Assault on Precinct 13 (WS/DVD)

In 1976, John Carpenter paid homage to Howard Hawks` superlative western RIO BRAVO with his second full-length feature film, ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13. Now it`s Carpenter`s turn to experience some cinematic adulation, with this remake of the film from director Jean-Frangois Richet. Set in Detroit, Richet`s film focuses on police Sergeant Jake Roenick, whose failed career as an undercover cop has lead to a New Years Eve stint in charge of the dilapidated Precinct 13. As a snowstorm rattles the windows and doors of the rundown station, Roenick exchanges some festive banter with police psychologist Alex Sabian (Maria Bello); curvaceous secretary Iris Ferry (Drea de Matteo); and retiring veteran Jasper O`Shea (Brian Dennehy). But their merriment is interrupted when a diverted prison bus escapes the ravages of the storm, seeking a temporary haven for its peccant passengers in Precinct 13. Criminal mastermind Marion Bishop (Laurence Fisburne) is on board, along with a junkie, Beck (John Leguizamo), and two young felons, Smiley (Ja Rule) and Anna (Aisha Hinds). Hot on their tail comes police detective Marcus Duvall (Gabriel Byrne), a crooked cop who wants Bishop dead before he testifies against Duvall in court. Bringing a formidable army of fellow corrupt officers with him, Duvall puts the police station under siege in order to snag his man before its too late. But he doesn`t bank on the impressive wiles of Roenick and his rag-tag mixture of cops and criminals, who unite in an attempt to defend themselves from an execrable ending at the hands of Duvall and his men. A highly entertaining action romp ensues, with director Richet delivering a fast-paced thriller laced with violence and surprising plot twists, ensuring viewers are kept on their toes right up until the films blood-soaked finale. Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005. For personal use only. All rights reserved.