MPAA Rating: R/Genre: Action Thriller/Stars: Sylvester Stallone, John Lithgow, Michael Rooker, Janine Turner, Rex Linn, Caroline Goodall, Leon Robinson, Craig Fairbrass, Gregory Scott Cummins, Denis Forest, Paul Winfield, Ralph Waite, Max Perlich, Trey Brownell, Vyto Ruginis, John Finn, Bruce McGill, Zach Grenier, Jeff McCarthy, Michelle Joyner/Runtime: 113 minutes
It might seem weird to start this review off this way, but I must confess that I honestly for the life of me do not understand how there are people out there who enjoy the “recreational activity” of mountain climbing. In the name of all fairness yes I hold true to my belief of “to each their own” and yes I have done my fair share of this “activity” both in the United States and even abroad (the Swiss Alps to be exact). Even with those admissions under my belt however, I still find myself raising a bit of a skeptical eyebrow when people tell me how much they love to do it. I mean not only do you have to worry about potentially falling (duh) to say nothing of getting lost or even wildlife on the mountain deciding to make your life a bit of a nightmare since they don’t really like you being on the mountain at the same time as them, but you could also run into nasty weather, avalanches, and (perhaps most terrifying of all) other climbers who may seem rude yet you did just ask them to take your picture while you stood very close to the edge so maybe they just don’t want to be an active participant in someone else’s moronic mountain adventure. Suffice it to say then with all of those possible hazards which exist in the real world then how possibly could the land of movie magic even attempt to make such a leisurely “pastime” even worse than it already potentially is? Well how about throwing a group of vicious and hardcore criminals and a trio of cases containing some serious cold hard cash into the mix? Indeed in case you hadn’t guessed it yet dear reader, it is that pair of distinct curveballs that are significant plot elements to a slice of cinema from 1993, and film I happen to be reviewing for you today incidentally, known as Cliffhanger. A film that I also happen to have quite the intriguing history with. Not because I saw it at an early age (though that certainly could be the case), but rather because it was a slice of cinema I wound up watching back in 2003 on the same day I went to go see (of all things) Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over in theaters. Yet whereas the latter film (which also had Sylvester Stallone in it) was goofy yet very much a one and done kind of movie, I can’t say the same about Cliffhanger. Instead, I think it’s safer to say that this is definitely a film I have had no problems watching multiple times since. This is because it might not be perfect by any means, but with the aid of skilled work on both sides of the camera Cliffhanger is one taut and exciting popcorn thrill ride that is sure to leave you on the edge of your seat regardless of it’s your first or your 71st time watching it.
The plot is as follows: Cliffhanger gets its thrilling story underway by introducing us to our main hero in the form of a guy by the name of Gabriel “Gabe” Walker. A guy who, among other things worth knowing about him, happens to be a fairly skilled member of that distinct emergency community known as rescue rangers (not the ones sponsored by Chip and Dale incidentally). Yet when our story opens, we see that Gabe, his girlfriend/fellow ranger Jessica, and their dedicated pilot Frank aren’t engaged in a life-or-death mission with stakes higher than what you’d see at an all-nighter poker tournament. Rather, they’re simply heading to the top of a mountain amidst the Colorado Rockies because Gabe’s best friend, and fellow ranger, Hal and his girlfriend Sarah are stuck up there. Yet whereas 9 times out of 10 this would be a simple pick-up job with everyone proceeding to make it out in one piece and having a solid laugh about it on the helicopter ride home, this is sadly the one time where that’s not the case. As a result, we see that not only does Hal blame Gabe for what winds up occurring, but that Gabe himself makes the choice to take an extended leave of absence from the ranger service. From there, the film picks up a solid eight months later where we see that Gabe has still not quite healed from the ordeal and has come back to the station to get the rest of his stuff before starting a new chapter in his life. Today though Lady Fate has different plans in mind for our hero. Plans that may or may not involve him getting a shot at redemption for the mistake that is still haunting him. I say this because shortly after his return to the station, a distress call goes out over the radio from a group of climbers and Gabe, despite Hal’s extreme reluctance, goes with him to see if he can help. Upon getting to the location of the climbers however, the pair soon discover (big surprise coming up) that the call was fake and they instead are now being held captive by a group of international thieves. It seems that their leader had enlisted a traitorous member of the U.S. Treasury to aid him and the group in the theft of a trinity of suitcases containing uncirculated U.S. currency worth over a cool 100 mil during a transfer via airplane. Unfortunately for the group, their plan hit a slight detour when the plane was forced to make an emergency landing and, in the ensuing chaos, the cases were lost amidst the mountains. Therefore, what the group is “politely requesting” our hero and his embittered pal to do is help them find the cases albeit with their lives in the balance. Thus can our hero not only beat the thieves to the loot, and maybe kick some bad guy butt at the same time, but also find a way to ensure that this time he and his team are able to come out of this in as close to one piece as possible? That I will leave for you to discover….
