Action at Alcatraz

Rating: 6/10 (30 March 2013)

Some time after the untimely death of his wife, vengeful Vietnam veteran Ed Harris (as Francis X. Hummel) and his gang of disgruntled Marines bust unto the legendary prison Alcatraz. They want reparations for unrecognized service. "The Rock" (also known as Alcatraz) has been closed since 1963 and is presently a tourist attraction. Taking 81 visitors hostage, Mr. Harris plans to hit San Francisco with weapons of mass destruction unless his demands are met. The US government doesn't want to pay Harris and the Marines. Instead, they assign two men to break in to Alcatraz and disarm Harris. Yes, it's a daunting task...
First called is Beatlemaniac and chemical weapons expert Nicholas Cage (as Stanley "Stan" Goodspeed), notified while simulating intercourse with top girl Vanessa Marcil (as Carla Pestalozzi). Second called is thick scraggly-haired Sean Connery (as John Patrick Mason), the only man to have escaped from Alcatraz. Released after 30 years in prison, Mr. Connery cleans up well. Producers are careful to show many of Connery's innocent victims survive otherwise certain death. Connery knows details about Roswell aliens and the JFK assassination. Michael Bay's direction is action-packed. It all ends in an orgy of violence...
Of the sprightly supporting cast, William Forsythe (as Ernest Paxton) deserves special mention; he is credited twice during the opening credits. This error (or, perhaps not because Mr. Forsythe is very good in his role) can be seen in the print being shown to "Charter" customers in the Los Angeles area. The first credit seems to be on screen more briefly. After a relative long pause, William Forsythe is credited again. Maybe he'll receive a double residual check during this showing...
****** The Rock (6/7/96) Michael Bay ~ Nicholas Cage, Sean Connery, Ed Harris, William Forsythe