One Eight Seven

 

One Eight Seven 1997

• Director: Kevin Reynolds
• Seen by this director: Robin Hood Prince of Thieves
• Based on the novel: no
• Cast: Samuel L Jackson, John Heard, Kelly Rowan, Clifton Gonzalez Gonzalez, Tony Plana, Karina Arroyave, Lobo Sebastian
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Samuel L Jackson – Glass, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, The Hateful Eight, Django Unchained, Avengers, Jumper, 1408, Extras, Star Wars I-III, Kill Bill 2, The Red Violin, Jackie Brown, Long Kiss Goodnight, A Time to Kill, Die Hard, Pulp Fiction, True Romance, Johnny Suede, Jungle Fever, Mo’ Better Blues, Sea of Love, Do the Right Thing
• John Heard – The Great Debaters, O, Pollack, The Pelican Brief, Awakenings, The Trip to Bountiful, After Hours
• Clifton Gonzalez Gonzalez – Veronica Mars, Transcendence, Pacific Rim, Sunshine Cleaning, Babel
• Karina Arroyave – Crash, Flawless
• Why? Samuel L Jackson
• Seen: 26 June 2021.      

       Trevor (Jackson) has only ever wanted to be a high school science teacher. Working in a NY school he is stabbed repeatedly by a student in the school corridor. He survives and moves to LA where he gets a substitute position in a school even more violent.

       Jackson is always good and the subject of gang violence in American high school is always important, but it takes an odd turn and becomes a kind of thriller. It doesn’t quite work but it’s still worth seeing. 

3 ½* of 5