This is a film I remember sitting on the shelf of my local library, however, I never picked it up to check it out as it didn’t have someone in it that I trusted to guarantee a good time. James Belushi was originally planned to star in the Robert Carradine role, however, dropped out due to another commitment. I think I probably would have seen it before now had Belushi starred in Number One with a Bullet from 1987.
With it’s release on Blu Ray I decided to bite the bullet and see this Cannon actioner that isn’t favourably reviewed, but has a loyal following. As a (debatably) more mature individual these days I appreciate Billy Dee Williams a whole lot more than just Lando from Star Wars but I am really only aware of Robert Carradine the guy from Revenge of the Nerds. The conditions were that I had a real thirst for something actiony and Number One with a Bullet was viewed without hesitation.
Taking massive queues from Lethal Weapon and To Live and Die in L.A. Number One with a Bullet is a buddy cop action film featuring a couple of cops determined to bring down a local politician as a drug dealer. Working through all the tropes and clichés you would expect Carradine and Williams defy the odds and their Captain, Peter Graves, to seek justice. With a Cannon seal of quality, Number One with a Bullet felt like an attempt to put together a buddy cop franchise to rival Lethal Weapon.
I have to start with Williams. My goodness, is that man effortlessly cool. Whilst the film does not follow his character exclusively I honestly wished it had. Williams plays Carridine’s partner and whilst we have a glimpse into the personal life of Carrdine, Williams will return to the story following those scenes escorting a different babe of a different race each time out of the film. It’s a fun running gag, and the running gags with Williams’ character don’t end with this. After each berating from their captain Williams mutters something that the captain can’t quite make out closing each scene with “what?” “Nothing sir, I was talking to myself.” Little gags that improve the world these cops are working out of and I smirked each time.
With that in mind I turn to Carradine’s Berzack. Carradine weirdly suits the role for the most part. Initially, I couldn’t believe the casting and it was jarring. Adding to the fact, Carradine’s early scenes prove that his character is one of the biggest dicks on screen. I along with every character in the film, aside from Williams, loathed him for the first 30 minutes. It was hard to establish if the writers tried to invent some zany antics to show Berzack was wild and crazy, however, they were controlling and immoral for the most part. I had hoped that the plot device of To Live and Die in L.A. was going to be brought in and we wouldn’t have to suffer him anymore. However, I am still at a loss as to how it happened, but Carradine won me over by the half way mark. It wasn’t down to clever writing, but his performance. Williams and Carradine became almost as likeable as Riggs and Murtagh before long.
The writers have put all of their effort into creating the two central characters and there is little in the way of memorable characters, aside from Graves ( and that’s because it’s Peter Graves!), beyond that. A trip to see Berzack’s mother doesn’t really deliver much of a memorable experience. The villains are pretty forgettable, aside from Berzack and Hazeltine’s (Williams) antics that result in some rather unnecessary death. The plot twist and betrayal is obvious and cross-dressing undercover moments play out a little too early in the film to maximise on the intended laughs. However, this is an 80’s Cannon outing so all can be forgiven as nonsense is their speciality.
I suppose I might liken Number One with a Bullet to or Hollywood Homicide with Harrison Ford and Josh Harnett, a movie that takes a lot of flak from audiences, however, I think it has legs. Were most buddy comedy comedies spend half of the film setting up a mutual respect between the mismatched partners, both Number One with a Bullet and Hollywood Homicide establish the leads as good pals right from the word go, much like the latter Lethal Weapon movies or Running Scared and for the most part, this is kind of refreshing.
As an action film, Number One with a Bullet isn’t great. There are some fairly short chases and shootouts throughout the film, however, the only notable action sequence would with Williams in a junkyard. However, that sequence was do illogically set up that takes away from the entertainment a little. Number One with a Bullet doesn’t have a big action climax which was sorely missing.
This was Director Jack Smight’s penultimate movie and it’s difficult to say what his highlights were over the 4 decades he directed movies and TV. Certainly he has fan favourites, like Damnation Alley or Harper. This was one of two scripts Gail Hickman saw turned into movies in 1987, the other was the classic Death Wish IV: The Crackdown. Jim Belushi picks up a credit on the screenplay too.
Number One with a Bullet is actually pretty funny. The chemistry between Williams and Carradine drives the film and is worth experiencing. I actually felt that I would be open to further adventures of Billy and Bobby as this came to an end. Make no mistake, Number One with a Bullet is a bad movie, but it might catch you at just the right time and you will enjoy it.
There isn’t much variation in the poster art for Number One with a Bullet and I’m not sure that it’s exciting enough to grab off the shelf.
Kino Lorber has put out a new 2K scan of a 35mm Interpositive and it film has never looked better.
There isn’t a great amount of extras but a commentary and the original trailer are welcome additions.
I’m glad the film was treated quite well, as it almost deserves it.
