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S.W.A.T. (film)
Encyclopedia
S.W.A.T. is a 2003 action
-crime film
directed by Clark Johnson
, and is based on the 1975 television series of the same name
. It stars Samuel L. Jackson
, Colin Farrell
, LL Cool J
and Michelle Rodriguez
. It was produced by Neal H. Moritz
and released in the United States on August 8, 2003.
; this was loosely based on the 1997 North Hollywood shootout
. Officer Jim Street (Colin Farrell
), a former Navy SEAL and hot-shot cop from the Los Angeles Police Department
and his SWAT
team are sent to stop a gang of robbers who have taken over a bank. His high-tempered partner and close friend Brian Gamble (Jeremy Renner
) disobeys an order, and wounds a hostage. Gamble and Street are demoted by Captain Fuller (Larry Poindexter
), the commander of LAPD's Metropolitan Division
, who is portrayed as a "fussy martinet". Gamble quits following arguments with Fuller and Street, the latter of whom is taken off the SWAT team and sent to work in the "gun cage", where he looks after gear and weapons.
Six months after the incident, The Chief of Police calls on Sergeant Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson (Samuel L. Jackson
) to help re-organize the SWAT division. Hondo is transferred in, and soon puts together a diverse team, including himself, Street, Chris Sánchez (Michelle Rodriguez
), Deacon Kaye (LL Cool J
), T.J. McCabe (Josh Charles), and Michael Boxer (Brian Van Holt
). The team trains together and develops bonds of friendship, and their first mission to subdue an unstable gunman is a success.
Meanwhile, a drug lord by the name of Alexander Montel (Olivier Martinez
) has killed his father and uncle for control of the family's crime empire. Uniformed L.A.P.D. personnel stop Montel for a broken taillight, detain him, and learn through Interpol
he is an international fugitive. But as Montel is transferred to prison, his associates, dressed as LAPD officers, assault the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
bus transporting Montel in an attempt to free him. Hondo's SWAT team foils the assault. As Montel is being brought into the police station in front of a group of reporters, he yells to the TV cameras, "I will give 100 million dollars to whoever gets me out of here!"
The L.A.P.D. makes plans to transfer Montel into federal custody. They plan to fly him away, but a mysterious attacker (it is presumed to be Gamble) shoots down the helicopter. The police next send out a large convoy, which gang members attack. It proves to be a decoy, and Hondo's team has spirited Montel away in two S.U.V.s. However, T.J. has been plotting with Gamble, and the two succeed in taking Montel from the other officers, critically wounding Boxer in the process. Hondo and the rest give chase, and there is a final fierce battle, Gamble's group against the SWAT officers. Hondo's team is victorious. T.J. kills himself rather than be captured, and there is a vicious hand to hand fight between Street and Gamble, with Street emerging the eventual victor when he kicks Gamble under the wheels of a passing train. The SWAT team delivers Montel to a federal prison to await trial. On the way home to L.A., a report of a holdup in progress comes over the police radio, and despite the team being two officers down and off shift for the past twelve hours, Hondo, Street, Kaye, and Sanchez decide to help anyway. The film's last line is Hondo shouting, "Mount up!".
, based on 160 critical reviews.
Film critic Roger Ebert
of the Chicago Sun-Times
gave S.W.A.T. a favorable rating of three stars, as well as a thumbs up on At the Movies. He complemented the characters, dialogue, and the action sequences which he found believable.
composed the soundtrack.
s, whereas in the TV series, he always worked for the team.
The film also changes the S.W.A.T. team in several important ways:
.
Action film
Action film is a film genre where one or more heroes is thrust into a series of challenges that require physical feats, extended fights and frenetic chases...
-crime film
Crime film
Crime films are films which focus on the lives of criminals. The stylistic approach to a crime film varies from realistic portrayals of real-life criminal figures, to the far-fetched evil doings of imaginary arch-villains. Criminal acts are almost always glorified in these movies.- Plays and films...
directed by Clark Johnson
Clark Johnson
Clark Johnson , sometimes credited as Clark 'Slappy' Jackson, Clarque Johnson, and J. Clark Johnson, is an American actor and director who has worked in both television and film.-Early years:...
, and is based on the 1975 television series of the same name
S.W.A.T. (TV series)
----S.W.A.T. is a 1970s American television series about the adventures of the WCPD's Olympic Division Special Weapons And Tactics team operating in an unidentified California city....
. It stars Samuel L. Jackson
Samuel L. Jackson
Samuel Leroy Jackson is an American film and television actor and film producer. After becoming involved with the Civil Rights Movement, he moved on to acting in theater at Morehouse College, and then films. He had several small roles such as in the film Goodfellas before meeting his mentor,...
, Colin Farrell
Colin Farrell
Colin James Farrell is an Irish actor, who has appeared in such film as Tigerland, Miami Vice, Minority Report, Phone Booth, The Recruit, Alexander and S.W.A.T....
