1986 - BAND OF THE HAND, another forgotten action film

This film has the distinction of having Michael Mann as the executive producer who was the next big thing thanks to his trend setting TV series Miami Vice.  Well when you're that hot you can get a film, the chosen film was this under performer, Band of the Hand.  

The story is basically a rehash of The Dirty Dozen this time it's juvenile delinquents instead of convicts who need to be rehabilitated. Apparently law enforcement needs them to kill a lot of Miami underworld tough guys instead of Nazis.  Since Mann filmed his series Miami Vice in Miami he had the facilities to shoot this story in the same style he used on his TV show.

 

The end result was actually kind of tepid the movie seems stylish enough but the cast of young nobody actors doesn't make much of an impression and this seen it before plot doesn't help matters.

 

The film was directed by actor turned director Paul Michael Glasser.  White guy actor Stephen Lang is the leader of the group playing a Native American.  James Remar who played lots of bad guys plays the head bad guy.  Laurence Fishburne is the jive talking drug dealer.  You the picture.

Written by Leo Garen and Jack Baran.  The running time is 110 minutes. 

1987 - THE RUNNING MAN, looks pretty good these days

When I first saw this film, it was amusing but looked pretty dumb and obvious with it's satire of TV game shows. 25 years later The Running Man holds up very well and actually plays better since most of the satire isn't really satire any more.

A lot has been written about Richard Dawson essentially playing himself, the host of a game show and he is funny.  Dawson the writer and director definitely have the worst elements of the reality show business down, the stupid audience members, the smary banter and even a home version of The Running Game for lucky studio guests. 

For all the flash and dash the director loads into the film, this is still another version of The Most Dangerous Game.  The film is loaded with ex rock stars, football players, wrestlers and Arnold's legendary one liners.

101 minutes, written by Steven E. de Souza.