. Armed with an entertaining script by Scott Rosenberg, director Simon West has delivered a dynamic debut that's nearly impossible to dislike. The public certainly found it a winning formula - it went on to take more than $200 million around the world.
Plot Summary
Action thriller starring Nicolas Cage, John Cusack and John Malkovich. Finally paroled after eight years in prison for manslaughter, Cameron Poe heads home on the "Jailbird", a convict transport plane that contains some of America's most dangerous criminals.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Cameron Poe
- Nicolas Cage
- Vince Larkin
- John Cusack
- Cyrus "the Virus" Grissom
- John Malkovich
- Garland Greene
- Steve Buscemi
- Diamond Dog
- Ving Rhames
- Duncan Malloy
- Colm Meaney
- Baby-O
- Mykelti Williamson
- Sally Bishop
- Rachel Ticotin
- Tricia Poe
- Monica Potter
- Pinball
- Dave Chappelle
- Swamp Thing
- M C Gainey
- Billy Bedlam
- Nick Chinlund
- Conrad
- Brendan Kelly
- Johnny 23
- Danny Trejo
- Sally Can't Dance
- Renoly Santiago
Crew
- Director
- Simon West
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