Dead Bang
Tags: violence, humor, neo noir, murder

Plot synopsis:
A Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy is shot down on Christmas Eve when he stumbles upon a robbery-homicide at a convenience store. A down-on-his-luck L.A. County Sheriff's Dept. homicide detective, Jerry Beck (Johnson), is assigned to the case. As with every case, he takes this one very emotionally, because "the job" is the last thing left in his life, and vows to get the perpetrator no matter what.
The slain officer's widow further complicates the issue when she entices Beck into a one-night stand, in the hope that Beck will not only find but kill her husband's murderer. During the investigation Beck learns that the murder of the deputy sheriff was just the tip of the iceberg, as he finds the roots of the suspect are in a White Supremacist, Neo-Nazi group.
Detective Beck pursues the killer across several states and uncovers that the killer is involved with a White Supremacist, Neo-Nazi group that is involved in many violent crimes. Eventually Detective Beck tracks the killer to a Neo-Nazi compound in rural Colorado. Beck, with the assistance of a local police chief and his officers, corners the killer in an underground tunnel complex concealed under the neo-nazis' compound. Beck kills the suspect with his .357 Colt Python revolver in a shootout when the killer fires on Detective Beck and the local police with a 9mm Browning Hi-Power pistol.

Review: Dead Bang is a fairly run of the mill cop against bad guys type thing but what takes it out of the run of the mill is the direction from Frankenheimer & the star turn from Johnson.
Johnson gives a great performance as the stressed cop,we can see the frustration in Beck's life either doing his job or trying to see his kids,his acting is done very well & not over the top..in particular the xmas morning bust Beck makes..the start of the scene we see the alcoholic sweats to later on being sick all over the suspect.
The supporting cast however do not raise their game to give the support Johnson needs with William Forsythe in particular giving a completely wooden performance which is surprizing as he has been so much better.The action scenes are handled very well indeed...The gunfights(are they're are a few) are not to Hollywood for my liking.On the whole a very enjoyable movie & it shows that Don Johnson should have been a movie star..
It's based on actual events, yet the story has all the right elements of a great action film.
Whether you like Johnson (the actor), or Frankenheimer (the director), or action films (the genre) in general, give this film a chance.
This movie plays like a typical good detective novel.
Frankenheimer definitely knows his way around the genre and he gets the most of Don Johnson's much-maligned acting chops by casting him in a role which perfectly suits Johnson's trademark 'maverick' cop character..
Looking on a case involving the murder of a convenient store owner and cop, leads to something much bigger when he finds himself tailing a gang of murderous white supremacists to Colorado.
In all; it's dumb, crude, snappy and loud while containing white supremacists using automatic weapons but like a good Frankenheimer feature the violently hard-hitting action was well-staged, well-framed with its camera angles and it moved at a fast clip.
William Forsythe can be just as amusing playing uptight, than say crazy (watch "Out for Justice" for that) as the FBI agent who gets on the wrong side of Beck.
DEAD BANG (action, 1989) Det. Beck (Don Johnson) is an LA cop whose life is falling to pieces.
With the help of an FBI agent, Beck is intent on exposing a network of ruthless criminals.Critique: "An exercise in futility", that's how one critic summed up Don Johnson's acting.
With a squeaky voice, boyish looks, and sparse acting (plus an endless array of 'cool' wardrobes), he became something of a cult favorite playing Det. Stubbs in the hit TV-show Miami Vice (1984-89).
At least he can look back proudly on his work in John Frankenheimer's 'Dead Bang': A slick, old style, slam-bang action film.
Taking his Stubbs character to new heights (or lows for that matter) he plays the consummate 'burn-out cop'.
He has been given a solid script to work from, professional direction by old-hand Frankenheimer, and a good supporting cast including John Forsythe as his FBI partner.Supposedly based on the real life experiences of LA Det. Jerry Beck, this is Johnson's only film where he proved to be more than "an exercise in futility".QUOTE: "I got a splitting' headache, I'm seeing double and.