Now right off, it should be said that this slice of cinema is one that, from a behind the camera perspective, is definitely one that is solidly made and brought to life by an undeniably skilled group of professionals. This most assuredly starts with the work done by Renny Harlin (Die Hard 2, Deep Blue Sea, and the 4th Nightmare on Elm Street) and this is easily (especially when taking into account his recent filmography) one of the 5 best films he has helmed. Indeed not only does Harlin do a great job at getting solid work from a performance perspective from his undeniably talented cast, but he also proceeds to brilliantly complement those performances with a solid sense of pacing, letting the suspense present build up gradually rather than all at once, but also a collection of action beats that are sure to leave you on the edge of your seat in the best way possible. By doing so, we see that Harlin is able to ensure that yes we are thrilled, but that we also get to know the cast of characters beyond being just mere archetypes that we’d perhaps see in a less skillfully made film of a similar ilk. Alongside the fairly skilled work done by Harlin in the director’s chair, we see that this slice of cinema is also blessed with wonderful work done by the late Alex Thomson (Kenneth Branagh’s Hamlet from 1996, Legend from 1985, Leviathan from 1989, and even Stallone’s other 1993 release Demolition Man among others) in the cinematography department. Indeed not only does Thomson do a wonderful job of effectively capturing the majesty and beauty of the, standing in for the Colorado Rockies, Dolomite Mountains in Italy, but he also does an equally as effective job at proceeding to then contrast that aforementioned beauty with a rugged and tough as nails atmosphere that really helps to sell us on the always just waiting in the background feeling of peril that is constantly there with our cast of characters as they traverse on top of, and even through, the mountains in search of both the money and/or their continued survival. Suffice it to say that Thomson was a truly skilled individual in his respective corner of the movie universe and he was definitely in top form here. Alongside those elements, it should also be said that this slice of cinema also manages to contain truly skilled work in terms of its musical accompaniment from gifted composer Trevor Jones (1987’s Angel Heart, 1990’s Arachnophobia, 1995’s Richard III, and even 1992’s The Last of the Mohicans among others). Indeed Jones’ score might not be his best work by any stretch, but it does still manage to reinforce the tension and suspense present in the film quite nicely. Suffice it to say that, when you also factor in a good but not great screenplay from both Michael France (1995’s GoldenEye, 2004’s take on the Marvel superhero The Punisher) and Sylvester Stallone plus on-point work from the editing department as headed by three-time Oscar nominee Frank J. Urioste (1987’s RoboCop, 1988’s Die Hard, 1992’s Basic Instinct, and even Tombstone also from 1993 among other iconic examples), it might not be flawless by any measure, but even so there is no denying that the work done behind the camera on this film definitely does a wonderful job of ensuring that the film is both skillfully made to say nothing of keeping audiences engaged and entertained from beginning to end and every thrilling minute in between.
