The voices of Sam the Sham, and the Pharaohs as they sing 'Little Red Riding Hood' are what fill the opening scene of Striking Distance, as a little toy Police Car we at first think is real appears, followed by a woman who's been bound and gagged.This is a great beginning for an action movie, and the shock of it grabs the audience.Tom Hardy (Bruce Willis) is a cop who comes from a large family of police officers.There's his father, Vince (John Mahoney). His uncle, Nick (Dennis Farina). His two cousins, Danny (Tom Sizemore) and Jimmy (Robert Pastorelli).Together, they appear to lead good lives until one day, in hot pursuit of the killer introduced at the beginning, Tom's father is shot dead.Soon after, a man proported to be the killer is hauled into court, over the objections of Hardy who knows he couldn't possibly be the guy.His uncle Nick, however, is adamant... almost to the point of sounding suspicious, and the man is convicted and sent to prison.That night, Jimmy (facing charges of his own), commits suicide by leaping off a bridge, and both Nick and Danny blame Tom for the tragedy.The movie jumps forward two years, and we see that Hardy is now a Water Patrolman having quite all serious police work.Things change suddenly however, when a classy officer named Jo Christman (Sarah Jessica Parker), is assigned to be his new partner...This is right about the time the killer resurfaces and (just like old times), begins dumping bodies in the river for Hardy to find, and what's worse, is setting him up to be framed for the murders of, what happen to be, his old girlfriends.This is an above average action movie.The script is believable, with pockets of humor sprinkled throughout.The premise is original.And all the actors are great in their roles.Bruce Willis is terrific as always, and Sarah Jessica Parker makes the movie by being appealing...but so beautiful that she's completely discredited as a police officer.The role requires strength rather than looks, and this she has in Spades.In most of these types of movies, female police officers are gorgeous flowers adorning the production...which is completely ridiculous, and insults the intelligence of the audience.It's one thing for a man to look like the cover of GQ, and be a cop, but how is a woman who looks like a fashion model going to pull it off?Especially since she's so delicate, she'd probably topple at the slightest breeze.Very few of these types of characters have brains, given that they're only in the movie to add a little sex appeal.It's nice to see that same old character played by somebody who's believable and intelligent.The chemistry between the two lead actors is great, and (unlike most cases) the romance actually adds, rather than detracts from the story.A really, really outstanding movie. One of Bruce Willis' best.Originally, Review #76Posted On: June 4, 2010

Pittsburgh police homicide detective Tom Hardy (Bruce Willis) is an outcast after testifying that his partner and cousin Jimmy Detillo (Robert Pastorelli) used excessive force. His uncle Capt. Nick Detillo (Dennis Farina) and cousin Danny Detillo (Tom Sizemore) are both fellow officers. Tom and his father chase after the serial killer Polish Hill strangler. His father is killed. He suspects the strangler is a police officer. The police make an arrest based on a questionable witness. Jimmy jumps off a bridge to escape prison time and presumed dead. Two years later, Tom has become a drunk and transferred to River Rescue. Jo Christman (Sarah Jessica Parker) is his new diver. The killings start up again and this time, the killer is directly taunting him.This is an overwrought unreal police thriller. The opening car chase is crazy. It's borderline joyous fun and I'm willing to go with it. However that's not where this movie is going. When Jimmy jumps off the bridge, all of a sudden the heaven opens up and rain pours down. The movie keeps pushing everything over the top. Dennis Farina and Tom Sizemore never stop yelling or talking intensely. Sarah Jessica Parker is playing a hottie in this one. There are some unbelievable things going on that feel unrealistic. This movie could use a little simplification and a lot more believability.

I like Rowdy Herrington, and he assembled a good cast for this 1993 film - Bruce Willis, Sarah Jessica Parker, Dennis Farina, Tome Sizemore, Robert Pastorelli, John Mahoney, Timothy Busfield, and Andre Braugher.Willis is Tom Hardy, who spoke out against his crazy partner (Pastorelli) and for this reason is shunned by other officers.There is a serial killer on the loose, and he's killing all of Tom's ex-girlfriends. Tom knows the killer is a cop, targeting him. He's let go from homicide and all that's available to him is river rescue.Two years later, his views haven't changed. The killer is back in full swing, but the police thinks it's a copycat. Tom knows better.The first eight minutes of this consist of a police car - obviously a computer graphic, which was a little off-putting, it was so obvious. This is the type of film that was made for the movie theater - it's loud, it has car chases galore, shootings, crashes - non-stop action.Willis is very good; the rest of the actors are good, too, but they're from television - Willis is the only true movie star. He and the special effects got all the money.Pretty good and entertaining, too, with a mini-twist.

We see Bruce Willis develop his 2-dimensional acting "chops" in this, one of his earliest action flicks. He basically has 3 emotions: the overly subdued "I'm to cool to care" tone, the aloof/smug tone, and the yelling tone. The facial contortions he exhibits when he shoots a gun is so ham and often repeated throughout his career. ( Don't get me wrong, some of his films, if not his work, I am very fond of). You either love Sarah J, Parker or not. But it strikes me odd that she has been in SO many love scenes and starred in the Sex & The City shows and movies, yet she obviously takes herself too serious as their must be a no-nip clause in all of her contracts. I guess whats good enough for serious actresses like Helen Mirren, Susan Sarandon, Kate Winslet, and Julianne Moore isn't good enough for her. The film: This is a 19 year old movie, so I am going to assume the plot has been well covered here. But I couldn't get passed a couple of things: Great opening car chase scene, highly frenetic, however father and son are having a completely sedate personal conversation. Its one thing to be in control of your emotions, its another being inhuman. So they get in this rolling car crash, its the middle of the day and apparently they all just sat there for hours and hours because its dark when the other cops ( some involved in the pursuit) arrive at the scene. Second big thing, you have our villain, a cop. He's on the bridge for the longest time. All of his relatives are cops, his dad is a cop. There's is the omnipotent river patrol, who our protagonist joins later in the film. Yet, when the villain jumps in, the river patrol cant immediately find him? After all, all of the other dead bodies are found, and apparently the river is pretty clean ( of course not) because we see night-time underwater sequences. Wouldn't they want his body recovered? They certainly had the resources. Minor things: Why was the guy who dumped a throw-rug so anxious to risk life&limb and his car ( which explodes) over it? Was this our villain? Never explained. The worst things for me had to be Sarah's mushy court-room testimony, and Brion James ( who I like in other films) who is so over-the-top angry about everything its just plain humorous, or his diatribe in the end when he eats crow and ego strokes Bruce. Really cheesy.