Themes: Mafia Life, Rogue Cops, Dishonor Among Thieves
Main Cast: Casper Van Dien, Rick Fox, Catherine Oxenberg, Daniel Pilon
Release Year: 1999
Country: CA
Run Time: 97 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Two men on the wrong side of the law find their shifting alliances put them in grave danger in this crime drama. A.K. (Casper Van Dien) and Ray (Rick Fox) are a pair of strong-arm men collecting debts in New York City for a powerful gangster based in New Orleans. But they soon discover there is plenty of high-stakes action in New York, as they get sidetracked from their original assignment by a project of their own. As A.K. and Ray try to outrun Hackman (Daniel Pilon), a top New York Police Department detective, and Bailey (Catherine Oxenberg), a beautiful but ruthless cop with an agenda of her own, they find that they're also under the gun of their boss' other enforcers. Star Casper Van Dien and leading lady Catherine Oxenberg wed the same year The Collectors was released; they also starred in another film together that same year, The Omega Code. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Review
Mixed-race buddy movies have come a long way since 48 Hours and Lethal Weapon. Now, instead of playing up the contrast between a black guy and a white guy, filmmakers can portray such characters as metaphorical blood brothers with almost the exact same cultural assumptions and value systems. Alas, such sociological observations are about the only thing of value imparted by this misfire, which features leaden performances, a laughable script, a few obvious plot twists, and a jaw-droppingly inappropriate sentimental streak. Casper Van Dien and Rick Fox play the black-guy/white-guy best friends united (oh so ironically) by both their criminal tendencies and their scruples. As for the actors, they're united by their uncannily handsome faces and their hapless acting. Co-star Catherine Oxenberg at least exudes some style in her hard-bitten, ass-kicking cop role, while Charlene Francique uses her cavernous bone structure and chic intelligence to good effect in a supporting turn as Fox's character's call-girl lady friend. You know you're in trouble, however, when the most convincing character in a guy-centric true-crime flick is the girlfriend. Director Sidney J. Furie has had a remarkably varied directorial career, but at this late date it seems liks such a veteran would be beyond the sort of banality that populates The Collectors. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
Andreas Apergis; Tony Calabretta; Chalene Francique
Credit
Michael Mosca - Associate Producer, Thomas Philpott - Associate Producer, Pierre Rene - Associate Producer, Bruce Dennis - Co-producer, Sidney J. Furie - Director, Helene Girard - Editor, Philippe Martinez - Executive Producer, Aziz C. Aladui - Executive Producer, Donald L'Ecuyer - Composer (Music Score), Richard Tasse - Production Designer, Curtis Petersen - Cinematographer, Jean-Marc Felio - Producer, Yaniko Palis - Supervisor/Manager, Robert Anton - Screenwriter, David Penotti - Screenwriter
