The Last Boy Scout (1991)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Tony Scott

Writers (WGA):

Shane Black (story) &
Greg Hicks (story) ...

Release Date:

13 December 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

The goal is to survive.

Plot:

A down and out cynical detective teams up with a down and out ex-quarterback to try and solve a murder...

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Stripper | Dog | Limousine | Shot In The Hand

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Bruce Willis	...	Joe Hallenbeck
Damon Wayans	...	Jimmy Dix
Chelsea Field	...	Sarah Hallenbeck
Noble Willingham	...	Sheldon Marcone
Taylor Negron	...	Milo
Danielle Harris	...	Darian Hallenbeck
Halle Berry	...	Cory
Bruce McGill	...	Mike Matthews
Badja Djola	...	Alley Thug
Kim Coates	...	Chet
Chelcie Ross	...	Senator Baynard
Joe Santos	...	Bessalo
Clarence Felder	...	McCoskey
Tony Longo	...	Big Ray Walston
Frank Collison	...	Pablo

MPAA:

Rated R for graphic violence and very strong language.

Runtime:

105 min | Germany:96 min (cut version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby SR (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Germany:16 (cut) | Finland:K-16 (cut) | Finland:K-18 (uncut) | South Korea:18 | Philippines:R-18 | USA:R (certificate #31522) | Netherlands:16 | Netherlands:12 (TV version) (slightly cut) | Australia:M (TV rating) | Australia:R (original rating) | Canada:18+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A | Germany:18 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:18 | Singapore:M18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum - 3911 S. Figueroa Street, Exposition Park, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Geffen Pictures

Trivia:

Composer Michael Kamen hated the film when he first saw it. The only reason he provided the score was out of his personal friendships with Bruce Willis and producer Joel Silver.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Milo and his thugs knock out Joe and then drag him to the car, right before they throw him in the door his right leg is lifting itself up.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Locker Room Kid: Billy Cole. Billy Cole.
Head Coach: The first half stunk! Open the holes up! Get in there like hogs! Like pigs!
Locker Room Kid: Billy Cole. You got a call on line three.
Head Coach: Let's go out there in this half and kick some butt! Let's get out of this town as a winner! I hate Cleveland!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Doomsday (2008)

Soundtrack:

I Wanna Be A Cowboy

Absolutely everything it was intended to be. Testosterone powered mayhem.

The Last Boy Scout is without a doubt one of the greatest action movies ever made. There is nothing a good action film needs that isn't woven into Tony Scott's vision of Shane Black's screenplay. We have shootouts.... lots and lots of shootouts. We have Bruce Willis. We have football. We have some beautiful women at our disposal. There are some fast cars. There are drugs. And the profanity-laden dialog is so well-written that virtually the entire script can be read in the memorable quotes section of this site.

Our story, though completely preposterous, has some real depth. We have multi-dimensional characters and we are taken on quite a ride with them as the action unfolds. Bruce Willis plays a burned out private investigator who helps a disgraced former pro football player solve the murder of his girlfriend. Before our story ends, we have a dirty US senator, a greedy football team owner, and about a hundred seedy henchmen thrown into the mix. Things move so quickly that only towards the end does one of our characters actually speak a line that sums up how ridiculous it all is. Damon Wayans, who plays the former football star gives Willis some sobering insight. He points out that Willis must be one of the dumbest people alive. He is not only trying to save the life of the man who ruined his career, but also trying to avenge the death of the man who was f*#king his wife! But somehow, we the audience care about the outcome, and getting there couldn't be more fun.

The film has dated fairly well up to this point. Being as though it came out in 1991, you can still see a high top fade on a black character or two. The football uniforms have changed a little, too, but these are minor things that take nothing away from the enjoyment of the story. Water is still wet, the sky is still blue, and this is still one hell of a movie...and then some!!! This film scores a perfect 10 of 10 stars. It couldn't have been made any better.

So sayeth the Hound.