A Time to Die (1991)

Beautiful, moving film.

Clever, believable, and super fun to watch. It totally has replay value.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

A Time To Die (1991)-** Directed By: Charles T. Kanganis Starring: Traci Lords, Richard Roundtree, and Jeff ConawayIn terms of pure entertainment value, "A Time To Die" is on par with the same year's "Raw Nerve" also with Traci Lords (See review). "Die" has the edge as far as production value goes. 1991 was a banner year for Traci Lords as these AIP and PM Entertainment productions prove. She also released "Shock Em' Dead" and appeared in some television productions like "Super Force". Her album "1000 Fires" wasn't far behind.Jeff Conaway plays Frank, an L.A. cop who wears a kickin' sports jacket and has slick hair. One night he breaks up an illegal gun deal and when he gets in over his head, he is almost shot and killed by Hispanic gangsters. Luckily, Jackie Swanson (Lords) arrives on the scene just in time and helps him thwart the bad guys. You see, Jackie is doing her 400 hours of community service by taking pictures for the L.A.P.D. She answers to disgruntled Captain Ralph Phipps (Roundtree). She incurred this penalty because of a bogus drug charge lodged by corrupt cop Eddie Martin (Ralph Nader lookalike Robert Miano). She's a divorced gal and she has a young son with her ex-husband. If she ever wants to see her son again, she has to complete her "debt to society". Meanwhile Frank attempts to woo Jackie into a relationship come with mixed results. His pushy nature eventually wins her over for a short period of time. Maybe Frank isn't really the charming cad he thinks he is. The plot kicks into high gear when Jackie witnesses Eddie killing a pimp and she snaps some pics. Eddie gets wise, and they have a meeting. Jackie wants to use the pics as a bargaining chip to expunge her record so she can see her son. Eddie says "No Dice" and the more conflict ensues, including a gratuitous but enjoyable car blow-up. Will Jackie succeed in seeing her son or will an unexpected twist ruin it all? One of the highlights of the film is Jackie's son Kevin. He is somewhere between 5 and 8 years old and yet he is a very snappy dresser. He wears a jacket, a tie and cowboy boots at all times, he looks very spiffy. Strangely there is a part of the movie that intercuts a sex scene with Kevin making his own breakfast(!) This might be a movie first. He fills a glass with half chocolate syrup and half milk. Meanwhile, he is assembling a messy disaster of waffles or possibly pancakes. Later on in the film, Kevin is depressed about the divorce and is glumly playing with his action figures….getting the line of the movie, Kevin blurts out: "I'm gonna smoosh you!" The actor that plays Kevin has a lot of range and he is a national treasure. Fan Favorite Richard Roundtree has the thankless role as The Captain, but he makes it work. He is forever putting up with the guff of Jackie, Frank and his fellow officers. In a bizarre subplot, two angry lesbians continually get arrested for fighting with plastic swords. Frank even takes Jackie to their house to observe this spectacle for a date! On that same date, Frank and Jackie have a picnic in the park and then they visit the lesbians fighting and to "cap" it off they go to the gun range. How could Jackie keep spurning Frank's advances after that? Overall, there is nothing wrong with "A Time To Die" it has a lovable cast of B-movie favorites and some decently staged action. The plot is pretty silly and melodramatic, but who really cares. Kevin really lifts this up from the muck and the mire. Set aside some "Time" to watch this classic tonight! Comeuppance Review by: Ty & BrettFor more insanity, please visit: comeuppancereviews.com

Despite the cover and the title, "A Time To Die" is not an outright action film; it's more of a drama with action elements. I have to admit it surprised me a bit with its relaxed pacing, its fairly ambitious (if not totally unpredictable) script, its quirky sense of humor, and its emphasis on the characters. There are some outrageous contrivances (especially the never-seen-before "best friend" who gets mistaken for the heroine at one point), and the abrupt ending leaves the fates of some characters unclear. But Traci Lords is very appealing here, and Richard Roundtree is highly amusing as the loud police captain. **1/2 out of 4.

Traci Lords (who as horrible as she is can still out act Sharon Stone almost any day of the week) is Jackie, a photographer who finds herself being framed for possession of coke by a cop on the take. So she reluctantly teams up with another cop (Jeff Conway, whom his role in Taxi grows more and more ironic throughout the years) to clear her name. This movie is the definition of bad. Horrible acting, totally inept dialog, idiotic action sequences, and a script from Charles Kanganis all collide to make this travesty a must miss. Oh and Jackie has one of the most annoying kids this side of "Problem Child" and Richard Roundtree also has a small part as a police captain (yes the early 90's were a horrid half decade for Shaft).Eye Candy: Nitchie Barrett gives the only two reasons to even think of subjecting yourself to this, but sadly nothing close to what she showed in "Preppies" Where I saw it: Showtime Extreme My Grade: F

This is a cheap thriller without too much thrill. Jackie, a photographer, finds out that the police is corrupt, and shoots photos of one of the officers while he's doing a serious crime. Then the officer tries to catch her and finally there is a big fight...Well, one may state not much good about this movie, but there are two funny scenes in it - the first one, and when Jackie visited the lesbians which fight which each other. I also liked it that everybody I couldn't stand was dead at the end of the movie (I better don't tell you who !).