MICHAEL BAY

Bil’s rating (out of 5):   BBB. 

USA, 1996.  Hollywood Pictures, Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films.  Story by David Weisberg, Douglas Cook, Screenplay by David Weisberg, Douglas Cook, Mark Rosner.  Cinematography by John Schwartzman.  Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, Don Simpson.  Music by Nick Glennie-Smith, Hans Zimmer.  Production Design by Michael White.  Costume Design by Bobbie Read.  Film Editing by Richard Francis-Bruce.  Podcast: My Criterions.

If you like your action movies loud as can be, you’ll love this adrenaline-pumped ride by Michael Bay (Armageddon, Pearl Harbour). When an unbalanced Vietnam vet (Ed Harris) decides to take refuge on Alcatraz with his band of renegade soldiers and hold San Francisco hostage with a dangerous chemical bomb in his possession, FBI operative Nicolas Cage (one of his most fun and lively roles) enlists the help of ex-convict Sean Connery, a former prisoner of Alcatraz who actually managed to escape. Lots of great set pieces, action scenes involving car chases and last-minute-nick-of-time-stop-the-bomb moments, but Bay always overdoes it with the queasily colourful photography and slow-motion sequences, making his films more tiresome than enjoyable.

The Criterion Collection:  #108

Academy Award Nomination:  Best Sound