Tactical Force

Last updated
Tactical Force
Tactical Force 2011.jpg
Directed by Adamo Paolo Cultraro
Written byAdamo Paolo Cultraro
Produced by
  • Jack Nasser
  • Joseph Nasser
  • Jack Heller
  • Dallas Sonnier
Starring
CinematographyBruce Chun
Edited by
  • Gordon Rempel
  • Rick Martin
Music byMichael Richard Plowman
Production
companies
Nasser Entertainment
Caliber Media Company
Distributed by Vivendi Entertainment
Release date
  • August 9, 2011 (2011-08-09)
Running time
91 minutes
CountriesCanada [1]
United States [2]
LanguageEnglish

Tactical Force is a 2011 Canadian-American [1] [2] action film written and directed by Adamo Paolo Cultraro, and starring Steve Austin, Michael Jai White, Michael Shanks, Keith Jardine, Michael Eklund, Darren Shahlavi and Lexa Doig.

Contents

The film concerns a rogue SWAT team sent to an abandoned compound with blank weapons for retraining, only to find themselves caught in the middle of a war between two gangs armed with fully functioning guns, who are both after a mysterious briefcase. It premiered in the United States on 9 August 2011. [3]

Plot

Captain Frank Tate leads a four-member SWAT team consisting of Tony Hunt, Jannard and Blanco. They manage to stop the robbery of a grocery store and save the hostages, but their reckless methods cause substantial property damage and emotional distress to the owner. Their superior gets angry and orders them to go through retraining, which they do not take seriously.

Ilya Kalashnikova and Demetrius, two Russian mobsters, bring a captive named Kenny to a warehouse outside the city. They demand Kenny recovers the "item" he has hidden there. Two members of the Italian mafia, Lampone and Storato, enter the same facility and start searching on their own. The two parties run into each other. Tate's team arrives on the same premises, and begins training with blank cartridges, not knowing about the events that just transpired.

Both criminal parties hide from the SWAT team, but tension rises between them. Blanco goes to check on the resulting noise, and is fatally shot, which alerts his colleagues. The Russians and the Italians realize that their law enforcement counterparts do not have real bullets, and form a fragile alliance to eliminate them. The SWAT team retreats to the upper level, locking the door behind them.

It is revealed that Demetrius stole the item from Lampone, before Kenny stole it from the former. Kenny reveals that the item is hidden somewhere beyond the locked door. Demetrius calls for backup. Tate and his squad realize that they must return to their truck to retrieve actual ammunition and call in police reinforcements. Kalashnikova and Storato bring the truck inside the warehouse. More members of the Russian mob, headed by a man named Vladimir, arrive. Vladimir decides to attack the upper floor through outside windows. Lampone secretly tells Storato that he has called his own operatives in order to secure the item for themselves.

Tate manages to reach the truck but finds the radio damaged. Hunt and Jannard fight off Vladimir's men. Jannard is nearly overpowered by Vladimir, before Tate returns and kills him. The mafia's reinforcements, led by tough guy Tagliaferro, show up and find another point of entry on the building's roof.

Tate decides to free Kenny, who gives him the briefcase containing the item. Kenny shows the SWAT team a hidden tunnel leading outside the hangar. Tate hides the item, before the group gets split. Tagliaferro knocks Tate unconscious, and hands him back to Kalashnikova and Demetrius. The others are captured by Storato and taken to another warehouse at the opposite end of the tunnel, where Lampone awaits. Lampone shoots Kenny, apparently killing him, and threatens to do the same to Jannard. Hunt agrees to go fetch the item in exchange for her safety, under escort from Storato. But he manages to kill Storato, neutralize Lampone and free Jannard.

Tagliaferro and his men return to Demetrius, Kalashnikova and Tate with orders to eliminate all three, but they escape in the truck and meet up with Hunt and Jannard at the other hangar. Tagliaferro catches up to them, and a final confrontation ensues. Tate kills Tagliaferro while Demetrius, Kalashnikova and Lampone are arrested.

Tate, Hunt and Jannard are congratulated by their superior. Kenny is revealed to be alive and an undercover FBI agent. He implies that Lampone is another undercover agent. The team is ordered to remain silent about the events.

