Act of Piracy (1988)

Watching Busey in other roles, he's never gonna match his electric and mesmerizing take on Buddy Holly, or of course, be nominated for an Oscar again. Here in this straight to video action pic, with some smarts, but really falling just above an average time passer, his wild and raving performance, galavanting around on his vengeful quest with his ex (the beautiful Bauer) to catch the bad dudes (a terrorist group) who have his kids, is really one of the few highlights to this film, it's nice music score, another one (something you would expect to hear in a t.v. show). Part of the terrorist group, headed by the late Sharkey, one of the great movie villain actors, is his luscious wife (Mulford) who was parading as Busey's girlfriend, prefore, his nightmare began. She takes one too many falls, you could say. Also a tongueless slightly overweight Columbian woman, who you slightly feel sorry for. Their plan is to use Busey's boat an an operative base, only the kids came on board too. Busey had survived, adrift, after going overboard, and washing up on the beach. Location wise, there are some really nice sights, where the ending kind of drags on, as in the final battle between Sharkey and Busey, as his lovable sailing possession goes down like the Titanic. Bauer, a so underused actress, gives a real notable performance as her divorced, suffering wife. She's better than Busey here, his character, I thought, was really a selfish ignorant d..k, especially in his barging start. He's really a jackass, one scene in a taxi, that has him saying to Bauer "How did things get so ugly between us?" was a laughable moment, as was some others, from his pigheaded character. Sharkey again, brings us a real believable nasty villain, you'll love to hate, and hate you will. There's nothing really special about Act Of Piracy, except it's different story, but I guess you could call it semi exciting watch. Mulford in sexy pink lingerie, is a sight to behold though.

Gary Busey is no actor-He is dynamite.Firing through this movie like a man long used to bottling lightening and still loving it; even the most casual observer will be incapable of indifference. His turn here as Ted Andrews,(a Vietnam vet with a heart of gold that however tolerates no nonsense)is as nonsensical as it is enthralling.But by goodness is it enthralling. The plot, it has to be said, is somewhat unfeasible: 'Man talks his ex-wife into accepting that their children ought to accompany him on an unnecessary and dangerous Journey to Australia to sell his luxury Yaught. On route said Yaught is attacked by a bunch of evil blah blah blah blah ad nauseum' - However, in this wonderful world of Gary Busey, such things as plot and feasibility seem quite peripheral and simply nothing to worry about. In fact, i challenge anyone to consider in a cool manner such rational things whilst faced with the captivating, rich and insane flicker sitting just behind Gary Busey's eyes. Absolutely brilliant!

This film was so bad and naff I had to fast forward some of the scenes to get through the predictable & cringy parts. It's obviously the epitome of an 80's B movie, with mostly B actors and B acting. Busey fails abysmally in his attempt at playing the good, heroic, family guy but ends up competing (for an Oscar nomination?) with Laura Warner in a series of hilarious over-the-top dual performances. Everything from the stunts, production, sound, (tacky) soundtrack, picture etc. cheap and it's weird because it looks like the children's voices were dubbed with adult ones which makes their performance even worse than it is already. There is absolutely nothing memorable from neither of the characters or lines apart from perhaps the gun tooting blonde bimbo who gets chucked out of the Hotel balcony but only for obvious reasons LOL. Ray Shark is totally unbelievable as the head of the terrorist gang and just ends up making you laugh pitifully at him and his character's style. I was baffled to find out that Arnold Vosloo (perhaps I shouldn't be given his B-movie portfolio) was in this rubbish as well, looking like some gangly Euro boy in full 80's B-movie gear & hairdo. It makes other second-rate films with him in like "Con express" look like Hollywood masterpieces. My advice to anyone, is stay away from this horrible film! Sorry but I'm really shocked at some of the comments I've read here, is there something I missed?? John Cardos is lucky to have such loyal fans

Rich guy Busey takes the matters into his own hands when his yacht is hijacked and his family taken hostage by cold blooded terrorists. Brutal "action-adventure" not worthy an actor of Gary Busey's calibre.