52 Pick-Up (1986)

Very Cool!!!

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

Perhaps worth the watch but as usual does the novel no justice. However, the casting of the 6 primary characters was excellent relative to Leonard's depiction of them.

52 Pick-Up is directed by John Frankenheimer and written by Elmore Leonard (adapting from his own novel) and John Steppling. It stars Roy Scheider, Ann-Margret, John Glover, Vanity, Clarence Williams III, Robert Trebor and Kelly Preston. Music is by Gary Chang and cinematography by Jost Vacano and Stephen Ramsey. Successful business entrepreneur Harry Mitchell (Scheider) finds himself the victim of blackmail by three pornographers who have video evidence of his extramarital affair. With his wife about to embark on a new stage of her political career, the last thing Harry needs is a scandal, but when things take a turn for the worse Harry decides to use unorthodox methods to deal with the blackmailers. A nifty neo-noir this, certainly deserving of being better known in neo- noir circles. The presence of Leonard at the writing table ensures that the story doesn't drift too far away from his own source material, though location is moved to L.A. as opposed to the Detroit of the novel. Thematic thrust centres around Mitchell being caught for his indiscretions and what the consequences of his actions means for all around him, quite often with devastating results. Mitchell has to move about a seedy world of pornography, of cheap peekaboo bars, strip joints and snuff movies, he has to get to the level of his blackmailers so as to enact his plans with conviction. The three weasels played by Glover, Williams and Trebor are in turn slimy, menacing and a twitchy neurotic, an off-beat trio suitably framed by Frankenheimer's sleazy and cold world. It may not be prime Frankenheimer but the director knows his noir onions, both in performances garnered from his strong cast and via his visual ticks. Characters are more often than not smoking or drinking liquor, sweating or looking pained as the camera gets up close and personal, the director even finds place for a bit of slatted shadow play in one sequence and menacing angled shards for another. Some contrivances are more annoying than hindrances, it's a bit bloodless for a picture not lacking in action scenes, and although the finale is signposted without due care and attention, it is still sufficiently rewarding. Decadence, sleaze, greed, paranoia and moral decay come crashing together to create a sadly neglected piece of 1980s neo-noir. A yuppie revenger where there are no heroes, just sinners and victims. 7.5/10

You can't help love this movie. It's a tight thriller about a group of ex cons, some sleazy and repulsive sorts, involved in the pornographic industry of underground sleaze. They too have got this rich businessman right where they've want him. They want him to pay, a lot. At first Harry Mitchell (Roy Schneider) who runs his construction company, doesn't play ball which is a bad mistake, especially on his part, where his now dead hottie, 20 years his minor is killed, where they had taped evidence of his infidelity. Without really going into anymore of this story, 52 Pick Up is a compact thriller with some nice little bits of sleaze amidst. There are great performances, especially from our sleazoids. One being Clarence Williams, the third, as Bobby Shy, who again doesn't disappoint. He's a boyfriend of one of the black dancers, the sizzling Vanity, who looks so hot in lingerie with her assets. You want to take poloroids of her like this, all day. He's part of the blackmailing trio. Like getting a taste of Harry's work, we get to see quite a slice of how our sleazesters live like at parties, boobies here, boobies there. The villains are so well created, the actors giving them justice, John Glover in particular, the head of this set up. You gotta admire Harry's will and defiance, where his wife (Ann Margaret in this kind of movie?) a successful campaigner is running for a political seat, so Harry's not the only one with a lot to lose. And one wonders, which works in the thriller element of the story, if the dead ex girlfriend (Preston) was also involved in the set up which we'll never know. I love the small scenes and locations of sleaze, like in the dirty strips clubs, other dives, porno theatres, one if you can believe is operated by Glover. Too in the sleaze department we have some weird happenings, like Glover making his own pornographic movie, filming two female hotties getting in on, before they're rudely interrupted by a not so happy and betrayed Bobby Shy. Each scene works in a tight and constant chain as the next. Every scene in the movie is necessary, and never bores. There's hardly a scene in this 87' flick I don't hate. Harry Mitchell is a stubbornly persistent guy and in his own way, he will get his own back on Glover, where the vengeful end is slick and priceless, a revenge lovers dream. Whatever your movie pleasure, 52 Pick Up, is different and a smart psychological thriller, where it's generous amount of sleazy bits, almost brings it down, but thankfully it just rises above that.

"52 Pick-Up" is weakest at the end, where it seems totally out of character that the crafty Roy Scheider resorts to not outwitting his opponent, but pulling a "Rambo" stunt. For that reason, what precedes the finale, gets better and better, the further you get away from the ending. Roy Scheider is reserved, while his main adversary, John Glover, is unpredictable and threatening. Ann Margaret really is mostly wasted, and a no name actress could have played her part. Although I can't put my finger on it, the film leaves you with the feeling that there are a lot of loose threads dangling uncomfortably. "52 Pick-Up is a worthwhile watch, but somewhat unsatisfying because of the out of character ending. - MERK