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'''''Con Air''''' is an 1997 American action-thriller film directed by [[Simon West]] and produced by [[Jerry Bruckheimer]], producer of ''[[The Rock (film)|The Rock]]''. It stars [[Nicolas Cage]], [[John Cusack]] and [[John Malkovich]]. The film borrows its title from the nickname of the [[Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System]]. While scanning a newspaper article, Screenwriter [[Scott Rosenberg]] first learned of the special program, then visited its Oklahoma City base "to get an eyewitness perspective of the incredible operation, which quickly formed the genesis for ''Con Air''." <ref name="Production">Rigoulot, Leslie. [http://www.filmscouts.com/scripts/matinee.cfm?film=con-air&file=productn "Con Air: About The Production"] ''Film Scouts,'' 2008. Retrieved: December 20, 2011.</ref>
'''''Con Air''''' is an 1997 American action-thriller film directed by [[Simon West]] and produced by [[Jerry Bruckheimer]], producer of ''[[The Rock (film)|The Rock]]''. It stars [[Nicolas Cage]], [[John Cusack]] and [[John Malkovich]]. The film borrows its title from the nickname of the [[Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System]]. While scanning a newspaper article, Screenwriter [[Scott Rosenberg]] first learned of the special program, then visited its Oklahoma City base "to get an eyewitness perspective of the incredible operation, which quickly formed the genesis for ''Con Air''." <ref name="Production">Rigoulot, Leslie. [http://www.filmscouts.com/scripts/matinee.cfm?film=con-air&file=productn "Con Air: About The Production"] ''Film Scouts,'' 2008. Retrieved: December 20, 2011.</ref>
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==Plot==<!--per [[WP:FILMPLOT]], plots are between 400 and 700 words only. This one is now about 665, leaving a good margin for corrections/adjustments-->
==Plot==<!--per [[WP:FILMPLOT]],Cameron Poe works in Aviva next to another legenderary character called Liam Webster, he is known for taking care of the ladies/business in a ruthless and effient manner, Cameron Poe he is in the know!!!
Former [[75th Ranger Regiment|U.S. Army Ranger]] Cameron Poe is sentenced to a maximum-security federal penitentiary for using excessive force and killing a drunk man who had been attempting to assault his pregnant wife, Tricia. Eight years later, Poe is paroled on good behavior, and eager to see his daughter Casey whom he has never met. Poe is arranged to be flown back home to [[Alabama]] on the C-123 ''Jailbird'' where he will be released on landing; several other prisoners, including his diabetic cellmate and friend Mike "Baby-O" O'Dell and criminal mastermind Cyrus "The Virus" Grissom, as well as Grissom's right-hand man, Nathan Jones, are also being transported to a new Supermax prison. [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] agent Duncan Malloy wishes to bring aboard one of his agents, Willie Sims, as a prisoner to coax more information out of drug lord Francisco Cindino before he is incarcerated. Vince Larkin, the [[U.S. Marshal]] overseeing the transfer, agrees to it, but is unaware that Malloy has armed Sims with a gun.

Shortly after takeoff, Grissom incites a riot that allows them to hijack the ''Jailbird''; Sims is killed when he attempts to stop Grissom. Grissom orders the aircraft to continue to Carson City for a scheduled prisoner transfer, where they will offload the guards and pilots disguised as prisoners in the middle of a dust-storm. Although he could have left the ''Jailbird'' during the transfer, Poe feigns cooperation with Grissom but leaves a recording device from Sims' body on one of the guards being offloaded. Among the new prisoners boarding the aircraft are Cindino, who masterminded their escape, their new pilot Swamp Thing, and serial killer Garland Greene, who even has the respect of Cyrus.

Grissom orders another prisoner, Joe "Pinball" Parker, to remove the transponder and plant it on another aircraft. Moments before the ''Jailbird'' takes off, the guards discover the clue Poe left behind and alert Malloy and Larkin. Pinball is unable to make it aboard the ''Jailbird'' on time and his body is lodged in the landing gear as the aircraft takes off when the security forces are alerted. Poe secretly writes a message to Larkin explaining Grissom's plan on Pinball's shirt and pushes the body out, where it lands in the middle of [[Fresno, California]]. Larkin calls for the National Guard to go to Lerner Airfield, an abandoned airbase, while using Malloy's sportscar to beat the ''Jailbird'' there.

The ''Jailbird'' lands at Lerner but overshoots the runway and grounds itself in the sand. Seeing no evidence of Cindino's jet, Grissom orders the prisoners to dig the ''Jailbird'' free. Meanwhile, Poe, seeking an insulin shot for Baby-O, meets Larkin, and the two run down their respective situations. Larkin finds Cindino boarding his private jet with his men, and manages to disable the jet before it leaves. Grissom discovers Cindino's treachery and kills him. Another inmate, serial rapist Johnny 23, sees the Guard forces approaching the airfield and alerts the prisoners, who open the weapons locker on the ''Jailbird'' and set up an ambush. Larkin successfully leads the Guardsmen out of the danger, and Grissom and the remaining prisoners return to the ''Jailbird'' and take off before Poe is able to escape with Baby-O and a female guard, Sally Bishop.

