Cohen & Tate

Trailer—Cohen and Tate

Every time this movie is on TV I always watch at least part of it. The gripes people said about this movie are... No action: There was certainly more action than The Godfather, another mob movie. No plot: Did you watch the friggin' movie, or do you find it hard to follow movies like Toy Story? Don't know about the characters: The whole movie is a study on the disparate personalities of the three. What don't you know? Don't believe the negative reviews of a movie like this. If graphic violence or strong language doesn't bother you then watch this movie the next time it's on the movie channel or rent it sometime. Also, could someone explain to me, what's up with the obvious dubbing over some of Adam Baldwin's profanity? This is even on the unedited video version of the movie. The movie already had an R rating. Were they trying to clean it up a little? Watch carefully whenever Tate is swearing at Travis and you'll see what I'm talking about.

Roy is in awesome form here as the professional crim with a job to do and no time for his loudmouth psychopath offsider. The kid is great too as the plucky victim. Dark and tense,great late night fare.

This is a rare film nowadays, and something of a hidden gem. Yes, it is that Eric Red who wrote and directed this picture. Many of his trademarks are here - an innocent boy who gets abducted by a bunch of brutal yet somehow attractive murderous outsiders; a dark, noirish feel throughout the film; and of course, it's a road movie. The film opens with a devastating scene that still has the power to disturb and becomes a roller coaster ride into the nightmarish world of two hit men who kidnap a child witness to a mob murder. Roy Schieder is excellent as the the ice-cold Cohen. But what really elevates this film into myth is the war of wills between Cohen, Tate and the little boy who does his best to drive a wedge between them. If you ever get a chance to watch this undiscovered masterpiece, don't miss it!

This is a little known thriller from the guy who wrote the screenplay for The Hitcher. Like that film, this one is a road movie. Plot: two hit men rub out some mob witnesses but have to contend with a survivor, a plucky little kid. Roy Scheider's performance as Cohen, the sleek professional hit-man is wonderful. When he slips on what looks like a pair of black rubber gloves at the start of the film, it somehow says almost all you need to know about him. Adam Baldwin is equally impressive as the less slick and much less professional killer, the ominously psychopathic Tate, who likes to run over small animals while he drives... This film is extremely tense in spots. And if you're a fan of films that end with a bang, you should enjoy the climactic confrontation between the cops, the killers, and that damned little kid! This might be Roy Scheider's last great role.