Nighthawks (1981)

Very well executed

Plot so thin, it passes unnoticed.

It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

When one thinks of Sylvester Stallone they think of Rambo or Rocky or one of his many other action avatars but this film Night Hawks is where he gives one of his most underrated performances. He plays a conservative cop trying to catch an international terrorist in his city. Rutger Hauer is another actor who is better known in films like Blade Runner but he is absolutely sublime here as the bad guy. The pacing is good and the film has that raw gritty look of early 80s. If you haven't already then you should check out Night Hawks.

Nighthawks was a gritty, violent, down and dirty thriller which brought out the best in Sylvester Stallone and Rutger Hauer as the two charismatic leads. Underrated on release, it's still well worth the time.Detective Sergeant Deke DaSilva (Sylvester Stallone) and Detective Sergeant Matthew Fox (Billy Dee Williams) are part of NYPD's undercover Street Crime Unit. Their boss Lieutenant Munafo (Joe Spinell) later notifies them that DaSilva and Fox have been handpicked to join the newly-formed ATAC (Anti Terrorist Action Command) squad spearheaded by INTERPOL British Counter-terrorist specialist Peter Hartman (Nigel Davenport). Their primary task is to take down international terrorist Heymar Reinhardt, also known as Wulfgar (Rutger Hauer) who after bombing a department store in London, has managed to slip through the fingers of authorities and has made his way to New York City. Teaming up with a mysterious woman named Shakka (Persis Khambatta), Wulfgar continues his campaign of terror and vows to bring New York City to its knees and it's up to DaSilva and Fox to take him down.Sylvester Stallone's career continued to climb following the success of the Academy Award winning Rocky (1976) and it's sequel Rocky II (1979). In Nightwawks, Stallone is excellent as Deke DaSilva who doesn't rely on brawn to get him by but also his brains. Stallone's character shows more of a sensitive side where he is less ruthless and trigger happy compared to many of his previous characters where he has played a policeman in movies such as Cobra (1986) and Tango & Cash (1989). Following a bloody confrontation, DaSilva rethinks his tactics and vows to match Wulfgar on even ground. Billy Dee Williams who is well known for his role as Lando Calrissian in The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983), is perfectly paired up with Stallone as DaSilva's partner Fox who have been tasked to take down Wulfgar. Dutch actor Rutger Hauer made audiences sit up and take notice by putting in a chilling performance as international terrorist Wulfgar in his U.S. debut where he establishes himself as an actor well known for playing villains in such classics as Blade Runner (1982) and The Hitcher (1986). Director Bruce Malmuth makes his directorial debut with Nighthawks and here he has done a fine job bringing this gritty film to life on screen.It's hard to believe that today the fear of terrorism is widespread given that the events of September 11 2001 changed the world forever. Nighthawks was certainly ahead of its time.Though not a box office smash in 1981, it still netted positive reviews and acclaim, with Stallone earning his share of the praise but the standout was Rutger Hauer. Despite how dated it is, Nighthawks is still good viewing.7/10.

Conservative street cop DaSilva (Sylvester Stallone) reluctantly agrees to terminate an international terrorist (Rutger Hauer) who has demanded media attention. But DaSilva's "at-home" tactics are very much put to the challenge. The story was originally intended to be produced as "The French Connection III" by screenwriter David Shaber ("The Warriors") at Twentieth Century Fox, with Gene Hackman's Popeye Doyle teamed up with a wisecracking cop (tentatively Richard Pryor). When Hackman was reluctant to make a third film as Doyle, the idea was scrapped; Universal acquired the rights to the storyline, which Shaber reworked into "Nighthawks".Troubles continued on set, due largely to Stallone having creative control. Stallone, through producer Herb Nanas, picked out his own cinematographer (usually the director's job). When he disagreed with the original director on certain plot points, the director was fired and replaced by Bruce Malmuth. This further caused issues because not only was Malmuth piecing together someone else's work, he was fairly new as a director and actually gave out too much direction, stressing some actors. Stallone even butted heads with Rutger Hauer, who he saw as getting too much screen time. The lesson, of course, is to allow directors rather than stars to have control.Although not among Stallone's best-known films, it may be one of his better films. Perhaps the studio's production problems have lead to it not getting the level of promotion it has deserved? This is now seen as the film that launched Hauer's career, and surely he is as good or better than Stallone. Hauer is now (2016) best known for "Blade Runner", but maybe if more people saw "Nighthawks" they would have a broader appreciation for his work.Shout! Factory has picked out the film as part of its Shout Selects line to put a spotlight on the film. It has never looked better, and has the original music put back in place (Keith Emerson, Rolling Stones). We also have new interviews that add to the discussion, as previously we had only Stallone on record talking about the stunts (which are respectable).Although the Shout disc is easily the best released to date, and probably the best there ever will be, it does have shortcomings. For one, there is no audio commentary, which would have been a nice touch. But more importantly, it does not include the cut scenes, which have additional violence and plot. Much of the relationship between DaSilva and his wife is left vague, with entire scenes removed. An extended edition would be great, but even just having them separate on the disc would make this more complete.That caveat aside, this film is amazing despite any on-set troubles and if you haven't seen it before or want to revisit it, the Shout disc is the way to go. The disc is packed -- packed! -- with interviews, including a new interview with producer (and Stallone manager) Herb Nanas, who had his first on-screen credit with this film but had actually been with Stallone for years. Cinematographer James Contner has almost 25 minutes in his interview, and is not shy about discussing on-set conflict. Lindsay Wagner talks of all her scenes that were cut (a deja vu of "The paper Chase"), and we even get a few minutes with Catherine Mary Stewart on her brief but important role. "Nighthawks" is a lost classic well worth some re-evaluation in the Stallone or Hauer canon. (Not to mention Billie Dee Williams!)

Going to watch this again tonight for the second day in a row, this time with the wife who hasn't seen it. Who could not like an early 80's pre-MTV thriller with a fresh off of EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Billy Dee Williams and a young cool looking Stallone? Plus throw in Rutger Haeur as a deranged (yet handsome) Euro-Villain terrorist and you've got yourself a winner! There's a great scene where they aforementioned duo are looking for Hauer in a NYC nightclub while the Rolling Stones' "Brown Sugar" is blasting, ultra cool! This film is never a bore and it's before Stallone fully sold out so do yourself a favor and watch it ASAP if you haven't seen it yet!