Despite being an Elmore Leonard fan, I hadn't heard of this film version of 52 Pick-Up until earlier this year when it came to DVD, which is quite since now that I have viewed the movie, I can safely say that it is the best Leonard adaptation ever made. Part of the reason for that may be due to the fact that Leonard had a hand in writing the screenplay. However, I think most of the credit must go to director John Frankenheimer (may he rest in peace), a man who knew how to deliver action and suspense like few directors ever could. Frankenheimer brought together an amazing cast with great performances by Roy Scheider as the hero of the story, Ann-Margret as his wife, John Glover as one of the villains, and Kelly Preston as Scheider's mistress. Preston's performance is most surprising given that she hasn't been given a real character to work in well over a decade. Her scenes are also amongst the most disturbing. The only flaw in the picture is that sometimes the disturbing images are given too much time on screen instead of the hero's reactions to what is going on around him. Even for a 21-year-old film, there are plenty of shocking moments that work better than those compared to the trashy horror flicks and thrillers released today. Viewing 52 Pick Up will require a shower afterwards for most people. It's sleazy and dirty, though it's also all around solid throughout. Highly recommended. 9/10
Review of 52 Pick-Up
