The stuff that action movie dreams are made of

Rating: 9/10 (21 November 2015)

Nicolas Cage Week: Day 7
Con Air is as loud and dumb as action movies get, so much so that I'm surprised Michael Bay had nothing to do with it. Instead its helmed by Simon West, with explosive support from producers Jerry Bruckheimer and notoriously bawdy Don Simpson. It's a big sloppy kiss for action movie fans, and a right good time at the movies. In case I get called out for focusing more on Nic's more shallow genre stuff during this week, keep in mind there's one more film that I left out on account of a special video project that myself and a good friend are cooking up this weekend. But I am aware of his artsier stuff like Adaptation as well, just haven't gotten around to them yet. Anyway.. back to Con Air. Cage plays stoic navy SEAL Cameron Poe, who accidentally kills a scumbag (Waingro.. I mean Kevin Gage) who really, really asked for it. He's sent to the clink on manslaughter charges and awaits his return to his wife (Monica Potter♡) and young daughter whose birth he missed. Just his luck though, as the transport plane that is to carry him home at the end of his senteance is also home to the meanest, nastiest, most psychopathic bunch of convicts that US Corrections could dig up, making him pretty nervous. As anyone who's seen the trailer can guess, the inmates take over the plane and all kinds of fiery, high octane hell breaks loose thousands of feet above the ground. Cage is left to contend with the worst of the worst...These guys are really bad. How bad? Danny Trejo stands out as 'Johnny 23', who's got 23 heart tattoos, for each of the women he's raped. "They'd call me Johnny 600 if they knew the truth" he sneers. Ugh. Snarling, volatile Billy Bedlam (Nick Chinlund) slaughtered his wife and her family, even the dog. Hannibal Lecter esque Garland Greene (Steve Buscemi) committed countless atrocities, which he reminisces about like he's ordering lunch. The leader of the pack, Cyrus 'The Virus' Grissom (John Malkovich, hysterical) claims to have killed more people than cancer. It's a trashy, unapologetic flick, but it's endlessly fun as well. Poe races to control the situation, while US Marshal Vince Larkin (John Cusack) struggles to get things under control on the ground. There's some impressive sequences, including a desert explosion and lot of bloody antics on the plane. The climax erupts into a massive car chase through downtown Las Vegas that's so incredibly chaotic and ridiculous that one has to admire the filmmakers own commitment to pure reckless abandon lol. The supporting cast is stacked too, including Ving Rhames, Dave Chapelle, Don S. Davis, Mykelti Williamson, Rachel Ticotin, Powers Boothe, M.C. Gainey and a priceless turn from a blustery Colm Meaney, getting all the best lines (in reference to Cusack's character "He's probably recycling his sandals to save the amazon or something"). This is definitely check your brain in at the door territory. Sit back, have a beer and enjoy the near comic book over the top aesthetic of this classic headbanger.