Con Air is an 1997 American action-thriller film directed by Simon West and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, producer of The Rock. It stars Nicolas Cage, John Cusack and John Malkovich. The film borrows its title from the nickname of the Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System. While scanning a newspaper article, Screenwriter Scott Rosenberg first learned of the special program, then visited its Oklahoma City base "to get an eyewitness perspective of the incredible operation - which quickly formed the genesis for Con Air." ^[1]

Plot

Honorably Discharged Army Ranger Cameron Poe (Nicolas Cage) is sentenced to a maximum-security federal penitentiary to serve a 7 to 10-year term for using his military knowledge to kill a drunk man who had been attempting to assault his pregnant wife Tricia (Monica Potter). Eight years later, Poe is paroled on good conduct, and is eager to see his daughter Casey (Landry Allbright) whom he has never met. Poe is arranged to be flown back home to Alabama on the C-123 Jailbird aircraft (Callsign: "Elmer Fudd") where he will be released on landing; several other prisoners, including his diabetic cellmate and friend Mike "Baby-O" O'Dell (Mykelti Williamson) and the criminal mastermind Cyrus "The Virus" Grissom (John Malkovich), are also being flown to be transferred to a new supermax prison. DEA Agent Duncan Malloy (Colm Meaney) wishes to place one of his agents, Willie Sims (José Zúñiga), disguised as a prisoner to coax more information out of drug lord Francisco Cindino (Jesse Borrego) before he is incarcerated. Vince Larkin (John Cusack), the U.S. Marshal overseeing the transfer, agrees on the one condition that Sims does not carry a weapon, but Malloy manages to arm Sims with a gun before boarding.

Shortly after takeoff, a prisoner named "Pinball" Parker (Dave Chappelle) incites a riot, spearheaded by Grissom that allows them to overpower the guards and pilots and take over the Jailbird. Sims is killed when he attempts to stop Grissom who orders the aircraft to continue to Carson City for a scheduled prisoner transfer. They intend to offload the guards and pilots disguised as prisoners, aided by the poor visibility from an ongoing dust storm. Although he could have left the aircraft during the transfer, Poe feigns cooperation with Grissom but leaves a recording device from Sims' body on one of the guards being offloaded. Among the new prisoners boarding the Jailbird are Cindino, who masterminded their escape, their new pilot, "Swamp Thing" (M. C. Gainey) and serial killer Garland Greene (Steve Buscemi).

Grissom orders "Swamp Thing" to remove the aircraft transponder and has Parker plant it on another aircraft, "Uncle Bob's Scenic Tours". Moments before the Jailbird takes off, the guards discover the clue Poe left behind, and alert Malloy and Larkin. Malloy sets off immediately, tracking the transponder but eventually discovers the deception. Meanwhile, when the security forces are alerted, Parker was unable to get on the aircraft in time. As the aircraft takes off, his body is lodged in the landing gear. After takeoff, Grissom notes that the plane is moving slowly and orders Poe to investigate. During the investigation, Poe secretly writes a message to Larkin on Parker's shirt, revealing Grissom's plan and pushes the body out, where it crashes into a car in the middle of Fresno, California. Larkin calls for the National Guard to Lerner Airfield, an abandoned Air Force base in the desert, while using Malloy's prized 1963 Corvette to beat the Jailbird there.

The Jailbird lands at Lerner but after nearly hitting a light aircraft, overshoots the runway and is stuck in the sand. Seeing no evidence of Cindino's aircraft, Grissom orders the prisoners to dig the Jailbird free. Meanwhile, Poe, seeking an insulin shot for O'Dell, meets Larkin and the two run down their respective situations. Larkin proceeds to find Cindino boarding his private jet with his men and manages to disable the jet before it leaves. Grissom discovers Cindino's treachery and kills him by blowing up his private jet. "Johnny 23" (Danny Trejo) has already spotted National Guard troops heading toward the airfield, and after discovering "Billy Bedlam" (Nick Chinlund)'s dead body, Grissom arms the prisoners with rifles and shotguns from the weapons locker on the Jailbird. He attempts to lure the troops into a death trap, but during the gun battle, Larkin protects the troops by using a bulldozer as a makeshift shield. Before Poe is able to escape with O'Dell and a female guard, Sally Bishop (Rachel Ticotin), Grissom and the remaining prisoners return to the Jailbird and take off, dragging Malloy's sportscar behind the aircraft, before dashing the Corvette into the airport control tower.

