Hawks (1989)

A pair of happy-go-lucky terminal cancer patients decide to go out with a bang (pun intended) by stealing an ambulance and making an unauthorized pilgrimage to the Amsterdam red-light meat markets, where they connect with two women more than willing to be regarded solely as sex toys. The whole sorry mess resembles the wet dream of a dying screenwriter (with second thoughts, naturally, at the moment of truth); certainly the desperate show of good spirits by Timothy Dalton (exercising his license to ham) is only a slight improvement over flatulence jokes made at the expense of a brain-dead human cabbage. All the usual buddy-film clichés are supplemented by a mixture of cloying sentiment, annoying self-pity, low humor, and high hormones; a few cold showers would have been equally as life embracing. But let's not be too critical: there are, at least, some pleasantly scenic shots of windmills and tulips to help pass the time.

If I were to compare this movie to another I would say that it is sort of like a cross between "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and "Patch Adams". Granted it is not as good as Nest was, however it is not nearly as horrid as "Patch Adams" so I say it is closer to Cuckoo's Nest than the other. I mainly compare it to Patch as the two lead gentlemen in this film have a terminal illness and they try to cope with it and do so in a humorous way at times. They are thankfully spared someone who is perfectly fine telling jokes and making light of the situation. The film is about two terminally ill guys who are in a hospital in I believe London. One is an American and the other does seem to be a resident of London. At first the American is kind of down in the dumps, but the other guy named Bancroft and played by Dalton tries to get him to loosen up. At one point he even wheels him onto the roof of the building. They both finally get out of the hospitals clutches and proceed to live life to the fullest with the little time they have left. On the way to their final destination, a brothel in Amsterdam, they come across two ladies whom they attach to and the four begin to have fun. Unfortunately, the American's illness does seem to be taking hold of him fast and so there is not the happiest of endings to this one. However, it is not all that sad either.

First, this movie is a treasure. The script is loaded with precious gems, and Timothy and Anthony do a fantastic job of delivering each one. Poignant and truthful, but also silly at times--keeps the audience from becoming depressed over the subject matter. It's a wonderful mixture. There are many memorable scenes that will stay with you, long after you've watched the movie; many quotable lines that are purposeful to bring up over and over.It is also a different pace for Timothy Dalton fans. He shows his comic chops in this role, as well as his ability to remind the audience what's underneath--the more serious, emotional turmoil of the terminal ill. The over-the-top, silliness of his actions is a way of dealing with his mortality, and how people have treated him because of it. Tim puts it all out there, but skillfully reels it back in when it's appropriate for the scene. One of Tim's best roles.I would give this film a 10, however I can't condone the needless swearing, mostly in the beginning dialogue (which decreases later on); and the absurd topless women in the brothel scene. To me, they only distract from what's really being said, or the comedy, and if removed, would not effect the poignant story of the film.What I like is that, after the two men get to the brothel, they decide it's not really what they wanted after all. The relationship that builds up b/t our two main guys and the two women stranded along the road (with a broken down car) is a refreshing addition to the plot.

Profound film which deserves to be far wider known and is fondly remembered by all who have seen it. Ok it was remade to much greater affect by Til Schweiger as 'Knocking on heaven's Door' (1997) but this is still a meritorious effort deserving of praise. This is a trying theme and many will feel the subject does not provide suitable entertainment. I think the cinema is one of the most poignant and appropiate places to discuss and elaborate on such weighty matters as it succeeds in elevating the mundane and overtly pessimistic where other media fail. In cinema everything is possible, good, bad or indifferent. A draining experience yes, but a life affirming one.