jb_campo
If you are a Denzel fan, you'll be able to get thru this one, otherwise, you'll probably turn it off.A young Denzel gets to strip naked and talk all kinds of talk in this role as a high profile cop who hits it big after a key arrest of John Lithgow who plays the bad guy. He's not your average bad guy though - he's a complete psycho who obsesses about getting revenge on Denzel by destroying every bit of his life.The movie starts out OK, and Denzel seizes the ops to get ahead. But the escape scene by Lithgow is just outright stupid. The things he then does are just outright stupid. The cops look like bungling idiots. the only good guys who can do squat are the bad guys, led by ice T. It's just a mess of a story with overblown performances by both Denzel and Lithgow.The ending is absolutely stupid and unbelievable. the only good part is it's slight homage to Jimmy Cagney in White Heat. But other than that, I don't recommend Ricochet because it's not a good movie at all. It's also pretty bloody, but the acting also leaves you in great pain as well. I suggest you skip Ricochet unless you are trying to watch all the films Denzel ever made, both bad and good.
Richard Davis
All I'll say is - from the music over the opening credits, right through to about minute 10, see if you can't listen the soundtrack and think of nothing but Arnie and Predator! I know he's responsible for both films, but this is just way, way too close - just as lazily close as the soundtracks between Commando and say 48 hours / Another 48 Hours (all done by James Horner) is. Lame and lazy.
lost-in-limbo
There are some features that it's best you don't think too much about, but simply go with it and enjoy the over-the-top ride. "Ricochet" is one of those films. It's quite an eye-rolling, but barnstorming action thriller starring Denzel Washington, John Lithgow, Kevin Pollack, Lindsay Wagner and Ice Cube. No cliché is left untouched in the plot developments as the criminal that was put-away goes after the cop, now district attorney that put him there, but his revenge is to see this man become tainted and slowly succumb to a downward spiral. Both were rookies in their chosen profession, but only one could hit stardom. The way it's all orchestrated is contrived in its manipulation, where success and satisfaction is gained from one's failure. It's the two leads that bring it up to par. A classy Washington oozes with confidence as the district attorney, while the icy Lithgow is left off the leash in the villain role. No holding back here
performance, but also the outlandish plot. For most part it sets up building upon the situation, like a dynamite waiting to explode. Director Russell Mulcahy's stylised handling is expansive, noisy and industrious with a real eye for mean-spiritedness and biting humour amongst its stagy set-pieces. Daft, but fun thriller hokum. "I've been following your career, you know."
Newsense
I don't know what other people were expecting. This was supposed to be a popcorn flick not a movie made to win Oscars. The story is simple enough Denzel Washington plays Nick Styles, a cop/attorney who busts a psychopath named Earl Talbot Blake(John Lithgow) at a drug ring gone sour. Earl Blake plots his revenge on Nick Styles in jail and escapes from prison. From then on, he systematically destroys Nick Styles life and has everyone questioning Nick's sanity.The storyline is not bad and Denzel does a great job as usual. John Lithgow is perfect as Earl Blake and its probably his best role since the scared flight attendant in Twilight Zone: The Movie. His villain is a throwback in the days when villains were villains and not these craven new age geeks who tap on laptops and run from confrontation as far away as possible. Kevin Pollak is decent enough as Nick's partner Harry. Ice-T plays Odessa(and who the hell names a man Odessa?), the man who helps Nick Styles take down Blake. If you are looking for Oscar material you are definitely in the wrong place but if you are looking for a pretty good thriller it wouldn't hurt if you tried this.
AD
