Ricochet $5.98
This sleeper star vehicle for Denzel Washington is a campy revenge thriller in the Brian De Palma style. Director Russell Mulcahy (The Shadow) makes the most of the opportunity to showcase two great actors in an exaggerated story of cops, robbers, and revenge. Denzel Washington (Glory, Crimson Tide) plays a cop who becomes a rising legal star as a result of arresting master criminal John Lithgow (The World According to Garp). Lithgow escapes prison, fakes his own death, and sets about framing lawyer Washington for various crimes and methodically destroys his life, until Washington enlists the help of childhood friend and drug dealer Ice-T (New Jack City) to turn the tables and put his tormentor out of business for good. Lurid and violent, the film is also happily over the top, making Ricochet a cheerfully decadent indulgence. --Robert Lane
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Last updated: October 22, 2009, 3:00 am
Ricochet Cusomter reviews:
Average Rating: 4.0 Total Reviews: 17
(Craig Connell, 2009-04-17) This is a typical Denzel Washington film: well-acted, rough language, a racial theme and an involved story that holds your interest. A lot of his movies fit those categories. Washington plays a preacher's kid and its nice to see he has such respect for him.So many times, Hollywood portrays fathers and especially clergymen in a bad light. John Lithgow is the villain and is such a crazy over-the-top loon he's fun to watch. There are no lulls in this story, yet the action scenes weren't overdone. It gets predictable in the end but I like the analogy in the film to the classic movie, "White Heat." I was sorry to see a few things: once again, white people are all the bigots; Lindsay Wagner, television's nice lady of the past, now using very profane language here and looking hard. Overall, this sometimes looks like a "B" action film more than a classy one but it's still an interesting crime film that sports a few different angles. It may not be one of Washington's better-known efforts (less than 20 reviews here), but it is still entertaining.
(Nuisance, 2008-10-27) I dont know what other people were expecting. This was supposed to be a popcorn flick not a movie made to win oscars. The story is simple enough Denzel Washington plays Nick Styles, a cop/attorney who busts a psychopath named Earl Talbot Blake(John Lithgow) at a drug ring gone sour. Earl Blake plots his revenge on Nick Styles in jail and escapes from prison. From then on, he systematically destroys Nick Styles life and has everyone questioning Nick's sanity. The storyline is not bad and Denzel does a great job as usual. John Lithgow is perfect as Earl Blake and its probably his best role since the scared flight attendant in Twilight Zone: The Movie. His villain is a throwback in the days when villains were villains and not these craven new age geeks who tap on laptops and run from confrontation as far away as possible. Kevin Pollak is decent enough as Nick's partner Harry. Ice-T plays Odessa(and who the hell names a man Odessa?), the man who helps Nick Styles take down Blake. If you are looking for Oscar material you are definitely in the wrong place but if you are looking for a pretty good thriller it wouldnt hurt if you tried this.
(Terence Allen, 2007-04-03) Ricochet is a pretty basic action, but it keeps you interested with great performances by Denzel Washington as the besieged hero and John Lithgow (completely over-the-top performance) as the despicable villain. Washington starts off the movie as a beat cop who runs across criminal Lithgow and apprehends him. Next, we flash forward years later where Washington is the DA, having made his career off of the Lithgow bust. And Lithgow escapes from prison, and is ready for revenge... Everyone performs well, even though you have to believe they realized how silly the movie is, but you are able to go with the flow and suspend disbelief enough to enjoy the proceedings. This is just a fun action flick. No need to make it any more than what it is.
(Example: Mark Twain, 2006-12-21) First off, Denzel is the man. No debate there. But this film is flat out one of the worst movies I've seen. Macro Micro of SF pretty much nailed the review, no need to repeat the points. As if the film were not laughably bad enough, we're left with the prospect of the scary reviews on this page. I was hoping that those stars and raves were offered in sarcasm, but I'm not convinced we're that lucky, instead we are left with the solemn thought that these are likely the original and earnest thoughts of the authors. Someday these people might be serving on your jury. Thought. Were these reviewers fibbing when they checked the "I am over the age of 13" box required by this website? Denzel, your still the man. Word.
(L. Jerome, 2006-03-02) Couldn't believe that this was the same John Lithgow who starred in "Third Rock From the Sun", an hilarious comedy that ran for a few years on NBC. John plays the ultimate bad guy seeking twisted revenge for being stopped in his tracks by Denzel's character. Wasn't expecting much, but this movie was surprisingly entertaining. Yes, it was a little violent, and some parts were a tad unbelievable, but overall, Denzel and John were worthy antagonists. Boy, Denzel sure was gorgeous!! Still is.