Shakedown

"Shakedown" is an over-the-top action movie. I don't know which scene is the most ridiculous. But despite all of the silliness, it's quite watchable. It's not a campy movie (at least I don't watch it that way). It's just a lot of fun. Peter Weller and Sam Elliot make a great team. The villains are caricatures but they are all played well. The stunt work is terrific. The only real negative in "Shakedown" is the ending. It's a bit too much. I saw this movie when it first came out at Douglaston, NY's Movie World. I liked it then and I still like it now.

I don't think anyone in Germany was or is familiar with the term. But I guess who ever decided to call the movie that, thought it sounded better than the shakedown ... fair enough I reckon. As it is fair enough to enjoy this 80s movie insanity. I mean there are things here ... you couldn't pull off the same way nowadays because of repercussions and all that ... not mention endangerment of the public, dishing out justice without consequences ... and many other things. But Peter Weller knows a thing or two about that of course. Here he is a lawyer though ... there are others who play the baddies here. But generally speaking the cast is quite something! A lot of good people involved .. and the movie warrants their appearance - script is tight (if you don't mind the 80s-ness as mentioned)! Not for everyone, but those who are into it, will enjoy it quite a bit

Another buddy-action movie, but this time it's a lawyer and a cop. Nothing original here, but plenty of action and an interesting plot will keep you watching. Ending was ok, but it could have been much better. Good for watching when you've already seen all the Die Hards and Lethal Weapons. 6 1/2 out of 10. Can you spot the subtle references to other Glickenhaus movies like The Soldier and Exterminator?

It's an enjoyable action flick overall. However it's also a buddy comedy and a courtroom drama quickly whisked together and served in one massive high protein shake. And that's its biggest downfall. Don't get me wrong I deeply enjoy the mindless entertainment of 80s "tough policemen" movies but the usual straightforwardness of a Schwarzenegger or a Stallone is lost here. An amazing cast (Sam Elliott, Peter Weller and Patricia Charbonneau) which would have done really well in any high budget Hollywood production, gets involved in all kinds of extravagant and adrenalin inducing events while distilling great acting throughout and keeping up with the highly energetic pace set by director James Glickenhaus. Not cohesive but if you're a fan of Lethal Weapon, 48 hrs or Tango and Cash it will serve you well.

A pretty fun movie to watch, a bit silly in parts and ludicrous in others, its a good entertainer. Sam Elliot smooths his way through the film as usual and Weller, though good, is a little Robocop with some of his emotions. Has all the elements you want from this kind of film :)

"Shakedown" seems to fancy itself a buddy movie even though its public defender and police officer heroes work separately for most of it. And it dances between courtroom drama and cop action movie (with an emphasis on eyebrow-raising stunts), so tonally it's kind of all over the place. Yet, in the grand scheme of things, that ends up working for this movie because I liked the two leads. Peter Weller's legal angst, the overall '80s-ness and all of the macho dialogue come together into an entertaining movie. And it's a New York that you can almost feel, from the fashionable end to the Times Square cesspool. 7/10

Completely contrived police corruption plot but Sam Elliott and Peter Weller do the best that could be expected under the circumstances. This almost seems like the roller coaster scene and the plane finale were thought up, and then connected somehow with the cartoon like script. Character development beyond Elliott and Weller is sketchy. The entire cops on the drug dealers payroll scenario is exploited way beyond what might make sense. The night shots on 42nd street are terrific, but you simply cannot take "Shakedown" seriously, and with each passing scene things deteriorate as believability flies out the window. The movie has some entertainment value, but do not expect much beyond stunt work and crashes. - MERK

There's a weird tonal shift in this movie where the Peter Weller stuff is a well done legal thriller about defending a bad man and the Sam Elliot stuff is a totally over the top action movie with crazy stunts, car chases and shoot outs. But you know what? In a crazy way it works! With a balls out insane ending that makes no sense whatsoever I had a lot of fun. It was very competently made and acted and is well worth tracking down.