TONY SCOTT

Bil’s rating (out of 5):  BB.5

USA, 1987.  Paramount Pictures, Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Eddie Murphy Productions.  Story by Eddie Murphy, Robert D. Wachs, Screenplay by Larry Ferguson,Warren Skaaren, based on characters created by Danilo Bach, Daniel Petrie Jr..  Cinematography by Jeffrey L. Kimball.  Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, Don Simpson.  Music by Harold Faltermeyer.  Production Design by Ken Davis.  Costume Design by Bobbie Read, James W. Tyson.  Film Editing by Chris Lebenzon, Michael Tronick, Billy Weber.  

Eddie Murphy‘s hit character Axel Foley returns in this less successful sequel. He is once again the wisecracking Los Angeles police detective who is hot on the trail of a woman (Brigitte Nielsen) who apparently shot his good friend and colleague (Ronny Cox). On the trail of the killer he stumbles upon a scheme involving illegally traded weapons and a series of robberies linked to the same villain. Murphy’s energy is just as manic as before, but the screenplay sags under its own cliches and the direction is too heavy handed for comedy. Judge Reinhold and John Ashton return as the comic sidekicks.

Academy Award Nomination:  Best Original Song (“Shakedown”)

Golden Globe Award Nomination:  Best Original Song (“Shakedown”)