The Latest from Cactus Tactical: Gunfights and Films: 90's Cops and Robbers Edition

Gunfights and Films: 90's Cops and Robbers Edition

Point Break is a 1991 action film starring Keanu Reeves as Johnny Utah, a young FBI agent who goes undercover into the Southern California surfing community in order to root out a bank robbery crew known as the "Ex-Presidents", who bear characteristics of the culture. Patrick Swayze co-stars as Bohdi, an experienced surfer who develops a friendship with Utah. The film was directed by Kathryn Bigelow and was executive produced by James Cameron. A remake starring Edgar Ramirez and Luke Bracey is scheduled for release at the end of 2015.

Bank robbers who are surfers? The F.B.I. force can hardly believe that Agent Angelo Pappas is actually considering such a thing. But what do they care? He's probably gone loopy, he's old and washed up, unable to adapt to the new system of the F.B.I. So they ignore his theory, letting the notorious bank robbers "The Ex Presidents" rob as many banks as they like. But Pappas can't believe it when a rookie Agent Johnny Utah is assigned to him. Pappas soon learns that Utah is a crack shot and he's also clever, and supportive of Pappas's mocked theory. Together they set out to get the elusive robbers, realising that sex wax was found at a previous crime scene and that the robberies only take place every summer. The robbers move with the waves.

Utah goes deep undercover to find the surfers, meeting Tyler, who is a tough tomboy chick who can surf like a devil and is a very reluctant mentor as well. He says he's a lawyer and that his parents died, after learning from the F.B.I. system that Tyler's folks are dead too, he uses this to soften her and get her to be his teacher. But is Utah ready for the world of surfers? An elusive sort of tribe that rides on the waves and lives for the eternal thrill of almost meeting their end? He gets tumbled by massive waves and the spiritual and manipulative surfer, Bodhi, Tyler's ex boyfriend, and the leader of a pack of thrill seeking hot head surfers. Utah gets accepted into their group, but as he becomes closer to Bohdi and his pals, he loses sight of their guilt and grows to care for Bohdi as a friend. He botches up an operation with a possible group of surfer suspects who are in fact crystal meth dealers. Through a mass of shooting, blood and naked brawling with two angry females involved with the punks, they learn that these guys aren't their culprits. And that an undercover DEA agent was infact trying to bust them on drug dealing after months of undercover work. As if this isn't enough to make Utah want to take a ticket out of there, he almost catches Bohdi on a mad chase scene on foot, after he stakes out to catch the robbers, but is unable to shoot him because he cares for Bohdi. He also injures his already surgery plagued knee when he falls off a slope onto concrete. Pappas doesn't buy Utah's story of him missing Bohdi as he knows Utah is an incredible marksman.

Later Bohdi and Utah go skydiving, but the surfer has something up his sleeve. His psycho friend Rosie is holding Tyler hostage after she finds out that Utah isn't a lawyer but a cop and runs off after holding Johnny at gunpoint. Rosie threatens to kill Tyler and the only way Johnny can save her is by helping The Ex Presidents in one last heist. However, Bohdi makes a fatal error, he gets greedy and goes for the vault, over extending their time and losing a crew member, as well as killing an off duty cop who tries to be a hero. Johnny is knocked out by a maddened Bohdi and left to be arrested by the same police force he's working with. Utah is mocked by bully agents who are always on his & Pappas's back. They arrest Johnny and are disgusted with him for killing a fellow cop, but Utah is totally oblivious to this, hating Bohdi inwardly and his rage works on him like a disease. Pappas knows Utah made a bad move by falling into Bohdi's trap. But he defends his young partner anyway against the arrogance of Agent Ben Harp, telling him sharply that he was on the force when he was still popping his zits and jerking off to the lingerie section of the Sears catalogue. He then punches Harp and knocks him out, saying that he's also always respected his elders and that Harp should learn to as well. Now the heat is on, as Utah knows that the only reason he got involved in the robbery was because of Tyler, but now it's become too personal, and Bohdi has gone way too far. But then again, how far is too far for someone as radical as Bohdi?