, LL Cool J
LL Cool J
James Todd Smith , better known as LL Cool J , is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and actor...
and Michelle Rodriguez
Michelle Rodriguez
Mayte Michelle Rodríguez , known professionally as Michelle Rodriguez, is an American actress. Following on from her breakthrough role in 2000's Girlfight, she is best known for playing tough-girl roles and starring in Hollywood blockbusters such as The Fast and the Furious, Resident Evil,...
. It was produced by Neal H. Moritz
Neal H. Moritz
Neal H. Moritz is an American film producer. He is the founder of Original Film.-Life and career:He has over 70 films to his credit...
and released in the United States on August 8, 2003.
Plot
The film begins with a hostage situation in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
; this was loosely based on the 1997 North Hollywood shootout
North Hollywood shootout
The North Hollywood shootout was an armed confrontation between two heavily armed bank robbers and officers of the Los Angeles Police Department in the North Hollywood district of Los Angeles on February 28, 1997...
. Officer Jim Street (Colin Farrell
Colin Farrell
Colin James Farrell is an Irish actor, who has appeared in such film as Tigerland, Miami Vice, Minority Report, Phone Booth, The Recruit, Alexander and S.W.A.T....
), a former Navy SEAL and hot-shot cop from the Los Angeles Police Department
Los Angeles Police Department
The Los Angeles Police Department is the police department of the city of Los Angeles, California. With just under 10,000 officers and more than 3,000 civilian staff, covering an area of with a population of more than 4.1 million people, it is the third largest local law enforcement agency in...
and his SWAT
SWAT
A SWAT team is an elite tactical unit in various national law enforcement departments. They are trained to perform high-risk operations that fall outside of the abilities of regular officers...
team are sent to stop a gang of robbers who have taken over a bank. His high-tempered partner and close friend Brian Gamble (Jeremy Renner
Jeremy Renner
Jeremy Lee Renner is a two-time Academy-Award-nominated American actor and musician. Renner appeared in films throughout the 2000s, mostly in supporting roles. He came to prominence in films such as Dahmer , S.W.A.T. , Neo Ned , 28 Weeks Later and The Hurt Locker...
) disobeys an order, and wounds a hostage. Gamble and Street are demoted by Captain Fuller (Larry Poindexter
Larry Poindexter
Larry Poindexter is an American actor and singer born and raised in Dallas, Texas.-Life and career:Poindexter is currently best known for his role in 2003's S.W.A.T., where he played by the book LAPD Captain Tom Fuller who went head to head with Samuel Jackson's Hondo...
), the commander of LAPD's Metropolitan Division
LAPD Metropolitan Division
The Metropolitan Division of the Los Angeles Police Department is an elite division within the department that is most notable as the unit that operates LAPD's SWAT teams. Captain John N...
, who is portrayed as a "fussy martinet". Gamble quits following arguments with Fuller and Street, the latter of whom is taken off the SWAT team and sent to work in the "gun cage", where he looks after gear and weapons.
Six months after the incident, The Chief of Police calls on Sergeant Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson (Samuel L. Jackson
Samuel L. Jackson
Samuel Leroy Jackson is an American film and television actor and film producer. After becoming involved with the Civil Rights Movement, he moved on to acting in theater at Morehouse College, and then films. He had several small roles such as in the film Goodfellas before meeting his mentor,...
) to help re-organize the SWAT division. Hondo is transferred in, and soon puts together a diverse team, including himself, Street, Chris Sánchez (Michelle Rodriguez
Michelle Rodriguez
Mayte Michelle Rodríguez , known professionally as Michelle Rodriguez, is an American actress. Following on from her breakthrough role in 2000's Girlfight, she is best known for playing tough-girl roles and starring in Hollywood blockbusters such as The Fast and the Furious, Resident Evil,...
), Deacon Kaye (LL Cool J
LL Cool J
James Todd Smith , better known as LL Cool J , is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and actor...
), T.J. McCabe (Josh Charles), and Michael Boxer (Brian Van Holt
Brian Van Holt
-Early life:Van Holt was born in Waukegan, Illinois and raised in California. Despite his Dutch surname, he is of mainly Scotch-Irish ancestry. Van Holt has a degree in Sociology from UCLA. At 18 years of age, he struck the perfect image of a Huntington Beach, California surfer...
). The team trains together and develops bonds of friendship, and their first mission to subdue an unstable gunman is a success.
Meanwhile, a drug lord by the name of Alexander Montel (Olivier Martinez
Olivier Martinez
Olivier Martinez is a French film actor. He became known after roles in several French films such as Un, deux, trois, soleil , which garnered him the César Award for "Most Promising Actor", The Horseman on the Roof , and The Chambermaid on the Titanic...
) has killed his father and uncle for control of the family's crime empire. Uniformed L.A.P.D. personnel stop Montel for a broken taillight, detain him, and learn through Interpol
Interpol
Interpol, whose full name is the International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL, is an organization facilitating international police cooperation...
he is an international fugitive. But as Montel is transferred to prison, his associates, dressed as LAPD officers, assault the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is a local county law enforcement agency that serves Los Angeles County, California. It is the fourth largest local policing agency in the United States, with the New York City Police Department being the first. The second largest is the Chicago Police...
bus transporting Montel in an attempt to free him. Hondo's SWAT team foils the assault. As Montel is being brought into the police station in front of a group of reporters, he yells to the TV cameras, "I will give 100 million dollars to whoever gets me out of here!"
