Cohen and Tate (1988)

Director:

Eric Red

Writer (WGA):

Eric Red (written by)

Release Date:

27 January 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Thriller

Tagline:

They were hired killers going up against the deadliest force of all. Each other.

Plot:

A boy kidnapped by two mismatched hitmen puts them at each other's throats while being driven to their employers...

Plot Keywords:

Witness Protection | Hitman | Road | Murder | Roadblock

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Roy Scheider	...	Cohen
Adam Baldwin	...	Tate
Harley Cross	...	Travis Knight
Cooper Huckabee	...	Jeff Knight
Suzanne Savoy	...	Martha Knight
Marco Perella	...	FBI George
Tom Campitelli	...	FBI Fred
Andy Gill	...	FBI Roy (as Andrew R. Gill)
Frank Bates	...	Highway Patrolman
James Jeter	...	Trooper #1
Jeff Bennett	...	Trooper #2
Ron Jackson	...	Trooper #3
Ted Baader	...	Trooper #4
Kenneth McCabe	...	Gas Station Attendant
Ina B. Bott	...	Fat Woman

Also Known As:

Cohen & Tate (USA) (alternative spelling)

Runtime:

86 min | Argentina:88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | UK:18 | Argentina:16 | Sweden:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Norway:18

Filming Locations:

Houston, Texas, USA

Company:

Nelson Entertainment

Trivia:

The police cruisers seen during the finale were real Houston Police squad cars. Ford LTD Crown Victorias were used by HPD from 1983 - 1987; the last use of these squads was in 1993.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: During the nighttime driving scenes, many round white glares from freeway lights are visible through the side windows of Cohen and Tate's car. However, even though the vehicle is traveling at freeway speeds, these lights barely move.

Quotes:

Tate: Hey what's the last thing that goes through a bug's mind when it hits a windshield? IT'S ASS
[He and Cohen laugh]

A black comedy of conflict between two hit men and a boy.

I cannot understand why this movie has not been given better reviews. One of those films which surprises you with its originality and which having seen it you cannot understand why it has not been given more screen time.

Brilliant professional acting between Baldwin and Scheider keeps you guessing till the end as to who is going to win the battle of wills between the two men and the boy. A terrific black comedy of errors which makes you feel almost sorry for the two hit men. It would be a mistake not to watch this movie simply because you have read the bad reviews of it on this site.

It deserves to be released worldwide on DVD.