Con Air
Rent & Buy
Newly-paroled former US Army ranger Cameron Poe is headed back to his wife, but must fly home aboard a prison transport flight dubbed "Jailbird" taking the “worst of the worst” prisoners, a group described as “pure predators”, to a new super-prison. Poe faces impossible odds when the transport plane is skyjacked mid-flight by the most vicious criminals in the country led by the mastermind — genius serial killer Cyrus "The Virus" Grissom, and backed by black militant Diamond Dog and psychopath Billy Bedlam.
What critics thought
Con Air landed in mixed-review territory on release, with critics broadly agreeing it is deliberately, knowingly excessive — the debate was whether that self-aware absurdity makes it a fun ride or an exhausting, pandering one. Cage's oddly earnest performance was itself a point of contention, with some finding it part of the charm and at least one prominent critic finding it a liability.
“moves smoothly and with visual style and verbal wit”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
“Leaving The Rock last summer, I thought it seemed physically impossible for a more over-the-top action movie to be made. That was pretty short-sighted of me, since it was only a matter of time until producer Jerry Bruckheimer topped himself as he does with the wildly entertaining Con Air.”
Andrew Johnston·Time Out New York
Accolades
Genres
Action, Thriller, Crime
Cast & Crew
Simon WestDirector
Nicolas CageCameron Poe
John CusackAgent Vince Larkin
John MalkovichCyrus "The Virus" Grissom
Ving RhamesNathan "Diamond Dog" Jones
Mykelti Williamson"Baby-O" O'Dell
Dave Chappelle"Pinball" Parker
Colm MeaneyAgent Duncan Malloy
Monica PotterTricia Poe
Landry AllbrightCasey Poe
Rachel TicotinGuard Sally Bishop
Steve BuscemiGarland Greene - "The Marietta Mangler"
Nick ChinlundWilliam "Billy Bedlam" Bedford
Mark MancinaComposer
Trevor RabinComposer
Scott RosenbergWriter
David TattersallCinematographyCon Air
Newly-paroled former US Army ranger Cameron Poe is headed back to his wife, but must fly home aboard a prison transport flight dubbed "Jailbird" taking the “worst of the worst” prisoners, a group described as “pure predators”, to a new super-prison. Poe faces impossible odds when the transport plane is skyjacked mid-flight by the most vicious criminals in the country led by the mastermind — genius serial killer Cyrus "The Virus" Grissom, and backed by black militant Diamond Dog and psychopath Billy Bedlam.
What critics thought
Con Air landed in mixed-review territory on release, with critics broadly agreeing it is deliberately, knowingly excessive — the debate was whether that self-aware absurdity makes it a fun ride or an exhausting, pandering one. Cage's oddly earnest performance was itself a point of contention, with some finding it part of the charm and at least one prominent critic finding it a liability.
“moves smoothly and with visual style and verbal wit”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
“Leaving The Rock last summer, I thought it seemed physically impossible for a more over-the-top action movie to be made. That was pretty short-sighted of me, since it was only a matter of time until producer Jerry Bruckheimer topped himself as he does with the wildly entertaining Con Air.”
Andrew Johnston·Time Out New York
Accolades
Genres
Action, Thriller, Crime
Cast & Crew
Simon WestDirectorNicolas CageCameron PoeJohn CusackAgent Vince LarkinJohn MalkovichCyrus "The Virus" GrissomVing RhamesNathan "Diamond Dog" JonesMykelti Williamson"Baby-O" O'DellDave Chappelle"Pinball" ParkerColm MeaneyAgent Duncan MalloyMonica PotterTricia PoeLandry AllbrightCasey PoeRachel TicotinGuard Sally BishopSteve BuscemiGarland Greene - "The Marietta Mangler"Nick ChinlundWilliam "Billy Bedlam" BedfordMark MancinaComposerTrevor RabinComposerScott RosenbergWriterDavid TattersallCinematographyRent & Buy