Cast

Production

The film was developed independently by writer/director Cultraro, under the working title of Hangar 14. [4] It was originally slated to star Cuba Gooding, Jr. [5] The film later found financing from Jack and Joseph Nasser, who had inked WWE star Steve Austin to a multi-picture deal in 2008. [6] It marked the fourth collaboration between Austin and the Nasser brothers. [7] Like their other movies, it was shot around Vancouver, British Columbia, under the banner of Nasser Entertainment's Canadian subsidiary. [1] [8] Filming took place during snow season, which greatly contrasted with the light clothing and mild Los Angeles climate depicted in the film. [9]

Co-star Michael Jai White enjoyed Michael Eklund's performance as the weaselly Kenny, and asked Universal to cast him as main antagonist Jobe Davis in his 2020 film Welcome to Sudden Death . [10]

Release

Tactical Force was released theatrically in the United Arab Emirates on 12 April 2012, ranking fourth at the box office behind Get the Gringo , StreetDance 2 and The Hunger Games . [11]

In the United States, the film was released on home video on 9 August 2011 by Vivendi Entertainment. [3] Early copies came with a limited slipcover. [12] It reached number 10 in the national DVD sales chart for its week of release. [13] Canadian release followed on 23 August 2011. It was handled by Entertainment One, who also took care of the film in the UK and other international territories. [14]

Reception

Tactical Force received mixed reviews. The Movie Scene and Todd Rigney of Beyond Hollywood both deemed the film "absurd", while mentioning that its implausibility somehow contributed to its entertainment factor. [15] Genre critic Outlaw Vern was let down by the film's mundane locations. [16] Movie Mavericks was more positive, calling it "well produced", [17] and Explosive Action praised the inclusion of an extensive car chase in an otherwise stripped-down siege film. [18]
Tactical Force's flashy editing was widely criticized, but its high action quotient earned it moderate praise, with JoBlo calling it "a step above the rest [of Austin vehicles]". [19] Jeffrey Kauffman of Blu-ray.com opined that "Tactical Force looks fantastic. Cultraro the director simply needs to hire a better writer than Cultraro next time." [12]

The film earned notice for its inclusion of an Italian character of color, a relatively uncommon occurrence in popular media. [20] It also elicited several comparisons with Walter Hill's 1992 feature Trespass . [17] [21]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tactical shooter</span> Video game terminology

A tactical shooter is a subgenre of shooter games that cover both the first-person shooter and third-person shooter genres. These games aim to simulate realistic combat through slower-paced and punishing gameplay. This makes tactics, planning, and cooperation more important than quick reflexes, thus lending the tactical shooter subgenre its name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SWAT</span> Law enforcement unit

In the United States, a SWAT team is a police tactical unit that uses specialized or military equipment and tactics. Although they were first created in the 1960s to handle riot control or violent confrontations with criminals, the number and usage of SWAT teams increased in the 1980s and 1990s during the War on Drugs and later in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. In the United States by 2005, SWAT teams were deployed 50,000 times every year, almost 80% of the time to serve search warrants, most often for narcotics. By 2015 that number had increased to nearly 80,000 times a year. SWAT teams are increasingly equipped with military-type hardware and trained to deploy against threats of terrorism, for crowd control, hostage taking, and in situations beyond the capabilities of ordinary law enforcement, sometimes deemed "high-risk".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hostage Rescue Team</span> Elite tactical unit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation

The Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) is the elite tactical unit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The HRT was formed to provide a full-time federal law enforcement tactical capability to respond to major terrorist incidents throughout the United States. Today, the HRT performs a number of tactical law enforcement and national security functions in high-risk environments and conditions and has deployed overseas, including with military Joint Special Operations Command units.

Police Quest is a series of police simulation video games produced and published by Sierra On-Line between 1987 and 1998. The first five were adventure simulation games, the first three of which were designed by former police officer Jim Walls. The fourth to sixth titles were designed by former LAPD Chief Daryl F. Gates. Both SWAT and the real-time tactics game SWAT 2 still carried the Police Quest name and were numbered V and VI in the series, respectively, although subsequent titles in the series would drop the Police Quest title altogether and were rebranded as SWAT.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oakley, Inc.</span> Manufacturer of sports eyewear

Oakley, Inc., based in Lake Forest, California, is an American company operating as an independent subsidiary of Luxottica. The company designs, develops and manufactures sports performance equipment and lifestyle pieces including sunglasses, safety glasses, eyeglasses, sports visors, ski/snowboard goggles, watches, apparel, backpacks, shoes, optical frames, and other accessories. Most items are designed in house at their head office, but some countries hold exclusive designs relevant to their market. Oakley currently holds more than 600 patents for eyewear, materials, and performance gear.