Utah and Pappas go alone to where he and Bohdi first went skydiving, and this results in a massive shoot off and Pappas being blown away by the cowardly Roach, who also gets shot and bleeds out on the plane. They get Utah on the plane and claim that there's no more parachutes, and Roach leaps off saying he'll see Johnny in Hell. Johnny jumps after Bohdi though and in an adrenaline pumping scene he tells Bohdi to pull the chute or he'll blow Bohdi's head off. Being fearless Bohdi says either way they die, and Johnny pulls the chute in a furious gesture of loathing for the other man. They land in the desert planes of an unknown area, Roach's corpse lies on the dusty ground and the money flits into the air with a green haze again the blue sky. Tyler is released by Rosie, and him and Bohdi ride off down the dusty track to where ever they plan to go.

Years later, in Australia, Bohdi's prediction of the hundred year storm that would cause the Pacific to swell and produce huge ways, comes true. But Utah has been tracking his nemesis and one time friend, and in the tumultuous storm the heavens spill upon the Australian coast, the sea swells and floods caused by colossal amounts of rain fall, we see Johnny again walking to the beach. Surfers retreat in droves from the beach, claiming that only a mad man would stay on the ocean in such a tremendous outbreak of fury over the sea. But Johnny knows one man who would, Bohdi, and he's come to collect him to be locked up at last. Bohdi is staring out to sea, the figure of peace and in his eyes we see the hunger to ride those waves. Johnny breaks his trance and tells him that he's been tracking him and Rosie for some time now. And that he finally got a break when he found Rosie's marred corpse in a bar after a bad fight. He says he feared that Bohdi would just vanish after that though, but he knew that he would never miss the hundred year storm. Bohdi says that its typical that Utah's here, and that he guesses that the agent has finally got his man. He tries to escape though, almost drowning Johnny in the waves as they pummel each other, falling about in the greyish foam water of the sea. Utah handcuffs Bohdi however and tells him that he told the cops that Bohdi would go quietly. Bohdi begs him not to arrest him. Utah doesn't care anymore, it's time that his compadre went down. In the end however, he lets Bohdi go and ride the ferocious waves that rise in terrifying heights like walls of water. Utah watches as Bohdi paddles out to his death as the water crashes into him. Utah stands in the pouring rain, his now long hair sopping and his eyes full of a strange sort of peace. The Australian policemen are livid that he let Bohdi go and say "We'll get him when he comes back in!" Johnny walks away and chucks his F.B.I. badge into the ocean with a final acceptance.

A gripping and compelling film this one is my dad's personal favorite. Plot twists o'plenty and some divine acting by Swayze add to this films power packed punch of cinema. An iconic action film in our movie history, let's take a glance at some of it's weapons and scenes.

FBI Special Agent Johnny Utah (Keanu Reeves) carries a 9x19mm SIG-Sauer P226 as his FBI-issued sidearm throughout the movie. At the time Point Break was filmed, the P226 and the more compact SIG-Sauer P228 were just coming into service as the new FBI-issue sidearms, after the 10mm Smith & Wesson 1076 proved to be too unwieldy for the Bureau's purposes. In one of the film's most memorable scenes, Utah rolls onto his back and empties his P226 into the air after he is unwilling to shoot Bodhi (Patrick Swayze) and lets him escape. This scene was parodied in the film Hot Fuzz.

SIG-Sauer P226 - 9x19mm.

Special Agent Johnny Utah (Keanu Reeves) qualifies with his SIG-Sauer P226 in the opening of the film.

An extreme close-up of the P226's muzzle.

Tyler Endicott (Lori Petty) holds the P226.

To see some of the best lines of Point Blank you can watch them here:

Bodhi (Patrick Swayze) carries a Freedom Arms Model 83 single-action revolver in .454 Casull as his weapon of choice in the film. At the time this film was released, this was the most powerful production revolver available.

Freedom Arms Model 83 - .454 Casull

Bodhi (with a Ronald Reagan mask on) covers the bank with his Freedom Arms Model 83 revolver in the climax.

Bodhi prepares to fire upon the off-duty cop with his Model 83.

When the pilot complains, Bodhi holds his Model 83 on him.

To watch the final heist scene you can do so here:

Special Agent Angelo Pappas (Gary Busey) carries an older-model 2" Charter Arms Undercover in .38 Special as his sidearm throughout the movie. It is seen most notably in the climax. Despite being a veteran member of the bureau, this is unlikely choice for an FBI Agent.