Grissom soon discovers Poe's true identity and prepares to kill him. O'Dell takes Poe's blame and is shot by Grissom, ending up badly wounded. Malloy, having tracked down the Jailbird, opens fire on it from a helicopter and disables one of the engines, causing the plane to lose fuel. With Grissom and the others distracted, shooting from the aircraft's ramp, Poe gains control of the cockpit with an improvised hand to hand combat with prisoners in his path and orders not to fire. When Larkin in a second helicopter, tells Malloy about Poe's identity as a parolee, Malloy orders "hold fire" and joins forces. Attempting to land the aircraft at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, "Swamp Thing" is forced to crash land the crippled Jailbird on "The Strip".

The landing injures the inmates while causing massive destruction along "The Strip" until it comes to a halt in the lobby of the Sands Hotel. Amid the chaos, Poe is thanked by both O'Dell and Bishop for his help. Grissom, "Diamond Dog" (Ving Rhames) and Swamp Thing escape on a fire truck. Larkin and Poe see them trying to flee, pursue them on motorcycles, eventually killing all three escapees. Finally, Poe is able to reunite with his loving wife and daughter, who have been brought by Larkin to meet him.

In the final scene, with all of the convicts apparently dead or recaptured, a croupier at a craps table asks a new shooter if he feels lucky. The shooter, Garland Greene, the only prisoner who escaped and survived the crash unharmed, takes the dice, sips a margarita and replies without a smile, "Yes, yes he does".

Cast

As appearing in Con Air, (main roles and screen credits identified):^[2]

• Nicolas Cage as Cameron Poe
• John Cusack as US Marshal Vince Larkin
• John Malkovich as Cyrus Grissom (known as "Cyrus the Virus")
• Steve Buscemi as Garland Greene (known as "The Marietta Mangler")
• Ving Rhames as Nathan Jones (known as "Diamond Dog")
• Nick Chinlund as William Bedford (known as "Billy Bedlam")
• Rachel Ticotin as Guard Sally Bishop
• Colm Meaney as DEA Agent Duncan Malloy
• M. C. Gainey as "Swamp Thing"
• Brendan Kelly as Conrad
• Mykelti Williamson as Mike O'Dell (known as "Baby-O")
• Danny Trejo as Johnny Baca (known as "Johnny-23")
• Renoly Santiago as Ramon Martinez (known as "Sally Can't Dance"), credited as "Renoly".
• Jesse Borrego as Francisco Cindino
• Dave Chappelle as Joe Parker (known as "Pinball"), credited as "David Chappelle".
• John Marshall Jones as "Gator"
• Steve Eastin as Guard Falzon
• José Zúñiga as DEA Agent Willie Sims
• Kevin Gage as Billy Joe (Uncredited)
• Monica Potter as Tricia Poe
• Landry Allbright as Casey Poe
• Mike Howell as Rim Feagles

Production

With second-unit work beginning on June 24, 1996, principal photography began shortly after at Salt Lake City, on July 1, 1996 and continued until October 29, 1996, at a number of locations.^[3] While most of the interiors of the C-123 transport aircraft were filmed in Hollywood Center Studios soundstage #7, Wendover Airport in Utah, as the stand in for the fictional Lerner Airfield, was used for the C-123 flying and taxi scenes.^[1] Director Simon West chose the barren and remote Wendover area "because it looked like the surface of the moon ... My idea was that it was perfect for the convicts who had been locked up for 10, 20, 30 years in little cells." ^[4] The old wartime bomber base was also used for the aircraft boneyard scenes while the original swimming pool at the base was used in a scene where Garland Greene was talking to a young girl.^[5]

