Search This Blog

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Tough Guys (1986)

After 30 years in prison for robbing a train in the 1950s, two gangsters (Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas) now find themselves elderly men in the new world of the 1980s where they don't fit in. Lancaster feels confined by the rules and over regulation of the retirement home he's been sent to and Douglas tries to recapture his youth by going out with a hot, young gym instructor (Darlanne Fluegel) to discos and rock clubs but her sexual energy drains him. Directed by Jeff Kanew (REVENGE OF THE NERDS), the film attempts to find humor in the cliched and stereotypical treatment of senior citizens, almost to the point of offensiveness. Still, it's wonderful to see Lancaster and Douglas in their last spurt of bravura, playing off their old screen personas, as both would shortly be severely affected by strokes in the following years. These guys weren't Stars for nothing. The highlight of the film is a hilarious Eli Wallach as an incompetent near sighted hit man. The movie has one of those tiresome and annoying 80s synthesizer/drum machine score scores but there is a lovely ballad over the main credits by Burt Bacharach and sung by Kenny Rogers. With Alexis Smith, Charles Durning, Dana Carvey, Billy Barty and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

No comments:

Post a Comment