Older Model Stainless Charter Arms Undercover - 38 Special

Pappas takes aim at Bodhi's gang at the airfield.

Pappas defiantly wields the Charter Arms Undercover in the climax, even while badly wounded. Note the correct number of empty chambers throughout this scene.

In both the beginning and final robberies, Bodhi's gang is seen using at least one Mossberg 590 shotgun with an extended tube. Bodhi himself briefly handles this weapon in the climax at the airfield.

Mossberg 590 - 12 gauge. The Military version has a subdued matte finish, either matte blued or parkerized.

A close-up of the Mossberg 590 after the shells have been loaded in.

Roach chambers the Mossberg 590 before the final robbery.

Bodhi points the Mossberg at Johnny Utah and forces him to board the plane.

To watch the first heist of the film you can watch here:

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For more information on the weapons used in this and other films you can go here: http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/Point_Break_(1991)

Grab some gummy sharks and some salted peanuts and enjoy this awesome movie on land with your favorite crew members this weekend.

Con Air

is a 1997 action film starring Nicolas Cage as a former US Army Ranger who after serving his time in prison for a fight that resulted in a death, finds himself on a prison plane that has been skyjacked by the other convicts aboard. The film was produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Simon West, and the cast includes John Malkovich, John Cusack, and Ving Rhames.

Cameron Poe, a honorably discharged United States Army Ranger, is found guilty of manslaughter in the death of an innocent but drunk bar customer while trying to defend his pregnant wife Tricia from him, and sentenced to seven to ten years by a biased judge. During his time in prison, he communicates with his wife and daughter while utilizing the time to better himself.

Eight years later, Poe is released on parole, and is scheduled to be flown back to his hometown in Alabama on the same day as his daughter Casey's seventh birthday. Poe is arranged transport on the "Jailbird", a C-123 airplane, along with a fellow prisoner Mike "Baby-O" O'Dell. This prison transfer flight is being used by U.S. Marshal Vince Larkin to transport a number of notorious violent criminals to a new Supermax prison. One by one we meet this villainous squad. These include William "Billy Bedlam" Bedford, convicted of murdering his wife's entire family after he caught her in bed with another man and Nathan "Diamond Dog" Jones, a black supremacist who bombed an NRA meeting claiming that "they represented the basest negativity of the white race," then wrote a New York Times bestseller from prison that apparently is getting a movie adaptation starring Denzel Washington. The unforgettable and creepy Johnny "23" Baca, a serial rapist as well as the Joe "Pinball" Parker. Then we have our twisted ringleader of this plane filled with the most violent criminals in the prison system, Cyrus "The Virus" Grissom, who's served time for kidnapping, robbery, murder, and extortion, shanked 11 inmates, incited three prison riots, and escaped from prison twice, and likes to brag that he's killed more men than cancer.

Prior to the flight, Larkin is approached by DEA agent Duncan Malloy, who asks to put undercover agent Willie Sims on board the plane to get more information out of drug lord Francisco Cindino, before he is incarcerated during the flight. Larkin acquiesces but insists the agent go aboard unarmed, but Malloy is able to sneak Sims a gun during the boarding pat-down.

Shortly after the flight takes off, Jones and Grissom are able to free themselves with the help of a distraction by another prisoner. Pinball Parker sets the inmate next to him on fire and the prisoners quickly subdue the guards. As this is happening Cyrus heads up to the cockpit and quickly kills the co-pilot who came out to settle the riot, Cyrus seizes his gun, then quickly takes control of the cockpit to prevent the pilot from reporting in and forces him to submit a false report. As Pinball is uncuffing the prisoners, Sims attempts to threaten Grissom with Pinball as his hostage, but Poe, recognizing that Sims is at a disadvantage, attempts to talk the agent out of it; Sims ignores the advice and is killed.

As Cyrus organizes the other prisoners to prepare for a scheduled landing in Carson City in order to meet the required prisoner transfer numbers, Pinball informs Cyrus that some of the prisoners that were scheduled to get off were killed during the takeover. Poe initially decides to get off hoping to expose the takeover, but reconsiders when he discovers they are taping the mouths shut of all the transferees who are getting off as a precaution and the pilot is transferred off in his place. Another reason for staying is that his friend O'Dell is a diabetic and the injection needles for his insulin were damaged in the takeover and are unusable so he needs to find a way to help him. Also, Johnny 23 is after the only female guard on the plane, Sally Bishop. Despite the fact that Cyrus has threatened to kill Johnny if he attempts to rape her, Johnny threatens any way. Poe spots a recording device on Sims' body and he transfers it to one the guards that are being substituted for dead prisoners hoping it would attract the attention of the guards on the prison bus.

