52 Pick-Up (1986)

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.

This movie is about making the wrong decision(s) after making the wrong moves with the wrong people, almost a classical Hollywood theme. But it does just that in an artistic and stylish way with excellent actors and I have to add that it's a very good and entertaining movie that kept me glued to the screen then. At the time this movie came out, Roy Scheider already looked an old man - especially seeing him now, starts me wondering what's his age now, anyway. Still, his acting performance is almost a classic one and Ann Margret is cast excellently as his wife that he betrayed. Frankenheimer directs how the best do: so seamless and subtle and unobtrusive, you never notice him tightening the screws right up until a white-knuckle climax.The film reminds me of "The Desperate Hours" (Wyler) in that higher reasoning and sound judgment triumph over the corruption and stupidity of criminal behavior, so it delivers the powerful message concerning societal morality that "crime does not pay", and proceeds to demonstrate that contention with riveting precision. There is a provocative synergy at work here because the mind-numbing stupidity and criminal thought process of the extortionist contrasts so well against the Scheider character's higher intellect, resourcefulness and self-confidence. These proceedings remind us of how difficult it is to stay on the top in our competitive society. Certainly hard work and innovation can get you to the top, but then you become a moving target for greedy miscreants looking for a quick buck. The film has brief interludes of normality, punctuated by explosive violence and debauchery, somewhat like "Frenzy" (Hitchcock). Frankenhiemer was a disciple of Hitchcock and this harrowing film really shows it.Overall rating: 8 out of 10.

This is definitely a Guy Flick, though the kind of guy who really enjoys this probably isn't somebody you'd feel good about trusting with your sister or daughter. Not being a guy myself, the appeal is elusive. Not that it isn't a well-crafted thriller; what points I gave it are an acknowledgment of that, but since it's my personal review I'm giving my subjective opinion. That can be pretty well summed up with a few adjectives: VIOLENT, SLEAZY, REPULSIVE. It probably made money, though, and in the film industry that counts for a lot. Age restrictions were created especially to spare impressionable young minds the kind of imagery presented here. Makes you yearn for good clean sex and violence... Definitely on my list of films to never see again.

Just watched this movie today on a used VHS tape I bought several days ago. This is the one where Roy Scheider is blackmailed by the villainous trio of Robert Trebor, Clarance Williams III, and as the ringleader, John Glover. They have evidence he cheated on his beautiful wife Ann-Margret with a hooker played by the young Kelly Preston. The title refers to the amount in thousands Scheider is supposed to pay but he has other plans...Directed by John Frankenheimer from a screenplay co-written by Elmore Leonard on whose book it's based on, this was a very absorbing thriller even with the somewhat cheesy '80s score tacked on. Everyone I've mentioned are quite good with both Williams and Glover especially turning on the heat. Pop singer Vanity is also good as a roommate of Ms. Preston's who provides her own moments with Scheider and Williams. From the Golan-Globus team at Cannon Films, 52 Pick-Up is one of their most compelling films made during their '80s heyday. P.S. This is one of those movies that doesn't use the fake 555 prefix whenever a telephone number is mentioned.