Oh how I love a Glickenhaus flick, good or bad. He's like the Brian Trenchard Smith of America. Here, he excels again with another addictive flick. A black ex con, has been set up for the killing of a drug dealer, by a bad apple cop- a blue jean cop, though I really didn't stop to note it's meaning as I too wrapped up in the film, to really care. Slick lawyer (Weller) who's just such a watchable actor, teams up with a reckless aging cop (Elliott) who lives basically out of a cinema, to shut this bad cop down, where Elliott does his thing out there on the streets and Weller does his slick show in a courtroom, where these two contrasts blend well. Rebellious Elliott provides some of the electric thrills, if sending a roller coaster train, hurtling over the edge, or hanging off a lear jet forcing it back down, where it explodes immediately on landing. These are memorable moments, especially the jet one. Glickenhaus has a flair for action, and stunts, producing great addictive popcorn flicks, like Mark L Lester who indeed who's made his share. It's Weller's presence, that adds half the magic to the film, that came and went at the cinema, on about the same time as Elliott's other film, the Swayze, actioner, Roadhouse. Of course people will frown upon it, where others will find it forgettable. It's a pity, as this low key, 89 action pic, is one of those that deserves more attention, where Elliott's character should draw more attention to his hygiene.

When drug dealer Michael Jones (Brooks) shoots a corrupt cop in New York's Central Park one night, it falls on idealistic, Jimi Hendrix-loving attorney Roland Dalton (Weller) to defend him. But things get far more complicated when Dalton must team up with an undercover, unorthodox cop, Richie Marks (Elliott) to get to the truth behind all the corrupt cops, drug dealers, thugs and goons. And in a plot device later used, interestingly enough, in Night Of The Wilding (1990), the prosecutor on the Jones case is Roland's former girlfriend.What's great about Shakedown is that it is not mindless. It has real characters in realistic settings. You grow to appreciate both Dalton and Marks. It's a legal drama but it is filled with action as well - the legal side represented by Peter Weller and the action side by Sam Elliott, who should have appeared in more movies like this. Weller makes plenty of funny faces along with his more normal interpretation of Dalton, the baby boomer attorney. Another name, Antonio Fargas shows up, but the fairly fast pace doesn't allow for him to stay around long. Richard Brooks would later be on the other side of the law on Law & Order.Another noteworthy aspect of this movie is its excellent New York City locations. A lot of scenes were filmed on the famed 42nd street, right before the city was cleaned up. There are plenty of movie marquees on show, everything from X-rated material to movies like The Hidden (1987) and Fatal Beauty, 1987 (also starring Elliott). You can see the famous Lyric theater, among others. As part of Marks' undercover work, he hides out in a theater watching the Glickenhaus movie The Soldier, 1982 (which you can also see posters for in the lobby). It's great to see all this stuff. We're very glad it was preserved here, intentionally or not.The seamy, New York, 80's atmosphere, along with the quality stunts, largely good acting combined with a story about adults (no stupid kids are involved) puts Shakedown way above the pack.Featuring the tune "Lookin' For Love" by Nikki Ryder, Shakedown is well worth seeking out.For more action insanity, please visit: comeuppancereviews.com

Completely contrived police corruption plot but Sam Elliott and Peter Weller do the best that could be expected under the circumstances. This almost seems like the roller coaster scene and the plane finale were thought up, and then connected somehow with the cartoon like script. Character development beyond Elliott and Weller is sketchy. The entire cops on the drug dealers payroll scenario is exploited way beyond what might make sense. The night shots on 42nd street are terrific, but you simply cannot take "Shakedown" seriously, and with each passing scene things deteriorate as believability flies out the window. The movie has some entertainment value, but do not expect much beyond stunt work and crashes. - MERK

I enjoyed the movie. Good entertainment. Especially enjoyed the live action stunts in a movieworld obsessed with sickening unrealistic comp-gen action scenes. If I want to watch animated action I turn on the Bugs&Daffy Show. Anyhow, my favorite part is the "DSAF" lecture. Seems there's alot of dsaf candidates wandering around out there these days...