Upon landing to refuel and pick up more prisoners to take them to freedom, Cyrus ensures that the prison transfer goes smoothly. Among the new prisoners boarding are drug lord Francisco Cindino, the mastermind of the escape, transvestite serial killer Ramon 'Sally Can't Dance' Martinez, their new pilot, "Swamp Thing" Williams and cannibal serial killer Garland Greene known as "The Marietta Mangler". Grissom instructs Pinball to hide the plane's transponder, and despite Poe's efforts, the plane leaves Carson City without problems even though the guards on the prison bus discover the true identity of the prisoners on the bus and backup arrives too late. Around that time Larkin discovers the plans for the plane's takeover in Cyrus's old jail cell and narrowly avoids getting killed on his way out when one of the guards disregards his advice and opens an box that has a bomb hidden inside of it.

After Larkin and Malloy discover what happened, Larkin having heard about Poe from one of their guards Falzon suspects Poe is on their side. Malloy, against Larkin's advice, immediately takes off to follow the plane's transponder, which unknown to him was snuck aboard a sightseeing plane. Poe, along with Jones, go into the hull to determine the cause of the plane's slow speed and find that Pinball's body is lodged into the landing wheel compartment, having missed the plane taking off. Poe takes the opportunity to write a message on Parker's shirt to Larkin and pushes the body out of the plane, where it lands in the middle of traffic in Fresno, California.

Larkin has a meeting with Trisha and Casey to determine why Poe chose to stay on the plane, when a call comes in from Fresno police and Larkin is quickly made aware of the message. Larkin recognizes that the prisoners' plane is headed in the opposite direction to the disused Lerner Airfield. Unable to convince Malloy of this information over the radio, he borrows Malloy's sports car to make it to the field before the plane can land, calling in the National Guard and other forces to help secure the airfield.

Aboard the plane, Poe attempts to keep his identity secret, killing Bedford when he discovers Poe's parole letter in the personal belongings in the hull. Poe learns from Grissom that Cindino is promising that once they land at Lerner, another plane will be waiting for them to help them gain asylum in a safer geographic location.

The plane lands at the airfield, running aground, but no plane seems to be waiting for them; while the rest of the prisoners are forced by Grissom to dig out the plane, Poe explores the field to try to find an injection needle for O'Dell's insulin, who at this point is going into a diabetic shock from withdrawal of his medication. Larkin, also on the field, happens upon the plane that Cindino promised, finding that Cindino has double-crossed Grissom and trying to flee on his own and helps rescue Poe from Cindino's henchmen who are there waiting for their boss. Larkin and Poe briefly meet and discuss the situation before Poe leaves to find an injection needle. Cindino slips away from the other prisoners to board his plane and has his pilot take off. Larkin is able to disable the plane, and the crash alerts Grissom, who shoots the fuel leaking from Cindino's plane, starting a fire and burning Cindino alive.

The prisoners observe that armed forces are advancing on the field, and upon Cyrus discovering the small arsenal hidden in the bottom of the plane, they set up an ambush trap for the forces. Larkin goes off to help stop the troops from being massacred by reactivating an old unused plow and using it to create a makeshift bulletproof shield, while Poe managed to find an injection needle and returns to the plane to give O'Dell his insulin and manages to stop Johnny from raping Bishop. As the troops overrun the trap, Grissom and the remaining prisoners return to the plane and take off, despite damage to the plane and before Poe could escape with O'Dell and Bishop.

Grissom soon discovers Poe's true identity after Jones found Poe's parole letter. After shooting O'Dell in the stomach who tried to take the blame, Cyrus prepares to kill Poe. Malloy, having recognized that Larkin was telling the truth earlier upon encountering the sightseeing plane has tracked down the Jailbird. He has his helicopter pilot open fire on it and disables one of the engines, causing the plane to lose fuel. With Grissom and the others distracted, shooting from the aircraft's ramp at the helicopters, Poe gains control of the cockpit with an improvised hand to hand combat with prisoners in his path and orders not to fire. When Larkin in a second helicopter, tells Malloy about Poe's identity as a parolee, Malloy orders "hold fire" and joins forces. Attempting to land the aircraft to land at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, the crippled Jailbird is forced to crash land on "The Strip".