Grissom soon discovers Poe's true identity and prepares to kill him after shooting Baby-O. Malloy, having tracked down the ''Jailbird'' after being led astray by the transponder, opens fire on it, disabling an engine, and causing the aircraft to lose fuel. When Larkin tells Malloy about Poe's identity as a parolee, Malloy orders the gunner to hold fire. They both order the ''Jailbird'' to land at [[McCarran International Airport]] in [[Las Vegas]] but a lack of fuel forces them to crash-land on [[Las Vegas Strip|The Strip]] instead, ending up at the lobby of the [[Sands Hotel]]. Amidst the chaos, Poe is thanked by both Baby-O and Sally for his help. Grissom, Jones, and Swamp Thing escape on a fire truck. Larkin and Poe spots them and gives a chase, eventually killing all three escapees; Jones being hit by a motorbike, Swamp Thing hurtling through the windshield and being run over, and Grissom crushed by a [[Post pounder|pounder]] in a construction site. Poe finally reunites with Tricia and meets his daughter after he expresses his full trust to Larkin.

All of the surviving convicts are recaptured, except for Garland Greene, who escapes and is last seen playing craps in a casino.


==Cast==
==Cast==

Revision as of 18:26, 1 March 2013

Not to be confused with Comair.
This article is about the film. For other uses, see Conair (disambiguation).
Con Air
Theatrical release poster
Directed bySimon West
Written byScott Rosenberg
Produced byJerry Bruckheimer
StarringNicolas Cage
John Cusack
John Malkovich
Monica Potter
Ving Rhames
Mykelti Williamson
Nick Chinlund
Rachel Ticotin
Steve Buscemi
CinematographyDavid Tattersall
Edited byChris Lebenzon
Steve Mirkovich
Glen Scantlebury
Music byMark Mancina
Trevor Rabin
Production
company
Jerry Bruckheimer Films
Distributed byTouchstone Pictures
Release date
  • June 6, 1997 (1997-06-06)
Running time
115 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$75 million
Box office$224,012,234

Con Air is an 1997 American action-thriller film directed by Simon West and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, producer of The Rock. It stars Nicolas Cage, John Cusack and John Malkovich. The film borrows its title from the nickname of the Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System. While scanning a newspaper article, Screenwriter Scott Rosenberg first learned of the special program, then visited its Oklahoma City base "to get an eyewitness perspective of the incredible operation, which quickly formed the genesis for Con Air." [1]

Plot

| Name = Con Air | Type = Soundtrack | Longtype = | Artist = Trevor Rabin, Mark Mancina | Cover = | Released = June 17, 1997 | Recorded = | Genre = Soundtrack | Length = | Label = Hollywood Records | Producer = }} The film featured the hit single "How Do I Live", performed by Trisha Yearwood for the movie but originally recorded by LeAnn Rimes.[2][N 1]

The Con Air soundtrack album omits two songs featured in the film: "How Do I Live", written by Diane Warren and performed by Trisha Yearwood and "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd. Although a key element of the film, Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle noted, "the soundtrack kicks into loud, obtrusive gear ... (and) remains so loud throughout the picture that it practically functions as a distancing device."[3]

  1. "Con Air Theme" – 1:34
  2. "Trisha" – 1:04
  3. "Carson City" – 3:05
  4. "Lear Crash" – 4:44
  5. "Lerner Landing" – 3:28
  6. "Romantic Chaos" – 1:23
  7. "The Takeover" – 3:52
  8. "The Discharge" – 1:09
  9. "Jailbirds" – :59
  10. "Cons Check Out Lerner" – 1:56
  11. "Poe Saves Cops" – 2:25
  12. "The Fight" – :23
  13. "Battle In The Boneyard" – 7:41
  14. "Poe Meets Larkin" – 1:16
  15. "Bedlam Larkin" – :49
  16. "Fire Truck Chase" – 4:22
  17. "Overture" – 4:19

Reception

Box office

The film grossed $224,012,234 worldwide, of which $101,117,573 was in North America.[4]

Critical

Con Air has received mixed reviews from critics. The film currently holds a 55% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average rating of 5.7/10.[5] On Metacritic, the film holds a score of 52 out of 100, indicating "mixed or average reviews."[6] Roger Ebert awarded the film three out of four stars, saying it "moves smoothly and with visual style and verbal wit."[7] Janet Maslin, reviewer for The New York Times considered Con Air an exemplar of the "thrill ride genre." [8] In contrast, Rolling Stone reviewer Peter Travers decried the "flip, hip" and ultimately, "depressing ... pandering" present in the treatment.[9]