On August 29, 1996, Phillip Swartz, a welder employed by Special Effects Unlimited, a Los Angeles-based firm, was crushed to death at Wendover when a static model of the C-123 used in the film, fell on him. The film credits end with "In Memory of Phil Swartz".^[6] After filming, the filmmakers donated the "Jailbird" movie model used for the taxi scenes to the Historic Wendover Airfield Foundation and is currently on display at the ramp as an attraction for visitors.^[5]

Other filming locations included Ogden Airport where the exchange of prisoners is seen. The scene where the aircraft's left wing hits the Fender Stratocaster sign of Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, the place where its premiere was held, was filmed using a remodeled guitar of the hotel and a Jailbird miniature model. The crash site was filmed in the Sands Hotel before its demolition on November 26, 1996. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer found the right spot for the climatic finale, originally planned for a crash at the White House, but Las Vegas was more in keeping with the dichotomy of convicts "cashing in." "We got very lucky ... The Sands was going to be demolished anyway. They blew up the tower on their own. We arranged to blow up the front of the building." The 2nd Street Tunnel in Los Angeles was also used for the tunnel chase scene near the end of the film.^[4]

The "Jailbird" movie model used during flight scenes in the film had a series of both military and private owners. In December 2003 it was sold to All West Freight Inc. in Delta Junction, Alaska.^[7] On August 1, 2010, the C-123 was destroyed when it crashed into Mount Healy within Denali National Park in Alaska.^[8] The three member flight crew was killed during the crash.^[9][10][11]

On the DVD commentary of Chappelle's Show, and later, on Inside the Actors Studio, Dave Chappelle recounted that he improvised most of his lines in Con Air.^[12] Jerry Bruckheimer wanted to cut the final scene of Greene at the craps table in Las Vegas and end the film with the heartfelt family reunion. The screenwriters (Jonathan Hensleigh did a uncredited re-write on the script) and director convinced Bruckheimer to include the scene and in test screenings, audiences loved it, thus it stayed.^[13]

Aircraft used in the film

Along with using several highly-detailed models at 1/15th scale, and a multitude of military and private aircraft assembled for the desert boneyard scene ^{[N 1]}, the following aircraft were prominently featured in Con Air:

• Beechcraft Model 18, no serial numbers visible, painted as "Uncle Bob's Scenic Tours" in scene at Wendover Airport, has the transponder planted on it.
• Bell 206B JetRanger III (two helicopters, one marked N5739V), seen at DEA headquarters.
• Bell AH-1F Cobra (two helicopters painted in military camouflage, one with "022734" visible on tail), used by Malloy to track the transponder-equipped aircraft and later catch the "Jailbird".
• Bell UH-1D Huey (helicopter painted in military camouflage), used by Malloy to track the transponder-equipped aircraft.
• Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight (serial number unknown) seen briefly in Army Ranger rescue scene.
• Cessna 150F (unknown markings), lands at "Lerner Airfield" in midst of the landing of the "Jailbird".
• Fairchild C-123K Provider N709RR (ex-USAF 54-0709, MSN#20158), used for the flying sequences (crashed after filming).
• Fairchild C-123K Provider N94DT (ex-USAF 54-0706, MSN#20155), used for crash scene in Las Vegas (scrapped after filming) ^{[N 2]}.
• Fairchild C-123K Provider, painted as "N709RR", (ex-USAF 56-4361), used for static and taxi scenes at Wendover (left at Wendover Airport).
• North American 75A Sabreliner (serial number "HK-723"), used for Cindino's escape.
• Rockwell Aero Commander 500, seen in the hangar at Wendover Airport.
• Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion (serial number unknown) seen briefly in Army Ranger rescue scene.^[10][14]

Soundtrack

The film featured the hit single "How Do I Live", performed by Trisha Yearwood for the movie but originally recorded by LeAnn Rimes.^{[15][N 3]}

The Con Air soundtrack album omits two songs featured in the film: "How Do I Live", written by Diane Warren and performed by Trisha Yearwood and "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd. Although a key element of the film, Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle noted, "the soundtrack kicks into loud, obtrusive gear ... (and) remains so loud throughout the picture that it practically functions as a distancing device."^[16]

