Joshua Tree

Joshua Tree (released under the alternative title Army of One) is a 1993 American action film directed by Vic Armstrong, written by Steven Pressfield and starring Dolph Lundgren, Kristian Alfonso, and George Segal. Much of the film was filmed in Los Angeles, Lone Pine, Palm Springs, Riverside, Coso Junction, San Gorgonio, Alabama Hills, Agua Dulce, Santa Clarita, Lone Pine Station, Whitney Portal, Owens Valley and Mojave County. The climax was shot in the Cottonwood Canyon region of the Sierra Nevada mountain range.
Tagline: Actions speak louder than words. In the desert there is no law. There is only justice. The hunted has become the hunter. And there will be no mercy. Violence has no limits. Sometimes one man is all it takes. Willpower. Horsepower. Firepower. At 180 miles per hour. When it comes to getting even, he's taking revenge into overdrive.
On June 1993 in Mojave County, Wellman Anthony Santee's (Dolph Lundgren) latest assignment is to transport such goods across the desert, but a California Highway Patrol Officer L.T. Jacobs pulls him over. Officer L.T. Jacobs notices that Eddie Turner (Ken Foree) carries a gun hidden behind his back pocket and prepares to arrest him, but two LAPD detectives named Frank Severance (George Segal) and Jack "Rudy" Rudisill (Beau Starr) show up. However, Severance kills Officer L.T Jacobs and Rudisill shot Eddie Turner and Santee. Santee is framed for the murder of CHP Officer L.T Jacobs. Eddie Turner (With no prior criminal record) was taken to the hospital where he died from gunshot wounds and Santee was arrested by Severance and was taken to a prison hospital and is expected to recover from his gunshot wounds. After the shootout, Severance, Rudisill, Inyo County Sheriff's deputies, Mojave County Sheriff's deputies and California Highway Patrol officers are investigating the homicide. Authorities discovered exotic cars inside the trailer. All exotic cars were impounded.
Nine months later, The State of California finds Santee guilty of the murder of CHP Officer L.T Jacobs and sentences him to not less than 20 or more than 35 years in the state penitentiary. Santee will be remain in prison hospital until recovery, then be transferred to the San Gorgonio State Penitentiary, there to begin his sentence. At the San Gorgonio Penitentiary, Santee hits Department of Corrections guard Jackson (Tony Epper) with a water bucket and escapes from prison, only to be shot in the stomach by 2 Department of Corrections guards Jackson and Young (Ken Blazer). In Coso Junction, Santee took a hostage named Rita Marek (Kristian Alfonso), a Mojave County Sheriff's Deputy. When authorities arrived at Coso Junction, Sheriff Cepeda (Geoffrey Lewis) said he got a preliminary I.D from the DMV. Rita Merek is a 28-year-old deputy, an address of Victorville. Cepeda said Rita was getting some gas in her pickup truck, when Santee abducted her, stole her pickup truck, a black 1992 Toyota Truck with a California license plate: ZASB354. During the investigation, a female Inyo County Sheriff's deputy found Rita's purse atop one of the gas pumps (Rita left her purse after she was kidnapped by Santee). Inside her purse, there was a badge and a gun. Mojave County Sheriff's Deputy Michael Agnos (Matt Battaglia) said Rita worked with him in Victorville, they're both deputy sheriffs in Mojave County.
