"Extreme Prejudice" of 1987 may not be one of director Walter Hill's best films. but it certainly is a highly entertaining and action-packed piece of 80s macho cinema, that friends of diverting stories about loyalty, violence and tough guys should like. Other than many movies of the kind, "Extreme Prejudice" has an excellent cast. The story is not more promising than your average action flick, but this movie scores with good, violent action and great performances from actors such as Nick Nolte, Powers Boothe and Michael Ironside.
Jack Benteen (Nick Nolte) is a tough Texas Ranger who does his job near the Mexican border with a great sense of duty. His major ambition is to take down a drug cartel run in Mexico by the American Cash Bailey (Powers Boothe), and he has dedicated himself to this goal, irrespective of dangers or fatalities. Not only is Cash Bailey a drug-lord, however, he is also Jack's best childhood friend and the former lover of Jack's sexy Mexican bar singer girlfriend Sarita (Maria Conchita Alonso). Apart from Jack, a bunch of former soldiers lead by a mysterious Major (Michael Ironside) also have some task to carry out in the desert borderland...
The story is OK, but nothing spectacular, and the film's major qualities are the violent action, the characters' macho attitude and tough-mindedness, and, especially the great cast. Nick Nolte is excellent in his role of the silent tough-guy Texas Ranger. Powers Boothe also delivers a great performance as the unscrupulous drug-lord Cash, and beautiful Maria Conchita Alonso fits in her role very well. Michael Ironside is a great actor, and his specialty is playing tough guys or sinister characters. Both attributes apply to the his role in "Extreme Prejudice". The cast furthermore includes Rip Torn as a Sheriff as well as William Forsythe, Clancy Brown and Tommy 'Tiny' Lister in an early role. All things considered, "Extreme Prejudice" is certainly no masterpiece, but friends of tough-minded action flicks should be highly entertained! 6/10
Jack Benteen (Nick Nolte) is a tough Texas Ranger who does his job near the Mexican border with a great sense of duty. His major ambition is to take down a drug cartel run in Mexico by the American Cash Bailey (Powers Boothe), and he has dedicated himself to this goal, irrespective of dangers or fatalities. Not only is Cash Bailey a drug-lord, however, he is also Jack's best childhood friend and the former lover of Jack's sexy Mexican bar singer girlfriend Sarita (Maria Conchita Alonso). Apart from Jack, a bunch of former soldiers lead by a mysterious Major (Michael Ironside) also have some task to carry out in the desert borderland...
The story is OK, but nothing spectacular, and the film's major qualities are the violent action, the characters' macho attitude and tough-mindedness, and, especially the great cast. Nick Nolte is excellent in his role of the silent tough-guy Texas Ranger. Powers Boothe also delivers a great performance as the unscrupulous drug-lord Cash, and beautiful Maria Conchita Alonso fits in her role very well. Michael Ironside is a great actor, and his specialty is playing tough guys or sinister characters. Both attributes apply to the his role in "Extreme Prejudice". The cast furthermore includes Rip Torn as a Sheriff as well as William Forsythe, Clancy Brown and Tommy 'Tiny' Lister in an early role. All things considered, "Extreme Prejudice" is certainly no masterpiece, but friends of tough-minded action flicks should be highly entertained! 6/10