'80s Roulette: UNDER FIRE

Even my random shuffle function misses Gene Hackman

I have (almost) every single movie released in theaters in the ‘80s in the United States on a hard drive and once I week, I’m going to hit shuffle and review whatever film comes up first.

Welcome to ‘80s Roulette!

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OCTOBER 21, 1983

Under Fire
Nick Nolte, Ed Harris, Joanna Cassidy, Gene Hackman, Alma Martinez, Holly Palance, Ella Laboriel, Jonathan Zarzosa, Samuel Zarzosa, Raul Picasso, Oswaldo Doria, Fernando Elizondo, Hamilton Camp, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Richard Masur, Jorge Santoyo, Lucina Rojas, Raul Garcia, Victor Alcocer, Eric F. Valdez, Andaluz Russell, E. Villavecenio, Enrique Lucero, Enrique Beraza, Jenny Gago, Elpidia Carrillo, Martin Palmares, Gerardo Albarran, Eloy Casados, Carlos Romano, Rene Enriquez, Jose Campos Jr., Raymard Camp, Antonio Mata Jr., Julio Cesar Vazquez, Martin LaSalle, Filipe Ytuarte, Jorge Zepeda, Alfredo Tarzan Guitierrez, Jose Marin, J.A. Ferral, E. Baramona, Octavio Cruz, Leonor Llausas, Juan Carlos Meizueiro, Humberto Vilchis, Roberto Dumant, Ahui Camacho, Arturo Rodriguez Doring, Bruno Bichir, Richardo Ramirez, Jose Carlos Rodriguez, Enrique Hernandez, Monica Miguel, Luisa Sanchez M., Carlos Lenin Vazuez, The Folkloristas, Clay Wright, Michael Crowley, Eugene Vagnone
cinematography by John Alcott
music by Jerry Goldsmith
screenplay by Ron Shelton and Clayton Frohman
story by Clayton Frohman
produced by Jonathan Taplin
directed by Roger Spottiswoode
Rated R
2 hr 8 mins

A photojournalist and two reporters play out complicated relationships as they work to break news about the Nicaraguan civil war.

Terror Train is an entirely okay early slasher movie, elevated by the work of legendary photographer John Alcott and the sturdy, workmanlike direction by Roger Spottiswoode in his debut. His second film, The Pursuit of D.B. Cooper, was a situation where he stepped in at the last minute to help a troubled production, and it’s hard to judge it as his. Under Fire is the film where it feels like he really steps forward as a filmmaker of note, though. This is a robust, smart, adult movie that has something to say about the world at the moment it was made. It’s angry, it is well-directed, and it’s got a terrific cast all throwing fastballs. What more could you want?