The year was 1997, and Nicolas Cage had just come off the success of his first action movie The Rock . It appeared that he could make the move from comedy movies over to action movies, and Simon West casted him to do just that in Con Air. With Jerry Bruckheimer behind this film as well, they knew what they could expect from Nicolas Cage on the big screen. But, as of this film, Cage had not been tested as an action star. Was The Rock a fluke, or could Cage hold his own as an action star. To make sure that they did not stake everything on that, Cage was surrounded by a great supporting cast.


Nicolas Cage stars in this film as Cameron Poe, a US Ranger who is just returning stateside from a tour in the desert. His first night back, he goes out to the bar with Tricia his wife (played by Monica Potter), and they celebrate his new free time that he will be able to spend with her. After a full night of celebrating, and having a good old time, 3 men approach Cameron and Tricia outside of the bar. These guys want nothing but trouble, and Cameron stands his ground to protect his wife. A fight ensues, and Cameron ends up killing a man with a hard punch to the head. He is then sentenced to 7 years in prison, because he is deemed a dangerous weapon in society.


Poe is sent to jail, but we soon discover that Tricia was pregnant, and gives birth while he is locked up. Rather than meeting his daughter, he urges his wife to keep her away from the jail, so that she does not risk losing her innocence by being around such people. So, for the 7 years that Poe is in prison, he has a great reason to be good, and make sure that he gets out on time. He keeps to himself, but ends up making close friends with his cellmate. It gets to the point where they would do anything to protect each other. The day finally comes for Poe's release, and as fate would have it, his cellmate Mike is being transferred on the same plane that is flying him to his freedom. You may recognize Mike as Mykelti Williamson, who also played Bubba in Forest Gump.


Unknown to these two characters, the plane that they will be flying on is also transporting a host of other criminals who have done some gruesome things to get themselves thrown in prison. Among the prisoners is John Malkovich who play Cyrus Grissom, Ving Rhames who plays Diamond Dog, Dave Chappelle who plays Pinball, and Steve Buscemi who plays "The Marietta Mangler", who has killed 37 people. Each of the criminals is given a defined personality, and it is fun to watch as their characters slowly develop during the film. The only part that I didn't like about the prisoners, is that we don't find out specifically why they were in prison to start with. This does not hold up the film though, because each of them does something in the first couple of scenes that helps the audience to see the psyche of each of them.


On the opposite side of the law, we have John Cusack as U.S. Marshal Vince Larkin. He has been placed in charge of the transfer of prisoners, and it is his intent to make sure that everything goes off without a hitch. Larkin is a very smart person, who seems to be able to figure out situations even before they develop. He is exactly the type of person that we would want dealing with a situation such as this. Cusack plays the role very well, and shows that he has come a long way from the teen-movies that had made him a star in the 1980's. While being somewhat tough and determined, he also as some on-screen innocence that is needed when we have a movie about criminals, and an event that centers around all of them.


The main plot of the story unfolds, as a scheme unfolds on the plane while it is in the air. Several of the prisoners have put together a plan to take over the plane, and then seek their freedom once they are in control of it. Attaining the one gun on the plane, that was kept in the cock-pit, they take over the plane that is then dubbed "Con Air." With the criminals now in charge of the plane, Cusack must take action on the ground to ensure that the plane does not either crash into a densely populated area, or land somewhere that will allow all of the prisoners to escape. The thought of his supervisors is to immediately shoot down the plane, but Larkin is sure that there is a better way to deal with the situation.


On the plane, Poe must now try to convince the new flight-crew that he is on their side, and shares the goal of helping everyone escape. All the while, he is trying to save his friend, who if he does not receive an insulin shot soon, could go into shock and die. This is now the setting within the first 25 minutes of the movie, as we have the plot that will last for the duration of the film. Poe is given the chance to get off the plane, but does not take it, when he knows that his friend will surely die if he does. It is now up to Poe on the plane, and Larkin on the ground, to figure out some kind of plan to make sure that Con Air does not reach its destination.


When you think of an action film, this is the type of movie that comes right to the front of your mind. Nicolas Cage does a great job as the unsuspecting hero, who must save the day. All of the people cast as prisoners play their roles very well, and there are several scenes involving a few of them that stand out in your mind. Malkovich is a great actor to use in the role of the psychotic, yet brilliant ringleader of the group, and he flexes his acting muscles in every scene that he is a part of. Ving Rhames is of course great in his role as a black militant, who is just using this situation as a "means to and end." All he wants is to be free, where he can then lead his life again. But, the best-played prisoner is that of Steve Buscemi's character. Playing a sadistic serial killer, Buscemi shines as a dark-thinking person, with a weak exterior, yet everyone around him knows that he is hiding something sinister underneath his skin.


With all of the great actors of the film, and all of the great action sequences that they have to play with, this was one of the top movies of 1997. Its box office ended getting over-shadowed by Titanic, but it held its own for several weeks. The film was very well made, and though the story can be summed up in just 2 or 3 sentences, it is well-worth watching because of the star-power and the great on-screen chemistry that they all have together. This film made it ironclad that Nicolas Cage was going to be a great leading man, and ended up spring-boarding his career on to the A-List of Hollywood. If you are into action movies, or just some great acting, then this is the movie for you. I highly recommend this as one of the great action movies that can define the genre.


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for Groups