In Dead Bang, Don Johnson plays this classic brand of cop, to a tee.Has anyone ever made a movie about a good cop who is neurotically orderly?
Also, due to his wreckless ways, which appear somewhat restrained relative to that of most movie cops, Beck is ordered by the chief to obtain permission from a police shrink or be removed from the case.
However since Michael Jeter's counselor resembles Woody Allen, Beck breaks up and the doctor grows annoyed and the opportunity of remaining on the case seems remote, that is till Beck has a very unclinical, clear-cut and inhospitable talk with the slightly built fellow.Near the beginning, there's an unwanted detour in which Beck beds Penelope Ann Miller who, unbeknownst to him, was the wife of the murdered cop.
And later, his police chief replies, "I want you to know that I'd go through a door with you anytime." Johnson's eyes look aloof, but he's got some presence here, doing the work and really deriving something appealing out of the formula.
However in saying that, if you peruse through his back catalogue of movies you will certainly find many a gem that has made the man what he is today.For sheer emotion and heart rendering, just take a look at 'Ceasefire' and 'Paradise' for a romantic comedy look beyond the remake of 'Born Yesterday' and head straight to 'Sweethearts Dance' and without a doubt if you are looking for a thriller with a hard edge look no further than 'Dead Bang' Whilst watching it bear in mind 'Miami Vice' and consider the character of Jerry Beck to be the darker side of Sonny Crockett.Looking like ten miles of rough road, Don Johnson essays the role of a world weary downtrodden Jerry Beck to the max.
This is a man carrying the world on his shoulders, his private life has gone down the toilet and his job specification doesn't look any better.As the movie begins, a black shopkeeper is gunned down, money from the cash register is taken and the killer movies on, the crime is reported, the criminal is approached by a passing patrol car, suspicions arise, the policeman is also gunned down.Enter Detective Jerry Beck, into a terrain waiting to explode into a world of hurt and anger, a world covered in darkness run by a gang of white supremacists.An absolute classic from start to finish, littered with some seriously good dialogue and acting.
The two best scenes from the whole movie, consist of the infamous chase sequence between Beck and and a possible suspect, when Beck catches up with the runaway and then proceeds to throw up on him.....what absolute joy.The other scene in question has to be the one where Beck's hierarchy decide to question his mental capabilities, so they decide to send him to see the local Psychiatrist, when Beck starts to laugh and lets it be known that he thinks the man looks like Woody Allen, what happens thereafter in the scene, just has to be witnessed.Action Packed to the max, 'Dead Bang is Dead On!
Don Johnson plays an alcoholic, down on his luck, loose cannon on the deck cop chasing white supremists through the Southwest.
I can understand why they never made Dead Bang 2 but this film is still worth your time if you like cop thrillers..
Don Johnson stars as Jerry Beck (apparently based on a real LAPD cop) who begins to investigate the murder of a fellow officer.
That aside, there is much to like here from Johnson's anti-Crockett cop to great supporting turns by William Forsythe and Bob Balaban to the witty script.
A funny, witty cop-action film.
Being a Don Johnson fan, I liked this film.
Johnson's a Dirty Harry-type cop this time with all the stereotypical trimmings of the role i.e. divorced, drinks, never sees his kids, no personal life etc.
Don Johnson stars as Jerry Beck a renegade cop who takes on a group of white supremists who are responsible for knocking off  a black store owner and hispanic restaurant owners in this standard cop actioner which does have it's moments of entertainment such as the scene where Johnson throws up on one of his suspects or the showdown Johnson has with a shrink.
This one is funny, but a serious film, with an excellent plot, good dialogs, all the actors -his performances- are very credible, an intrigue that keeps you interested about what is going to happen next, suspense, action scenes very well filmed, even at least two moments of fine humor.
Even more, the story about a sect of fanatic racist people which exists in real life (not this one in particular, but there are hundreds of them in the United States), so it gives to the film a particular point of view about this sad reality.
And also with all the others movies of John Frankenheimer, take a look of his list as director.