1. "Con Air Theme" – 1:34
2. "Trisha" – 1:04
3. "Carson City" – 3:05
4. "Lear Crash" – 4:44
5. "Lerner Landing" – 3:28
6. "Romantic Chaos" – 1:23
7. "The Takeover" – 3:52
8. "The Discharge" – 1:09
9. "Jailbirds" – :59
10. "Cons Check Out Lerner" – 1:56
11. "Poe Saves Cops" – 2:25
12. "The Fight" – :23
13. "Battle In The Boneyard" – 7:41
14. "Poe Meets Larkin" – 1:16
15. "Bedlam Larkin" – :49
16. "Fire Truck Chase" – 4:22
17. "Overture" – 4:19

Reception

Con Air received mixed reviews from critics and public alike. Roger Ebert awarded the film three out of four stars, saying it "moves smoothly and with visual style and verbal wit."^[17] Janet Maslin, reviewer for The New York Times considered Con Air an exemplar of the "thrill ride genre." ^[18] In contrast, Rolling Stone reviewer Peter Travers decried the "flip, hip" and ultimately, "depressing ... pandering" present in the treatment.^[19]Con Air has a 57% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes with 34 out of 60 critics giving it a positive review with an average rating of 5.7/10.^[20] Top reviewers, however, gave Con Air a positive 86% rating.^[21]

The film grossed $224,012,234 worldwide, of which $101,117,573 was in North America.^[22]As acknowledged by repeated requests for West to stage a sequel, Con Air has become a cult classic with an action movie audience.^[23]

Extended Version

Con Air: Unrated Extended Edition (2006) is a an extended DVD version that includes many scenes that may have been possibly cut to prevent an R-rating. ^[24] Included in the extended version is:

• Thug insults Poe's wife in the bar longer, calling her a "little blond bitch kitty".
• Poe being arrested is seen.
• Baby-O saving Poe from a prison riot is longer and is in a different take.
• Alternate footage when Poe invites Baby-O to a barbecue.
• Diamond Dog entering the plane.
• Baby-O being body cavity searched.
• Different take of Poe's "Sweet bird of freedom" line in a relieved tone instead of sarcastic and an alternate Pinball introduction
• Diamond Dog shoving the handcuff in the guard's neck is longer
• Dead prisoner drooling blood while slumped over dead
• Longer shot of one prisoner being shot in the head.
• Johnny 23 threatening Sally Bishop and his family to Poe.
• Poe and Bishop have a dialogue scene with Baby-O.
• Cyrus finding that Garland Greene has murdered a captured guard and asking him if he feels better.
• Alternative takes of some scenes, some longer takes, some additional bits such as one prisoner coming back with a cart of booze and cigarettes.
• Cindino burning longer.
• A prisoner being shot during the airfield shootout.
• As Baby-O is laying injured, Poe continues to reassure him that he will be at the barbecue and he will get a doctor for him.

Awards and honors

The film was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Song and Best Sound (Kevin O'Connell, Greg P. Russell and Art Rochester), losing to Titanic in both categories.^[25]

The film won the Golden Raspberry Award for having the "Worst Reckless Disregard for Human Life and Public Property" of any film in 1997. "How Do I Live" was nominated for both an Academy Award for Best Original Song and a Razzie for Worst Original Song, but won neither.^[26]

Popular culture

The toy rabbit prop used in Con Air is the basis of a collaborative art project for an online community for fans of the webcomic Homestuck, written and illustrated by Andrew Hussie. The MS Paint Adventures webcomic extensively parodies the ending scene, with several characters developing obsessions with Nicolas Cage and his character, Cameron Poe. Stuffed bunnies are sent all around the world in an homage to the movie prop.^[27]

See also

• Cinema of the United States
• List of American films of 1997

References

Notes

Citations

Bibliography

External links

• Con Air at the Internet Movie Database
• Con Air at AllRovi
• Con Air at the TCM Movie Database
• Con Air at Rotten Tomatoes
• Con Air at Box Office Mojo