After evading Inyo County Sheriff's deputies and California Highway Patrol officers, Santee and Rita are heading to Woody Engstrom's (Bert Remsen) ranch in Alabama Hills. In Riverside, Santee pushes Rita's pickup truck down the cliff, destroying it. When Santee and Rita are heading to Los Angeles, they saw a patrol car and begins to hide from the police without being spotted. Now they are leaving Riverside to Los Angeles after avoiding being spotted by the patrol car. As Santee eludes capture with the help of Maralena Turner (Khandi Alexander) and E.G. Turner (Marcus Brown) in Los Angeles, Severance and Rudisill are heading to Woody Engstrom's ranch to question him about Santee. Rudisill almost kills the dog for barking at him. However, when other patrol cars arrive at Woody's ranch, Severence kills Woody. Woody Engstrom (With no prior criminal record) was taken to Southern Inyo Hospital where he died from gunshot wounds. Severance, Rudisill, Sheriff Cepeda, Deputy Tomay (Nick Chinlund), Deputy Agnos, Inyo County Sheriff's deputies, Mojave County Sheriff's deputies and CHP officers are investigating the homicide at Woody's ranch in Alabama Hills. Meanwhile in Riverside, Severance, Rudisill, Inyo County Sheriff's deputies, CHP officers and Mojave County Sheriff's deputies are investigating the crash. They believe Santee destroyed Rita's pickup truck by pushing it down at the bottom of a canyon. In Lone Pine at the temporary headquarters of hair salon, Detective Jordan (Edward Stone), Officer Macher (Jason Ross-Azikiwe) and Officer Hines (Charlie Holliday) got Rita's black Toyota pickup truck, at the bottom of a canyon in Riverside. According to Detective Chelsey (Rondi Reed), Rita served with the Mojave County Sheriff's Department for six years, DB'd twice for excessive force. Rita's father was a deputy, who was killed in the line of duty, most decorated in the Mojave County history. Rita has two brothers: Her first brother was a highway patrolman of the Alaska State Troopers, and her 2nd brother was a member of the Philippine Marine Corps. In Los Angeles, Santee abandons Maralena's minivan on the freeway during routine vehicle inspection. Meanwhile, Santee shoots up a street and the patrol car, almost kills 3 CHP officers and all people. Then, Santee steals the patrol car and abandons it. Santee and Rita are spending the night at the motel. Meanwhile, LAPD detectives, CHP officers, Sheriff Cepeda, Severance, Rudisill and Deputy Agnos are investigating in the underpass on East 7th Street (The patrol car was destroyed and authorities say somebody who did it).
Santee and Rita leaves the motel, and were heading to Agua Dulce. Santee releases Rita and broke into Severance's house, forcing Sgt. Esther Severance (Michelle Phillips) to call Jimmy Shoeshine (Michael Paul Chan). Now, Santee and Rita are leaving Severance's house, stole a JR's Kitcars Jisod 8F402 (Ferrari F40) and evading gun blasts from Esther and CHP officers. Meanwhile at Sierra Inn, the bikers tells CHP officer that Rita kick him in the face and stole his white Yamaha XT 225 Serow. A CHP officer saw Santee driving a red JR's Kitcars Jisod 8F402 at a high rate of speed and gives chase, but two patrol cars crashed. The biker gangs were arrested and other CHP officers are investigating the accident involving two patrol cars. Later that night during the investigation at the motel, Deputy Tomay tells Cepeda that Santee's first arrest for auto theft 11 years ago.
At Jimmy Shoeshine's warehouse in Santa Clarita, Santee kills 1000 Chinamen. Finally he gets the money from Jimmy through force. Later, Severance and Rudisill arrives at Jimmy Shoeshine's warehouse. However, Severance kills Deputy Agnos and Rudisill broke Jimmy Shoeshine's neck. While leaving the warehouse, Santee shoots white silos, causing them to explode. The next day, Deputy Tomay, Sheriff Cepeda, Severance, Rudisill and CHP officers are investigating after the shootout. Then, Severance took JR's Kitcars Dayton (Lamborghini Countach) and he and Rudisill are heading back to Inyo County, along with Sheriff Cepeda. In Lone Pine, Severance and Rudisill gives speech to CHP officers and Inyo County Sheriff's deputies about a warrant was issued for the arrest of Deputy Merek 40 minutes ago. Rita is to be considered, not as an abductee, but as an accomplice. Rita has the same training as all law enforcement officers. According to Sheriff Cepeda, Severance blew Deputy Agnos's head off at Jimmy Shoeshine's warehouse 12 hours ago and Santee is hiding in Owens Valley (Not Joshua Tree National Park), along with Rita. In Owens Valley, 3 deputies are searching for Santee, who is hiding under the railroad bridge. After they kissed each other, Santee and Rita are spotted by 2 bikers, and Santee used a Uzi to scare the bikers away. Then, Santee puts a black suitcase (With a money he gets from Jimmy Shoeshine at the warehouse) under the railroad bridge. Santee tells Rita to become part of this and she accepts. During the pursuit, Santee evades the Inyo County Sheriff's deputies at the Lone Pine Station and two Inyo County Sheriff SUVs crashed (One Inyo County Sheriff's deputy was injured and taken to Southern Inyo Hospital and another deputy was not hurt). Meanwhile, CHP officers and Inyo County Sheriff's deputies set up a roadblock in Horseshoe Meadows Road to stop Santee from heading to the mountains called Cottonwood Canyon in Whitney Portal. During a chase, Santee and Severance are heading to Cottonwood Canyon, where a final fight took place. Meanwhile at Jimmy Shoeshine's warehouse, Deputy Tomay saw the surveillance tapes that recorded Severance killing Deputy Agnos. Deputy Tomay tells Sheriff Cepeda via radio that he just saw the surveillance videos which showed that Severance blew Deputy Agnos's head off, not Santee. En route to Cottonwood Canyon, Sheriff Cepeda tells Severance via radio that the California Highway Patrol has sealed all the roads off the mountain and Santee was cornered, but Severance didn't respond. However, Sheriff Cepeda, CHP officers, Mojave County Sheriff's deputies and Inyo County Sheriff's deputies arrives at Cottonwood Canyon.