This Don Johnson cop movie fairly good..
However, this Don Johnson cop movie was rather good.
I know you are thinking "so are most cops in films such as these", but no he is really burnt out to the point of puking on a guy after chasing him down.
Still, it was a good cop movie seeing him track down the person, or persons responsible.
Don Johnson does a fairly good job in this one, he is not the smooth cop he was in "Miami Vice" which I rather like.
It IS, however, a cut or two above your usual routine action film, with an absorbing (and topical) story, good acting and solid direction by veteran director John Frankenheimer.
If you're only used to seeing him on "Miami Vice" as the ultra-cool Sonny Crockett, Johnson may surprise you here with a his performance....he's gritty, funny, flawed and very real (both the character and story here are fact-based).
Don't puke!", The psychiatrist (he looks just like Woody Allen!) and last, but no means least, the FBI stuffed-shirt ( he's a christian, no joke!)The ending is a little routine but the rest rocks in an unassuming way..
I guess Don Johnson after Miami Vice wad destined to be cast as irreverent police detectives who get results which is why they are tolerated.
After easy living Sonny Crockett on a houseboat in Miami Vice he does Dead Bang in which his character is working off a perpetual hangover.
Following this suspect out of southern California in a tour around red state America leads Johnson on a merry chase through a variety of white supremacist groups.
Michael Jeter plays the psychiatrist who never encountered issues like Johnson has.
I also can't forget the uptight, anal retentive FBI guy that Johnson is forced to work with, William Forsythe.
Those two are one impossible team.Though it has a lot a lot humor Dead Bang also is a most serious look at a proliferation of white supremacist groups which makes the film maybe even more relevant for today..
Filmed with a mixture of varied cast, this was a very good reflection of a real life story, where Hollywood was not trying to create a sterile environment and the characters were normal every day people with real issues that were bouncing off of each other.
Some of the story line was predictable with Don Johnson sticking to his Miami Vice sense of humour but with an on-going turbulent divorce and a career dependent on a successful case, the other actors did not make it easy for Jerry Beck when his alcoholism started effecting his professionalism.
Set in a big city leading across small towns across USA, brings out the sinister nature of true organised crime and involves the police, FBI and local sheriff's departments working with Don Johnson's Homocide department in an inhibitory way, until a crack unit enforces his efforts.
The one downer in this movie is that the gun fighting scenes were not produced well enough to convey the true sense of fear and danger, and the tactics employed made them look more like actors than gunfighters.
On Xmas morning, Johnson starts his trek to find a cop killer that is associated with a White Supremacy group.
On the trail of Johnson is a pansy, but arrogant FBI agent played by William Forsythe.
And Michael Jeter plays a shrink that resembles Woody Allen.Have never really been a Don Johnson fan; but this role is a hell of a lot better than his TV Miami Vice persona.
Jerry Beck is a troubled cop whose journey across states after a neo-Nazi killer also becomes a personal journey of self-discovery.
The cast, headed by Don Johnson, is wonderfully played by all and even includes Evans Evans, John Frankenheimer's wife and widow, in a chilling performance.
I've also seen a widow that want's revenge.BUT, from there it veers off and we have a group of skinhead white supremacists on a racist rampage and you have Mr. Miami Vice himself, in 1989, dressed like could care less about how he looks and, I haven't seen that before either.The plot takes you from LA to small town America with all the shoot outs in between.
The cop is a screw up and one that seems to only get by because he's seen it all before, not because he is particularly good at what he does.It all boils down to a unique film and one that is exceptionally well put together.The only thing that would make it a better film, would make it more unique, is if the white supremacists were as deeply and disturbingly family orientated as they are in the documentaries about the KKK.
I've liked most of Don Johnson's work and this movie proves how versatile he is.
His character is so very different from his Miami Vice days, though I liked those series a lot as well.
I would recommend this movie to anyone who likes cop-films, this is one of the best I've seen.
