THE HARD WAY (1991)

MORGAN'S RATING

In New York Times Square a billboard looms larger than life for a new Hollywood blockbuster starring Nick Lang, an Indiana Jones-style superhero. The real Nick Lang is holed up in a neighboring apartment studying every move and mannerism of Lt. John Moss, a hard-nosed, streetwise cop who has been taken off a serial killer case for a new assignment: showing the Hollywood star how a real cop lives, in preparation for a new film role.

Michael J. Fox (Nick Lang / Ray Casanov), James Woods (Detective Lt. John Moss), Stephen Lang (Party Crasher), Annabella Sciorra (Susan), John Capodice (Detective Grainy), Luis Guzman (Detective Benny Pooley), LL Cool J (Detective Billy), Mary Mara (Detective China), Delroy Lindo (Captain Brix), Conrad Roberts (Witherspoon), Penny Marshall (Angie), Christina Ricci (Bonnie), George Cheung (Drug Dealer), Frank Geraci (Newsman), Lewis Black, Rand Foerster, Anderson Matthews (Bankers), Kathy Najimy (Lang's Girl Friday), Mos Def (Dead Romeos), Bill Cobbs (Raggedy Man), Dwayne McClary, Sharrieff Pugh, Anthony Thomas, Howard 'Stick' Baines, Shawn McLean, Curtis L. McClarin (Dead Romeos), Kennan Leung (Asian Gang Leader), Reno (Diner Waitress).

THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY THESE TWO ARE GOING TO GET ALONG...

FACTS

PRODUCTION INFORMATION

RELEASE DATE: March 8th, 1991 (USA) BOX OFFICE OPENING: $6.3 ?million (USA) BOX OFFICE RESULT: $25.8 million (USA) - This film was LL Cool J's screen debut and his 1990 hit "Momma Said Knock You Out" is heard in the opening club sequence as James Woods and the police are staking it out and during the end credits. The rapper plays Billy in the film.

DIRECTOR: John Badham (Bird on a Wire). WRITERS: Michael Kozoll, Daniel Pyne and Lem Dobbs. PRODUCERS: Rob Cohen and William Sackheim. ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS: D.J. Caruso and Keith Rubinstein. CO-PRODUCER: Peter R. McIntosh. ORIGINAL MUSIC: Arthur B. Rubinstein. DISTRIBUTOR: Universal Pictures.

CRITICAL COMMENTS

QUOTES

"An amusing diversion, with Woods and Fox perfectly cast." -- Chuck Rudolph, Matinee Magazine

Nick: Hey, look at this. They got my billboard across the street. John: Good, you'll be sleeping close to the one you love.

"No, no, no." -- Fred Hong Joo Jung, Korea Times

Nick: When are you going to get me something with a little relevance, a little social conscience, something that doesn't have a goddamn Roman numeral in the title? You ever hear of "Hamlet III", "A Midsummer Night IV"? Angie: They made "Henry V"! It won awards for that little Scottish guy!

Pooley: Jesus, Moss, what are you gonna tell the captain? "I'm sorry about the 45 people I killed, I was horny?"

John: Not if you tied my tongue to your tail-pipe and drove me eighty miles-an-hour naked across a field of broken glass. No. No.

John: Why don't you go tie your dick in a knot?