The Last Boy Scout (1991)
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A washed-up private investigator and a disgraced football star must team up to navigate a web of political corruption and violence.
The story
The film follows a washed-up private investigator, Joe Hallenbeck, a disgraced former Secret Service agent who was once a national hero. After his best friend is killed in a car bombing, Joe is forced to work with a disgraced former football star, Jimmy Dix. The two men find themselves entangled in a dangerous conspiracy involving a strip club, a corrupt senator, and a high-stakes investigation into sports gambling. As they navigate a series of violent encounters and explosions, they must uncover the truth behind the conspiracy while trying to survive the hitmen sent to silence them.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After a football star, Billy Cole, is involved in a drug-induced incident on the field, private investigator Joe Hallenbeck discovers his wife is having an affair. Following the death of his partner, Mike, Joe is tasked with protecting a stripper named Cory. He teams up with her boyfriend, Jimmy Dix, a former football star. The pair discovers a recording of a conspiracy involving Senator Calvin Baynard and Stallions owner Sheldon Marcone regarding the legalization of sports gambling. They face off against hitmen and navigate explosions. Joe is eventually captured and forced to deliver a briefcase of money to Baynard, but the contents are swapped for a bomb. Joe is rescued by Jimmy and his daughter, Darian. In a final confrontation at a stadium, Joe and Jimmy fight through Marcone's men. Joe faces off against Marcone's henchman, Milo, while Jimmy warns the senator. Marcone is killed by his own bomb, and Joe and Jimmy ultimately decide to become partners.
- First release year
- 1991
- Runtime (minutes)
- 105
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Tony Scott
- Writers
- Shane Black · screenplay; Shane Black · story; Greg Hicks · story
- Cast and characters
- Bruce Willis · Joe Hallenbeck; Damon Wayans · Billy Cole; Halle Berry · Cory; Noble Willingham · Milo; Chelsea Field · Sarah; Taylor Negron · Darian; Danielle Harris · Darian
- Genres
- action; comedy
- Themes
- corruption; betrayal
- Tone and mood
- violent; cynical
- Premise and plot tags
- buddy-cop; neo-noir
- Source material / true-story basis
- original script
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews initially but has gained a cult following and more positive retrospective reviews.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 52 · scale: 100 · review count: 22
- Awards and nominations
- MTV Movie Award · Best Action Sequence · Nomination; MTV Movie Award · Best On-Screen Duo · Nomination
- Production trivia
- The original script was sold for a record $1.75 million.; The original title was intended to be Die Hard.; The film was originally rated NC-17 before being edited for a wider release.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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