Lots of action, good storyline, a good 80's film.I also just wanted to correct the previous person to comment on this film as Don plays Det. Crockett in Miami Vice - there is no-one in Miami Vice called Stubbs - only Crocketts detective partner Tubbs springs to mind.Obviously everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion, and though this film may not be huge, remember it's been made for people who like this sort of stuff..
Some unintentionally funny ideas (FBI agent who doesn't like swearing and looks like straight from "Police academy" , psychiatrist who looks like Woody Allen)It's not a terrible movie , but it is a waste of time.
This movie is like a love story in it – appears for a while , then quickly disappears and doesn't stay with you.
It's there where we have a confrontation between the local police the FBI and L.A homicide policeman Jerry Beck, Don Johnson, on a Neo-Nazi concentration camp-like, minus inmates, headquarters.
Guning down a black convenience store manager, who survived, and an L.A cop Gary Kimbel, who didn't, has LAPD officer track down the killer by checking all the parolees in and around L.A. Looking for a Bobby Burns who fit the description of the killer LA detective Jerry Beck checks out this biker place only to find Bobby Burns younger brother John who's not very helpful in the murder investigation.
Even the local FBI man Arthur Kressler assigned to the murder case,since the murders crossed state lines,treats Jerry like he was a conspiracy nut, in him saying that the Neo-Nazis were planing to overthrow the US government,gone out of control.
Interesting but a bit complicated police thriller that mixes Neo-Nazis street thugs and a lot of emotional and mental instability, on both sides of the law, together in making a fairly good story.
It was interesting to see a young William Forsythe as the FBI man Arthur Kressler being so goody two shoes, like a combination boy scout and altar boy, who became so upset with LAPD's Jerry Beck for as much as using off-color language to the point of almost coming to blows with him!
In almost all of his movies after "Dead Bang" Forsythe, in films like "Stone Cold" and "Out for Justice", was anything but the stuck-up and self-righteous FBI agent Kressler that he played in the movie..
Plays too much like an old B-Rated Red Scare movie..
DEAD-BANG is a reminder of the first of these problems, only this Don Johnson movie attacks the far-right instead of the far-left.Don Johnson plays Jerry Beck, a Los Angeles cop investigating a murder of both a black convenience store owner, and a cop who tried to stop the people who killed him.
An uncooperative police department that thinks he's losing his marbles, an uptight Born-Again Christian FBI man(William Forsythe), a police psychiatrist(Michael Jeter) who he gets into a fight with over the fact that he looked like Woody Allen, a rural Oklahoma sheriff's(William Traylor) depot that hasn't changed since 1965, a local church that's a disguised version of the World Church of the Creator, with ties to a military compound that's obviously a disguised version of the Aryan Nations.The fact that this movie slams white supremacy, yet almost all the black cops get killed fighting the right-wing militia, doesn't really say much for it.
Don Johnson plays real life police detective Jerry Beck who's hot a the trail of a white supremacist group that's leaving behind them a bloody trail.This a fast paced, gritty and exciting police thriller that's criminally underrated.
It may be a bit clichéd at times, but Frankenheimer keeps things moving along nicely.Don Johnson is excellent as Beck, also a very underrated actor in my opinion.
Don Johnson is pretty decent in this (and I'm a fan), though you could see the whole idea was to take the Crockett character from Miami Vice and make him a down-and-outer, to take away all the expensive trappings he had on Miami Vice.The biggest plot hole is that the bad guy kills a cop at the beginning of the movie, pretty much on Christmas Eve. Yet there is no big mobilization of the LA police force to catch the killer, just Beck going after him alone.
In every other movie I've ever seen, and pretty much in real life, if a cop is killed in cold blood like this character was, every cop is going to be after the killer.Then, when the rural OK sheriff's cars are shot up with automatic weapons, and the downtown is blown up in a huge shootout with the bad guys, again, no-one really seems to interested.
As much as I like Don Johnson and enjoy seeing him, I thought this story was pitiful.
A handful of local cops with one FBI agent go after a compound of white supremacists?