The landing causes injuries and fatalities among the inmates while also causing massive destruction along the Las Vegas strip until it comes to a halt in the lobby of the Sands Hotel. Amid the chaos, Poe is thanked by both O'Dell and Bishop for his help as the police arrest the surviving prisoners. Grissom, Jones, and "Swamp Thing" escape on a fire truck. Larkin and Poe see them trying to flee, pursue them on motorcycles, eventually killing all three escapees; Jones being hit by Poe's motorbike, Swamp Thing hurtling through the windshield and being run over after Larkin floods the inside of the fire truck with water from the fire hose, and Cyrus, being beaten by Poe, handcuffed to the fire ladder, and then sent flying after the truck crashes leaving Cyrus to be crushed by a pounder in a nearby construction site. Poe is finally able to reunite with his loving wife and daughter, who have been brought by Larkin to meet him.

In the final scene, a croupier at a craps table in one of the Vegas casinos asks a new shooter if he feels lucky. The shooter, Garland Greene, takes the dice, sips a margarita and replies without a smile.

An all star cast and action sequences in the air and on land this films has a dash of dark humor and plot twists. One of my top 20 personal film favorites for sure. Let's take a look at some of the weapons featured in this film.

The prison guards, U.S. Marshals and DEA agents arm themselves with SIG-Sauer P226 handguns. The convicts use several P226s captured from the guards, most notably Cyrus "The Virus" Grissom (John Malkovich), who steals the co-pilot's SIG-Sauer from him after he removed it from the lock box and uses it for much of the film.

To meet the convicts you can watch it here:

SIG-Sauer P226 9mm.

Mack the Co-pilot (Martin McSorley) removes a SIG-Sauer P226 from the lock box.

Cyrus points the P226 at Guard Falzon (Steve Eastin).

Nathan "Diamond Dog" Jones (Ving Rhames) holds the SIG

"Make a move and the bunny gets it." Cyrus holds the P226.

To see the scene with the bunny you can watch it here:

DEA Agent Duncan Malloy (Colm Meaney) opens fire with his SIG.

Deputy US Marshal Vince Larkin (John Cusack) carries a Glock 17 2nd generation as his issued sidearm.

Glock 17 9mm.

When his Glock runs empty, Larkin simply tosses it away. Apparently he forgot to bring any spare magazines with him

Larkin readies his Glock while on a police bike in Vegas.

Larkin holds his Glock on Poe

To see the exchange between Larkin and Poe you can watch here:

Corrections officers carry Remington 870s when the cons are being loaded onto the plane. Several 870s are also included in the arsenal located in the belly of the aircraft and are later broken out by the convicts.

Remington 870 Police Shotgun - 12 gauge.

Corrections officers armed with Remington 870s as Nathan 'Diamond Dog' Jones (Ving Rhames) walks to the plane.

A corrections officer armed with an 870 as the the bus approaches.

Cyrus hands out Remington 870s from the weapons stash.

The cons take several M16A2 assault rifles from the weapons stash. The rifles fire fully-automatic, which means that they are actually M16A2 upper receivers placed on full-auto lower M16A1 receivers, typical of all Hollywood "M16A2" rifles. This is even evident visually in some of the closeups.

M16A2/A3 5.56x45mm.

Cyrus aims down his M16A2 hybrid gun.

Diamond Dog firing his M16A2. Note the M16A1 Lower receiver coupled with the A2 upper receiver.

Cyrus shoots out a plane door lock with the M16A2 on full auto, showing it is a fully-automatic gun.

To see the kill count in the film you can watch here:

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To see what weapons were used in the film you can take a peek right here: http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/Con_Air

Grab your favorite stuffed animal, some airplane peanuts and get ready for a wild ride if you watch this movie this weekend.

To watch a short by National Geographic about the real Con Air you can do so by watching here:

Labels: 90's flicks, action films, bank robbery, cops, guns, heists, iconic movies, john malkovich, keanu reeves, mossberg, nicholas cage, patrick swayze, plot twists, rifles, robbers, weapons