SHOOT TO KILL. Directed by Roger Spottiswoode; written by Harv Zimmel, Michael Burton and Daniel Petrie Jr.; produced by Ron Silverman and Daniel Petrie Jr. for Touchatone. Starring Sydney Poitier, Tom Berenger, Clancy Brown and Kirstie Alley. Rated R (violence, language).
More reviews by —
TITLE:
RATING:
Sydney Poitier as Dirty Harry? Nahhh... Well, don't bet money on it until you see Shoot to Kill. Poitier is an FBI agent whose relentless pursuit of a kidnapper/murderer would make Clint Eastwood proud.
A fairly standard cops and robbers story, Shoot to Kill adds enough original and interesting touches to make it worth seeing anyway, at least for fans of its stars or viewers who enjoy this kind of movie.
An extortion incident in San Francisco, very cleverly filmed and suspenseful, opens the movie. The perpetrator escapes, and agent-in-charge Stantin (Poitier) blames himself for the case's tragic outcome. Misled by some false trails, Stantin finally locates the bad guy.
By this time though, the fugitive is close to Canada, in the Washington (state) wilderness, posing as a member of a back-country fishing party. One of the best touches in the script comes into play here. The opening sequence is played out so that we don't know what this guy looks like, only that he's very smart and sadistic. So we don't know which of these "vacationers" isn't genuine.
To guide him through the wilderness, Stantin conscripts Knox (Berenger), whose girlfriend and partner (Alley) just happens to be guiding the fishing party.
The spectacular scenery, some heart-in-mouth stunts, and an agreeable chemistry between Berenger and Poitier spice up this main part of the movie. Initially distrustful, the two men, predictably, grow to respect each other's peculiar skills and even begin a sort of friendship. Sure, it's predictable, but these two guys are so appealing that it's enjoyable all the same.
And, to be sure, it's pretty unrealistic to believe that a tenderfoot such as Stantin could really keep up with mountain man Knox through some of the extreme conditions and harsh country they have to travel. But, again, for Poitier, we're willing to suspend that disbelief and enjoy the show.
Alley is quite good—believeable as an outdoorswoman at home in her giant backpack and sturdy boots. I won't identify the actor playing the villain in the piece, to keep the early suspense alive. But his performance must be praised. His character is frighteningly convincing, able to mask a truly evil nature with charm and intelligence.
February 17, 1988