Alongside the well-done work by the various departments behind the camera, this slice of cinema also manages to benefit from the fact that the performances given by the immensely skilled cast of players in front of the camera are able to be on the same level of quality even if some of them do seem to be either underutilized and/or shoehorned in. Without a doubt, this starts with Sylvester Stallone in the lead role and he is terrific here. Indeed as Gabe Walker we see that Stallone does a wonderful job of giving us a character that might have the “Stallone action movie hero physique” and does give us a few action hero one liners here and there, but who also is (in a nice change of pace for this kind of movie) very much someone who is vulnerable on both a physical and emotional level due in no small part to being haunted by a tragedy that I shan’t spoil for you here. As such, we find ourselves rooting for him not just because he’s the hero of the film, but because he comes across as a genuine human being much in the same way that Rambo and Rocky did at the start of their respective franchises. Suffice it to say that it’s a terrific performance and easily one of the 10 best of Stallone’s career. Of course, in a slice of cinema such as this one, the performance of the hero is only as good as the performance given for the antagonist that they are squaring off against. Thankfully, that is a lesson that this film seems to have taken to heart because we are also treated to an absolutely dynamic turn here from the always enjoyable John Lithgow in the role of Eric Qualen. Indeed Lithgow has always been a talent that I have admired and here he is terrific as this sadistic, ruthless, and just plain despicable human monster who has no reservations about killing anyone, be they innocent people or even people on his own squad, just so long as at the end of the day he gets what he wants. Suffice it to say that it’s a wonderfully commanding hiss-worthy performance from an actor who has most assuredly given us his fair share of those and then some in the best way possible. Alongside the performances given by Stallone and Lithgow, the film also presents us with a solid turn from Michael Rooker in the role of Gabe’s estranged friend Hal Tucker. Yes this is a character who easily could have just been the stereotypical “former friend who becomes friends with the hero again by the end”. Even so though, Rooker does a fantastic job here of giving us someone that yes does fit into that particular slot whilst also ensuring that he is very much a three-dimensional human being who is tough, brave, and willing to do whatever it takes for him, Gabe, and Jessie to survive this mess. Suffice it to say that when you also factor in solid efforts from such talents as Rex Linn (Sgt. Tripp on CSI: Miami) who is a genuinely unhinged delight as Travers, Janine Turner (Maggie O’Connell from Northern Exposure), Paul Winfield, the iconic Ralph Waite, Caroline Goodall, Craig Fairbrass, and even a brief yet always welcome turn from Bruce McGill among others it’s clear that this slice of cinema might have a few hiccups here and there along its mountain path, but the work done by this cast definitely helps keep this as smooth of a cinematic hiking excursion as possible.
All in all and at the end of the day is Cliffhanger a perfect and flawless slice of cinema in every way possible? Sadly no, but in all honesty I do not think that was this film’s intent to begin with. Having said that, is this the worst slice of cinema in the filmographies of anyone involved in the making of it be they either in front of or behind the camera? Thankfully for both your peace of mind and sanity as well as my own, I can confirm that is most assuredly not the case either. To be sure, there are moments in this film where the more logical-minded amongst you will at best raise an eyebrow and at worst proceed to exasperatedly yell “Oh Come On!” at the top of your lungs in the direction of the screen you are watching this on at least once. At the same time though, I don’t think is a slice of cinema that was designed to be one that you were supposed to really engage in any serious, if any at all if I’m being honest, contemplation whilst watching it. Rather, I am of the belief that this is very much a slice of cinema that is meant to be one that is charged with a singular goal. That being to operate less as a motion picture and more as the cinematic equivalent to a thrill ride that you might encounter at an amusement park. Indeed perhaps this is why when, once you look at the film through that distinct perspective, you hopefully are able to see what I do which is that this film is most assuredly a bonafide success through and through. Suffice it to say then that, with the aid of fairly solid work by the creative team behind the camera and electrifying work from a game and impeccably chosen cast of performers in front of the camera (with particular regard to the performances given by both Stallone and Lithgow respectively) Cliffhanger “93” is one taut, thrilling, and just plain entertaining popcorn slice of cinema that is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat no matter if it’s your first time or your 51st time sitting back to watch it. Just make sure to not go mountain climbing either immediately before or after you decide to watch this movie and especially don’t, under any circumstances, play the SNES/NES video game based on this movie that was released around the same time. Trust me when I say that you might definitely maybe choose to thank me later. Make of that what thou will dear reader. On a scale of 1-5 I give Cliffhanger “93” a solid 4 out of 5.
