Con Air (1997)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Simon West

Writer (WGA):

Scott Rosenberg (written by)

Release Date:

6 June 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

One wrong flight can ruin your whole day

Plot:

A newly released ex-con and former US Ranger finds himself trapped in a prisoner transport plane when the passengers seize control.

Plot Keywords:

Convict | Prison | Criminal | Escape | Diabetic

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 8 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sat. Nov. 14	8:00 PM	TNT
Sun. Nov. 15	6:00 PM	TNT

Cast

Nicolas Cage	...	Cameron Poe
John Cusack	...	U.S. Marshal Vince Larkin
John Malkovich	...	Cyrus 'The Virus' Grissom
Ving Rhames	...	Nathan 'Diamond Dog' Jones
Nick Chinlund	...	William 'Billy Bedlam' Bedford
Steve Buscemi	...	Garland 'The Marietta Mangler' Greene
Colm Meaney	...	DEA Agent Duncan Malloy
Rachel Ticotin	...	Guard Sally Bishop
Dave Chappelle	...	Joe 'Pinball' Parker
Mykelti Williamson	...	Mike 'Baby-O' O'Dell
Danny Trejo	...	Johnny 'Johnny-23' Baca
M.C. Gainey	...	Swamp Thing
Steve Eastin	...	Guard Falzon
Renoly Santiago	...	Ramon 'Sally-Can't Dance' Martinez (as Renoly)
Monica Potter	...	Tricia Poe

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence and language.

Runtime:

115 min | USA:123 min (extended version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS (8 channels)

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #35192) | Iceland:16 | Ireland:18 | Germany:16 (extended version) (2006) | Germany:18 (original rating) | France:-12 | Finland:K-16 (DVD version) (cut) | Finland:K-16 (uncut) (video premiere) | Netherlands:12 (TV rating) | Netherlands:16 (original rating) | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:NC-16 (unrated DVD version) | Brazil:16 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Belgium:KNT | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Ontario) | Chile:14 | Denmark:15 | Italy:VM14 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:15 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (original rating) | UK:18 (video rating)

Filming Locations:

2nd Street Tunnel, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Touchstone Pictures

Trivia:

The sight of the planes flying in low formation over the Strip during filming caused a number of Las Vegans to call the police.

Goofs:

Factual errors: If Poe was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the State Of Alabama, he would be sentenced to serve his sentence in a Alabama State Penitentiary, not in a Federal Penitentiary.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Officer at Leaving Ceremony: Army Rangers have a proud history. Since the 1700s, Rangers have led the way in every major confrontation in which the United States has been involved. You men are a credit to that fine heritage, and I'm sorry to see you go. But you've served your country well...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Simpsons: How the Test Was Won (#20.11)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Carolina In The Morning

Nicolas Cage Delivers Another Action Winner

"Con Air" can best be described as "The Rock" in the sky. The film deals with a Gulf War veteran (Nicolas Cage) who becomes a victim of circumstance and is sentenced to eight years in prison. He is going home via a gigantic prison plane which is also carrying some very unsavory characters (John Malkovich, Ving Rhames, and Steve Buscemi among others). Of course the evil prisoners take over the plane and it is up to Cage to save the day. Overall this is a fine action film which keeps its focus on the characters. 4 out of 5 stars.