<i>S.W.A.T.</i> (film) 2003 film directed by Clark Johnson

S.W.A.T. is a 2003 American action crime thriller film directed by Clark Johnson and written by David Ayer and David McKenna, with the story credited to Ron Mita and Jim McClain. Produced by Neal H. Moritz, it is based on the 1975 television series of the same name and stars Samuel L. Jackson, Colin Farrell, Michelle Rodriguez, LL Cool J, Josh Charles, Jeremy Renner, Brian Van Holt and Olivier Martinez. The plot follows Hondo (Jackson) and his SWAT team as they are tasked to escort an imprisoned drug kingpin/international fugitive to prison after he offers a $100 million reward to anyone who can break him out of police custody.

<i>Halloween H20: 20 Years Later</i> 1998 American slasher film

Halloween H20: Twenty Years Later is a 1998 American slasher film directed by Steve Miner, and starring Jamie Lee Curtis, Adam Arkin, Michelle Williams, Janet Leigh and Josh Hartnett in his film debut. It is the seventh installment in the Halloween franchise. Ignoring the Jamie Lloyd story arc of the previous three installments, H20 is a direct sequel to the second film. It follows a post-traumatic Laurie Strode, who has faked her death in order to go into hiding from her murderous brother, Michael Myers, who finds her working at a private boarding school in California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Digital Cinema</span> Digital cinematography camera company

Red Digital Cinema is an American company that manufactures professional digital cinematography cameras and accessories.

<i>A Man Apart</i> 2003 American film

A Man Apart is a 2003 American vigilante action film directed by F. Gary Gray and released by New Line Cinema. The film stars Vin Diesel and Larenz Tate. The story follows undercover DEA agent Sean Vetter who is on a vendetta to take down a mysterious drug lord named Diablo after his wife is murdered. The film was released in the United States on April 4, 2003. It received generally negative reviews from critics and performed poorly at the box office.

<i>Scavenger Hunt</i> 1979 film by Michael Schultz

Scavenger Hunt is a 1979 American comedy film with a large ensemble cast which includes Richard Benjamin, James Coco, Scatman Crothers, Ruth Gordon, Cloris Leachman, Cleavon Little, Roddy McDowall, Robert Morley, Richard Mulligan, Tony Randall, Dirk Benedict, Willie Aames, Stephanie Faracy, Stephen Furst and Richard Masur. The film was directed by Michael Schultz, and released by 20th Century Fox. It includes an appearance by Arnold Schwarzenegger, and features cameos by Meat Loaf and Vincent Price.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Eklund</span> Canadian television and film actor

Michael Eklund is a Canadian television and film actor who is known for playing the role of the villain or antihero. His characters are often described as being "creepy".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FBI Special Weapons and Tactics Teams</span> Specialized tactical teams of the U.S. FBI

FBI Special Weapons and Tactics Teams are specialized part-time police tactical units (SWAT) of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The FBI maintains SWAT teams at each of its 56 field offices throughout the United States. Each team is composed of a varying number of certified SWAT operators, dependent on office size and funding.

Adamo Paolo Cultraro is an Italian–American filmmaker, director, writer, and producer. He is the founder of Taormina Films, a production company.

Candace Elaine is a Canadian actress who has become a naturalized American citizen. Elaine is an accomplished dancer, fashionista, and stage and film actor. She most recently appeared opposite Stone Cold Steve Austin, Michael Shanks, and Michael Jai White in the action feature Tactical Force, playing the role of Ilya Kalashnikova.

<i>Hunt to Kill</i> 2010 Canadian film

Hunt to Kill is a 2010 Canadian-American direct-to-video action film starring Steve Austin, Gil Bellows, and Eric Roberts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lenco BearCat</span> American armored personnel carrier

The Lenco BearCat is a wheeled SWAT vehicle designed for military and law enforcement use. It is in use by several military forces and law enforcement agencies around the world.

