a5c7b9f00b A serial killer is back in Pittsburgh to torment the former homicide detective who was on his trail years before. Tom Hardy, who has been relegated to water-way duty, along with new partner Jo Christman, navigate the three rivers looking for clues and discovering bodies. This time the victims are women Tom knows, he must find the killer to prove his innocence. Coming from a police family, Tom Hardy ends up fighting his uncle after the murder of his father. Tom believes the killer is another cop, and goes on the record with his allegations. Demoted then to river duty, the killer taunts Tom. Location: Pittsburgh, unfamiliar. River policeman. Boats as well as cars. Chases. Mismatched partners: Sarah Jessica Parker and Bruce Willis. Start off at odds with one another. Meet in the moonlight. Next scene: the beast with two backs. No tedious "falling in love" nonsense. Willis's father has been killed: Revenge. Willis obsesses over case after case is supposedly closed. Calls for suspension in most movies. Here: demotion to the River Police. No ritual placing of gun and badge on lieutenant's desk. Missed it badly. Like going to church and finding the mass has been called off. Like finishing gigantic jigsaw puzzle and finding last 3 pieces missing. Hollow emptiness inside, instead of usual full emptiness.<br/><br/>First chase – cars. In "Bullett" two cars bump up and down on hills. Here, five cars. Worth doing at all? Then worth doing to excess. Next chase, boat follows car. Willis shoots flare at car. Car catches fire, crashes and blows up. Next chase: boat vs. boat. No hills to bump over in river, small waterfall is poor substitute.<br/><br/>On top of revenge motive, serial killer. Somebody killing all the pretty blond gals that Willis ever knew. Frame up. Willis cannot reveal he knew victims or he'd be blamed. Trusts only Parker. Parker: nice bust, skinny legs. Pretty blond, too.<br/><br/>Serial killer turns out to be old partner of Willis who jumped from bridge two years ago and thought to be dead. Not dead. Kidnaps Willis and Parker and third guy. Struts around in old cop's uniform while explaining motive. Presses muzzle of pistol against all the captured heads, one at a time, before pulling away and laughing. Definite fruitcake.<br/><br/>Triple murder interrupted impolitely. Murderer is shot by intruder, falls dead to floor. Murderer is wearing bullet proof vest, comes back to life and shoots intruder. Murderer crashes through window. Bruce chases him still handcuffed. Murderer steals boat, Willis ditto. Long chase.<br/><br/>Boats crump up on river shore. Chase on foot. Railroad tracks on bridge. Willis and murderer wrestle while train approaches blowing whistle. Willis doing very well with handcuffs still on. Rolls away at last minute as train runs over villain? No! Villain rolled away on OTHER side of train and charges Willis. Both go into river. Murderer defeated in underwater struggle and drowns. Willis eats handcuffs for breakfast.<br/><br/>Best thing in film: usually dead body comes back to life only once. Here dead body comes back to life total of three times. Wretched excess? No. Happens every day in my experience.<br/><br/>Recommendation: don't miss it if you can. Detective Tom Hardy (Bruce Willis) grows up in the family of cops. Hardy turns against his uncle Captain Nick Detillo (Dennis Farina), since he believes that he's protecting somewhere who's corrupted and fighting him since the death of his dedicated Lt. Vince Hardy (John Mahoney). When Hardy's cousin Jimmy (The late Robert Pastorelli) committed suicide from jumping off a bridge. Since Hardy knew there was something wrong with his cousin. Since Hardy's get fired from his job believing that a cop has murder womens in the streets of Pittsburgh but he can't prove it. Months has passed, now Hardy works for the boat patrol for the city. He's forced to work with a young by the book officer Jo (Sarah Jessica Parker) as his new partner. Which Hardy prefers to be alone. When Hardy is called on the crime scene to the river to discover that the latest murders are woman, which Hardy knew before. Now the killer calls Hardy from his phone and he wants to play of Cat & Mouse with him. He has to find the next victim before it's too late, while the local police especially his uncle thinks that Hardy isn't right in the head.<br/><br/>Directed by Rowdy Herrington (Road House) made an watchable-thriller that tries to be suspenseful but overall the script is quite predictable sadly. The identity of the villain is too easy to guess for most viewers. Since Willis' was quiet disappointed with his experiencing working this forgotten thriller. But it is not boring, thanks to a strong cast that includes Tom Sizemore, The late Brion James, Andre Braugher and more that keeps this far from being boring. Willis tries to do something different with his role. But his scenes with the character Jo slows the movie down, especially when they start a romance. It is quite unintentionally funny at times and way over the top towards the conclusion. Herrington's previous picture "Road House" was much more fun to watch than this failed effort. "Striking Distance" is one of those films that certainly plays better on TV and fans of Willis' work might enjoy this movie much more than others. Check your brain out the door before watching it. (***/*****).
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