In Cottonwood Canyon, Rudisill shoots Rita in the leg and punches her in the face. Then, Santee shoots Rudisill. Severance tells Santee where's the money, and he says it's over in the rocks (Although Santee puts the money under the railroad bridge in Owens Valley). Santee fights Severance and Rudisill, but Santee kills Rudisill (Santee broke his neck in the alternate ending and Santee grabs Severance's wrist that he's holding his gun and Severance kills his partner Rudisill in the original ending). After the fight, Santee tries to crush Severance's head with a large rock saying: "This is for Eddie", but Inyo County Sheriff's deputies, Mojave County Sheriff's deputies and CHP officers stops Santee from droping a large rock atop of Severance's head. Severance was arrested by Sheriff Cepeda. Severance was convicted of murder of Eddie Turner, CHP Officer L.T. Jacobs, Woody Engstrom (Deleted Scene) and Deputy Agnos. He was sentenced to life in the Inyo County Jail. Severance was also suspended from the LAPD. Santee was also arrested by Inyo County Sheriff's deputies. Santee was convicted of breaking out of San Gorgonio Penitentiary during transfer, kidnapping (Rita Marek), evading CHP officers and Inyo County Sheriff's deputies during high-speed chases, destroying Rita's pickup truck, abandon Maralena's 1992 Dodge Grand Caravan on the freeway during routine vehicle inspection, shooting patrol cars, shooting up a TV, bakery, fruits and vegetables, stealing 1 patrol car, abandon the patrol car, breaking into Severance's house and touching Sergeant Esther Severance. He was sentenced to life in the Inyo County Jail. Rudisill (With no prior criminal record) was taken to Southern Inyo Hospital, where he died from his injuries (Alternate/Original ending). Cepeda tells the reporter that Santee was innocent. After his release from the Inyo County Jail, Santee returns to his former life before his mother´s death (Woody died after he was shot and killed by Severance in the deleted scene). Santee tells Rita (Now wearing a Mojave County Sheriff uniform) that E.G. Turner and Maralena Turner are moving to New Orleans. Santee and Rita kissed each other and Rita leaves Woody's ranch.
In the films centerpiece action scene, Santee takes on dozens of Chinese mafioso in an isolated desert warehouse full of exotic cars. Since Vic Armstrong is one of the top stuntmen and action directors in Hollywood this scene is particularly outstanding for its extreme violence as Santee kills innumerable bad guys with his fists, blades, handguns, shotguns and machine guns. In one outlandish moment he even sets Vic's brother Andy Armstrong on fire with a flaming paint-sprayer and has a fist-fight with Joe Son. Popular stuntmen, and regular collaborators with Vic Armstrong, Al Leong, Jeff Imada and George Cheung also appear in this scene. The gun battle is a lengthy homage to the Heroic bloodshed often seen in Asian films of the time especially those directed by John Woo.
When the film was released on VHS and laserdisc in the United States (last territory worldwide) in the fall 1994, the distributor Live Entertainment changed the title to Army of One to prevent confusion with The Joshua Tree, the 1987 album by U2. Until February 2013, with the release of the Blu-ray from Shout Factory the film had never been released in the US under its original title or in the correct aspect ratio, a delay of nearly 20 years.
Joshua Tree was filmed in Super 35 with a printed aspect ratio of 2.39:1 (a.k.a., 2.35). Naturally VHS releases of the time only showed the film in a pan and scan (European markets) and open matte release. Until recently, the film had not been released in the United States in its original aspect ratio, though it was available on DVD in anamorphic widescreen in France (where it had been released theatrically). That version was dubbed in French, however, with no original language audio track.
Shout! Factory acquired the U.S. home video rights and set a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack release for February 26, 2013.
Upon its VHS release in the UK in 1994, the BBFC cut a large amount of violence from the film. Despite still being given the 18-rating, almost every blood squib, entrance wound, exit wound, moments of excessive gunfire, mutilations and graphic death were cut from the film. This is especially evident in the scene where Santee is involved in a chop shop warehouse gun battle with dozens of Chinese mafioso as the music jumps all over the place and characters seemingly warp from one side of the set to the other. The UK VHS has been out of print for a number of years and there is no DVD release there.