<i>Recoil</i> (2011 film) 2012 film

Recoil is a 2011 Canadian-American action film directed by Terry Miles and starring Steve Austin, Danny Trejo, Serinda Swan and Keith Jardine. It premiered in the United States on 6 March 2012.

The Return of the Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman is a made-for-television science fiction action film which originally aired on May 17, 1987 on NBC. The movie reunited the main casts of the television series The Six Million Dollar Man and its spin-off The Bionic Woman. Set 10 years after the events of those series, Steve Austin and Jaime Sommers are asked to come out of retirement and confront a paramilitary criminal organization called Fortress, Steve's estranged son Michael Austin, and their own past relationship. Series regular characters Oscar Goldman, head of the OSI, and Dr. Rudy Wells also star, along with new characters OSI agent Jim Castillian and Lyle Stenning, leader of Fortress.

<i>211</i> (film) 2018 film by York Shackleton

211 is a 2018 American crime-action film directed by York Shackleton and written by Shackleton and John Rebus. The film stars Nicolas Cage, Sophie Skelton, Cory Hardrict, Michael Rainey Jr., Ori Pfeffer and Weston Cage. Filming began on February 27, 2018 and ended on April 27, 2018. The film was released on June 8, 2018, by Momentum Pictures. It is based on the 1997 North Hollywood shootout.

<i>Welcome to Sudden Death</i> 2020 American film

Welcome to Sudden Death is a 2020 American sports action film directed by Dallas Jackson and starring Michael Jai White, Gary Owen, Michael Eklund and Marrese Crump.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Nasser Group North". dnb.com. Dun & Bradstreet. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  2. 1 2 Yamato, Jen (4 November 2014). "Caliber Media Shutters LA Office & Management Biz to Focus on Production". deadline.com. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  3. 1 2 "News: Tactical Force (US - DVD R1 | BD RA)". Archived from the original on 2018-10-02. Retrieved 2011-10-30.
  4. ↑ Park, Stacey (7 July 2013). "Pre-Selling Indies: A Seminar with Filmmaker Adam Cultraro". filmspecific.com. Archived from the original on 18 August 2013. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  5. ↑ "Akteur Stelio Savante gesels met sarie.com". sarie.com. 4 March 2010. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  6. ↑ Patel, Amish (8 September 2009). "Official Trailer and New Information on Steve Austin's Upcoming Damage Movie". wrestling-edge.com. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  7. ↑ Sweeney, R. Emmet (3 February 2020). "DTV Action Items Part 2: Intro to Stone Cold Steve Austin studies". r-emmetsweeney.com. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  8. ↑ DeHority, Sam. "Steve Austin Kicks Ass in Tactical Force". Men's Fitness . Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  9. ↑ Hawkins, Greg (29 July 2011). "Interview: Austin's bottom line". wwe.com. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  10. ↑ "Michael Eklund Praises Co-Star Michael Jai White As A 'Martial Arts Master'". comicbookmovie.com. 31 January 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  11. ↑ "Top 10 films at UAE box office". timeoutabudhabi.com. 25 April 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  12. 1 2 Kauffman, Jeffrey (4 August 2011). "Tactical Force Blu-ray Review". blu-ray.com. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  13. ↑ "Rentrak Announces Top DVD Sales and Rentals for Week Ending August 14, 2011" (Press release). Rentrak. 18 August 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  14. ↑ "Blu-ray & DVD News: Tactical Force". Archived from the original on 2011-10-13. Retrieved 2011-10-30.
  15. ↑ Rigney, Todd (August 13, 2011). "Tactical Force (2011) Movie Review". Beyond Hollywood. Archived from the original on 2016-01-03. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  16. ↑ Vern (28 August 2011). "Tactical Force". outlawvern.com. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  17. 1 2 Ruugard, Jason (2 February 2012). "Tactical Force (2011) – Review". moviemavericks.com. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  18. ↑ "Tactical Force (2011)". explosiveaction.com. 25 August 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  19. ↑ Gilbert, Ammon (9 December 2011). "Reel Action: Tactical Force (2011) with Steve Austin". joblo.com. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  20. ↑ Lewis, Terry (29 September 2011). "Tactical Force DVD Review". the-other-view.com. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  21. ↑ Lott, Rod (11 August 2011). "Tactical Force". Oklahoma Gazette. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.