As acknowledged by repeated requests for West to stage a sequel, Con Air has become a cult classic with an action movie audience.[10]

Extended Version

Con Air: Unrated Extended Edition (2006) is an extended DVD version that includes many scenes that may have been possibly cut to prevent an R-rating. [11] Included in the extended version is:

  • Thug insults Poe's wife in the bar longer, calling her a "little blond bitch kitty".
  • Poe being arrested is seen.
  • Baby-O saving Poe from a prison riot is longer and is in a different take.
  • Alternate footage when Poe invites Baby-O to a barbecue.
  • Diamond Dog entering the aircraft.
  • Baby-O being body cavity searched.
  • Different take of Poe's "Sweet bird of freedom" line in a relieved tone instead of sarcastic and an alternate Pinball introduction
  • Diamond Dog shoving the handcuff in the guard's neck is longer
  • A prisoner drooling blood while slumped over dead
  • Longer shot of one prisoner being shot in the head.
  • Johnny 23 threatening Sally Bishop and his family to Poe.
  • Poe and Bishop have a dialogue scene with Baby-O.
  • Cyrus finding that Garland Greene has murdered a captured guard and asking him if he feels better.
  • Alternative takes of some scenes, some longer takes, some additional bits such as one prisoner coming back with a cart of booze and cigarettes.
  • Cindino burning longer.
  • A prisoner being shot during the airfield shootout.
  • As Baby-O is laying injured, Poe continues to reassure him that he will be at the barbecue and he will get a doctor for him.

Awards and honors

The film was nominated for Best Original Song (for "How Do I Live") and Best Sound Mixing (Kevin O'Connell, Greg P. Russell and Art Rochester) at the 70th Academy Awards, losing to Titanic in both categories.[12]

Conversely, the film won the Golden Raspberry Award for "Worst Reckless Disregard for Human Life and Public Property" at the 18th Golden Raspberry Awards. "How Do I Live" was nominated for both the Academy Award for Best Original Song and the Razzie Award Worst Original Song, but won neither.[13]

The toy rabbit prop used in Con Air is the basis of a collaborative art project for an online community for fans of the webcomic Homestuck, written and illustrated by Andrew Hussie. The MS Paint Adventures webcomic extensively parodies the ending scene, with several characters developing obsessions with Nicolas Cage. The stuffed bunny is sent all through time and space in an homage to the movie prop.[14]

In the film Dogma, after Chris Rock's character Rufus falls from the sky, Jay says "maybe it's got a note on him like in Con Air! Anybody see that flick?"

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ Walt Disney Motion Picture Group (who owns Touchstone Pictures) chose Rimes' version but thought the version had too much of pop feeling, with Trisha Yearwood's version used instead. Both versions were released on May 27, 1997.[2]

Citations

  1. ^ Rigoulot, Leslie. "Con Air: About The Production" Film Scouts, 2008. Retrieved: December 20, 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Leann Rimes, Music: How Do I Live / My Baby." Amazon.com. Retrieved: December 21, 2011.
  3. ^ LaSalle, Mick. "Con Job: Nicolas Cage drives his newest action vehicle into a wall, where it explodes." San Francisco Chronicle, June 6, 1997. Retrieved: December 19, 2011.
  4. ^ "Con Air (1997)." Box Office Mojo. Retrieved: December 29, 2009.
  5. ^ "Con Air (1997)." Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved: December 29, 2009.
  6. ^ "Con Air ." Metacritic. Retrieved: September 20, 2012.
  7. ^ Ebert, Roger. "Con Air Review." Chicago Sun-Times, June 6, 1997.
  8. ^ Maslin, Janet. "Signs and Symbols on a Thrill Ride: Con Air (1997)." The New York Times, June 6, 1997.
  9. ^ Travers, Peter. "Con Air." Rolling Stone, June 6, 1997. Retrieved: December 19, 2011.
  10. ^ Lesnick, Silas. "Exclusive: Director Simon West on 'The Mechanic' on remaking the 1972 film and how he'd love to do a sequel to 'Con Air'." craveonline.com, January 24, 2011. Retrieved: March 29, 2012.
  11. ^ Morgan, Jason. "Con Air: Unrated Extended Edition." cinemablend.com, 2006. Retrieved: April 20, 2012.
  12. ^ "The 70th Academy Awards (1998) Nominees and Winners." oscars.org. Retrieved: December 18, 2011.
  13. ^ Wilson, John. "1997 Archive." Golden Raspberry Awards. Retrieved: December 20, 2011.
  14. ^ "Project Information." Hare Force One. Retrieved: March 31, 2011.

Bibliography

  • Bateman, Ronald R. Wendover Wings of Change: A History. Wendover, Utah: Ronald R. Bateman, 2004. ISBN 0-9745983-2-1.
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