Product Details

• Actors: Ray Liotta, Anthony LaPaglia, Daniel Baldwin, Jeremy Piven, Royce D. Applegate
• Directors: Danny Cannon
• Writers: Eddie Richey
• Producers: Ray Liotta, Andre Lamal, Candace Veach, Michael Mendelsohn, Sigurjon Sighvatsson
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Vidmark / Trimark
• VHS Release Date: May 25, 1999
• Run Time: 107 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 1573624209
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #314,188 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The "Forget it, Jake, this is Chinatown" line in this well-cast contemporary noir comes near the story's end, when a female truck driver tells wounded fugitive-cop Harry Collins (Ray Liotta) that the desert town of Phoenix--built on sand and sustained by diverted water--has "no right to exist." Well, that would explain the sense of blurred virtue and vice portrayed in this film, the tale of a detective with a gambling problem and his three partners (Anthony LaPaglia, Daniel Baldwin, Jeremy Piven) manifesting varying levels of corruption. Written by Eddie Richey and directed by Danny Cannon, this expletive-rich and violent movie immediately strikes one as yet another Tarantino knock-off. But a handful of genuinely original ideas and scenes, aided immeasurably by a terrific cast that almost seems to lunge at the roles (including Anjelica Huston as an angry bartender who could let herself drift into an affair with Harry), keeps this drama on track. Yes, the plot does include an obligatory screwed-up heist mishandled by the male principals (wearing animal masks--how original!). But in the hands of Liotta and his pals, it all seems well worth it. Nice marks, too, for Tom Noonan's weird portrayal of a cruel bookie, Giancarlo Esposito's poisonous work as a loan shark, and Kari Wuhrer's all-too-brief scenes as a faithless wife. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Where's RAY LIOTTA's Oscar for this one!, October 15, 1999

By 

Carol Ann Weisinger ([e-mail]) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Phoenix [VHS] (VHS Tape)

RAY LIOTTA is an incredible and intense actor and this movie showcases his talent better that any movie I've seen. And that's saying a lot. I have to say that RAY is one of the most underated actors to have ever graced the Silver Screen. Everyone should see this amazing movie. RAY was cast as the lead character in this film and rightly so. (He was also co-producer.) His 'Harry Collins' as a cop with a gambling problem lets us see a person losing his self-respect but still living by a code of ethics that won't let him welsh on a bet. Right there you know this guy is setting himself up for big trouble, which finds him, in spades (so to speak). Damn, this man can act!! As we watch him resort to ever desperate measures to get out of the mess he's in, you hope against hope that his bad luck will turn. Not helping matters are his cop buddies who even offer to whack his bookie, Chicago, for him! He declines the offer. He's got a better plan. Why not rob Louie, the loan shark instead? Yeah, why not? How do you think it's going to turn out? (For more information on this movie, check out the AllLiotta.com website. Not only is there a review but lots of pictures as well.)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Worthwhile Tale of Small Town Corruption, July 9, 1999

By 

Alexander Berry (Boynton Beach, Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Phoenix [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Borrowing heavily from the film noir genre, Danny Cannon adroitly lifts the thematic feel, if not the look, of the best "whodunit" films of the 40's and beyond. Updated with the gritty 90's realism of foul language, "Phoenix" is an exercise in the cruel lesson that morality, or the lack thereof, is measured in small degrees. Our flawed and tragic anti-hero, played by Liotta in what may very well be his best role since his character "Ray" in Jonathan Demme's "Something Wild" (1986), systematically exorcises his "loser" demons and his sole vice, gambling, by obliterating every connection to it in his world by the end of the film. Though ultimately doomed, we find ourselves pathetically rooting for him, because he is a LIKEABLE corrupt cop. Quite an acting an directing accomplishment for all involved. The strong supporting cast includes standout Jeremy Piven, who demonstrates his range by playing the pathetic wimp of the police gang, whose wife effectively ruins his life. Prior to this role, he was in danger of being typecast as the slightly balding, wise-cracking high school buddy. A refreshingly strong storyline against a stark and barren desert background is complimented by equally strong and passionate acting all around. Great entertainment for 2 hours, compared to the drivel Hollywood usually tries to stick us with. A must-see if you appreciate film noir, but don't go see it if you're trying to quit smoking- almost everyone in the film is a hardcore chain smoker.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Low budget flick struggles not to drown in cliches.., November 28, 2009

By 

C. Rocklein - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Phoenix (DVD)

..although I've seen worse. Liotta is the reason I checked this out. I just saw him in BLOW with Johnie Depp. Great. But this one is a low-budget flick that mostly left me not beleiving in the story or the characters. Cliche stuff that was slapped together quickly for the undiscerning masses. Liotta's a likable actor and his charm is the only saving grace in this movie. I still wouldn't recommend it.