Colors (1988)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Dennis Hopper

Writers:

Michael Schiffer (screenplay)
Michael Schiffer (story) ...

Release Date:

15 April 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

70,000 gang members. One million guns. Two cops.

Plot:

An experienced cop and his rookie partner patrol the streets of East Los Angeles while trying to keep the gang violence under control.

Plot Keywords:

Violence | Gang | Killed During Sex | South Central Los Angeles | Interracial Relationship

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Sean Penn	...	Officer Danny McGavin
Robert Duvall	...	Officer Bob Hodges
Maria Conchita Alonso	...	Louisa Gomez
Randy Brooks	...	Ron Delaney
Grand L. Bush	...	Larry Sylvester (as Grand Bush)
Don Cheadle	...	Rocket
Gerardo Mejía	...	Bird
Glenn Plummer	...	Clarence 'High Top' Brown
Rudy Ramos	...	Melindez
Sy Richardson	...	O.S.S. Sgt. Bailey
Trinidad Silva	...	Leo 'Frog' Lopez
Charles Walker	...	Reed
Damon Wayans	...	T-Bone
Fred Asparagus	...	Cook
Sherman Augustus	...	Officer Porter

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Norway:18 | Iceland:16 | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1989) | Finland:K-16 (uncut) (1996) | Finland:K-18 (uncut) (1988) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | South Korea:18 | Australia:R | France:-12 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Canada:R (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Orion Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Producer Robert H. Solo hired real gang members as guardians as well as actors. Two of them were shot during filming.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the chase of the female driver by police, she crashes head on into a car parked on the street, propped up on blocks, which brings her car to a full stop, but when they cut to a different angle her car is shown only side-swiping the park car and then she continues speeding down the road.

Quotes:

Frog: [TV version - after the boy got initiated] You screwed up now, man... You joined a gang.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex, Drugs and Rock 'N' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood (2003)

Soundtrack:

SQUEEZE THE TRIGGER

Interesting depiction of gangs in LA... good performances

Colors First-Viewing, TV(Dennis Hopper)- Sean Penn, Robert Duvall, Don Cheadle, Maria Conchita Alonso, Glen Plummer, Grand L. Bush, Damon Wayans, Leon Robinson

Robert Duvall and Sean Penn star as two cops trying to fight gang violence in Los Angelos. Duvall is an old cop, who is going to retire, and Penn plays a rookie who is keen to make his presence felt on the force. Both give good performances, although Penn was clearly the highlight of the film, with an interesting character and very good performance. Robert Duvall was also good though, with a complex performance. Don Cheadle was virtually absent, was a bit of a villain, portraying a Crip gangbanger, but had very little lines, unfortunately. Maria Conchita Alonso played a woman in the ghetto that Officer McGavin (Penn) was interested in, and gave a very average performance. Other gangbangers played by Glen Plummer, Grand L. Bush, Damon Wayans and Leon Robinson, were all good in their small roles. Overall a good film depicting gang violence in LA, also had some good action sequences, and good acting. 8/10