The French Region 2 DVD runs two minutes shorter than the uncut theatrical release and VHS; two scenes in which Rita lights a cigarette are cut and the love scene between her and Santee is shortened. This edition is believed to be mistakenly made from a master originally made and edited for French TV channel TF1.
When resting in a sleazy motel, Santee watches Raoul Walsh's High Sierra on TV. Rita notices him watching with interest and draws parallels between Santee and Humphrey Bogart's character as the 'hero who goes down with all guns blazing'. Joshua Tree was also filmed around many of the same locations as High Sierra, such as the Alabama Hills near Lone Pine, California.
Joshua Tree also contains clear references and homages to Sam Peckinpah's The Getaway starring Steve McQueen and Ali MacGraw (the shoot at the grocery store and the cop cars at the bus station), as well John Woo's A Better Tomorrow, The Killer (and possibly Hard Boiled but it had not been officially released when the movie was in production) (the garage shoot out). When director Vic Armstrong apologized to Woo for copying him the Hong Kong director replied "Don't worry Vic, I've been stealing your ideas for years!"
Another film reference is the 1973 cult classic Electra Glide in Blue directed by James William Guercio.
According to the December 1993 issue of Impact, "The producers felt that the final showdown in Vic Armstrong's directorial debut didn't live up to the stunts that had preceded it, and do asked for a reshoot."
The original ending has Santee shoot Rudy with the Uzi from the top of the ridge many times. Severance grabs Rita and tells him to give it up. Santee appears and says "I'm here, Severence. Let her go!" before stumbling down the ridge. But Severance overpowers him and kicks him off the edge of a cliff by stomping on his bloodied hands. As Severance is about to kill Rita he and Santee fight over a revolver. Rudy is still alive and they both shoot him before Santee pulverizes Severance with his fists. Just as he is about to crush his head with a boulder Santee says "This is for Eddie", which is followed by a brief black and white flashback. Severance says "Go ahead, kid. I'd do it to you" before Santee is interrupted by the police. Severance is then arrested by Sheriff Cepeda (Geoffrey Lewis) who claims he has seen the CCTV footage of him murdering Deputy Agnos back at Jimmy Shoeshine's (Michael Paul Chan) warehouse. There is a denouement in which Santee is back at his father's ranch with Rita (now wearing her police uniform). He mentions the fate of Eddie's wife and son before kissing Rita goodbye.
The second ending, released theatrically in France and available on the unrated Artisan Entertainment DVD and the French region 2 DVD has an extra fight scene between Santee, Severance and Rudy. Santee only shoots Rudy from the ridge once and Rudy is knocked out as he hits his head on a rock. Santee's descent from the ridge is shorter. His fight with Severance is exactly the same but as he kicks Santee of the cliff his hand does not have as much blood on it as it did before. Immediately after landing on a ledge Santee starts climbing back up the cliff. Severance teases Rita about killing her but is interrupted by Santee, who is then interrupted by Rudy holding an AK-47 to his head. Santee gives up and is beaten down by Rudy and Severance. Just as they are about to kill him Rita intervenes and claims that if they do, they will never get the money he took from Jimmy Shoeshine. Even though the suitcase is hidden under a low railroad bridge elsewhere, Santee pretends it is hidden nearby. This gives him a chance to get the upper-hand over Severance and Rudy and bushwhacks them. All three of them fight but Severance is the first to run off as it is clear he is losing. Rita then beats him with a stick. Santee and Rudy are still fighting but he gets Rudy in a headlock. Rudy's last words before Santee breaks his neck are "Eddie was just a nigger." With Rudy dead Santee rushes back to Severance to stop him from hurting Rita. He pulverizes him and is about to finish him off with a boulder but there is no flashback and no mention of Eddie. The cops arrive and Severance is cuffed by Cepeda.
Of particular note is the atmospheric and highly melodic musical score for Joshua Tree was composed by Joel Goldsmith and is widely regarded as one of the film's best features. To date, the score has not been released on CD.
TV Guide stated in its average 2/4 star review: "Brimming with muscular martial artistry, energetically staged pursuit sequences, and a full quota of bullet barrages, ARMY OF ONE suffers mainly from over-length. Still, action aficionados will be too busy body-counting the bad guys to notice any of this proficient revenge drama's deficiencies... carries a lot more dramatic resonance than less thoughtfully-scripted fugitive movies."
Templat:Steven Pressfield