The L.A.P.D. makes plans to transfer Montel into federal custody. They plan to fly him away, but a mysterious attacker (it is presumed to be Gamble) shoots down the helicopter. The police next send out a large convoy, which gang members attack. It proves to be a decoy, and Hondo's team has spirited Montel away in two S.U.V.s. However, T.J. has been plotting with Gamble, and the two succeed in taking Montel from the other officers, critically wounding Boxer in the process. Hondo and the rest give chase, and there is a final fierce battle, Gamble's group against the SWAT officers. Hondo's team is victorious. T.J. kills himself rather than be captured, and there is a vicious hand to hand fight between Street and Gamble, with Street emerging the eventual victor when he kicks Gamble under the wheels of a passing train. The SWAT team delivers Montel to a federal prison to await trial. On the way home to L.A., a report of a holdup in progress comes over the police radio, and despite the team being two officers down and off shift for the past twelve hours, Hondo, Street, Kaye, and Sanchez decide to help anyway. The film's last line is Hondo shouting, "Mount up!".
Cast
- Samuel L. JacksonSamuel L. JacksonSamuel Leroy Jackson is an American film and television actor and film producer. After becoming involved with the Civil Rights Movement, he moved on to acting in theater at Morehouse College, and then films. He had several small roles such as in the film Goodfellas before meeting his mentor,...
as Sergeant Second Grade Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson, He is brought back by the Chief of Police to head a new SWAT Element. He is a retired Recon MarineUnited States Marine Corps Force ReconnaissanceThe Force Reconnaissance Companies , are one of the United States Marine Corps's special operations "capable" forces that provide essential elements of military intelligence to the command element of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force ; supporting the landing or joint task force commanders, and...
. He uses both an M4A1 and MP5A2. He personally upgraded the trigger of the M4A1 that he uses. His call sign is 70 David. - Colin FarrellColin FarrellColin James Farrell is an Irish actor, who has appeared in such film as Tigerland, Miami Vice, Minority Report, Phone Booth, The Recruit, Alexander and S.W.A.T....
as Police Officer Third Grade Jim Street. He is originally assigned to SWAT, but after an incident with his partner he is removed from the team and placed in the "gun cage." After Hondo sees how well he can shoot, he is recruited for Hondo's new SWAT team. He is a former NavyNavyA navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
SEALSealSeal commonly refers to:* Pinniped, a diverse group of semi-aquatic marine mammals many of which are commonly called seals* Seal , a device which helps prevent leakage, contain pressure, or exclude contamination where two systems join...
and explosives expert. Street uses an M4A1 and a Kimber CustomKimber CustomThe Kimber Custom is a model 1911 semi-automatic pistol. It is designed, manufactured, and distributed by Kimber Manufacturing, Inc. in Yonkers, New York.- Overview :...
TLE II pistol on SWAT missions. - Michelle RodriguezMichelle RodriguezMayte Michelle Rodríguez , known professionally as Michelle Rodriguez, is an American actress. Following on from her breakthrough role in 2000's Girlfight, she is best known for playing tough-girl roles and starring in Hollywood blockbusters such as The Fast and the Furious, Resident Evil,...
as Police Officer Third Grade Christina "Chris" Sanchez, was a frequent applicant to SWAT, who was rejected each time due to the captain's sexismSexismSexism, also known as gender discrimination or sex discrimination, is the application of the belief or attitude that there are characteristics implicit to one's gender that indirectly affect one's abilities in unrelated areas...
. Hondo persuades him to allow her to be on his team. She carries an MP5 on SWAT calls. Her callsign is 73-David. She has a daughter named Eliza. - LL Cool JLL Cool JJames Todd Smith , better known as LL Cool J , is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and actor...
as Police Officer Third Grade Deacon "Deke" Kaye, is a Patrol officer and father of two children whom Hondo also recruits. In the SWAT team, he is armed with a Benelli M3 Super 90 shotgun and later Hondo's MP5, and serves as the rear-guard of the team. - Josh Charles as Police Officer Third Grade T.J. McCabe, is a member of SWAT who initially has problems with Street.
- Jeremy RennerJeremy RennerJeremy Lee Renner is a two-time Academy-Award-nominated American actor and musician. Renner appeared in films throughout the 2000s, mostly in supporting roles. He came to prominence in films such as Dahmer , S.W.A.T. , Neo Ned , 28 Weeks Later and The Hurt Locker...
as former Police Officer Third Grade Brian Gamble, Street's former partner. He quit the L.A.P.D. after being demoted. - Brian Van HoltBrian Van Holt-Early life:Van Holt was born in Waukegan, Illinois and raised in California. Despite his Dutch surname, he is of mainly Scotch-Irish ancestry. Van Holt has a degree in Sociology from UCLA. At 18 years of age, he struck the perfect image of a Huntington Beach, California surfer...
as Police Officer Third Grade Michael Boxer is a SWAT officer who has worked with Hondo before. His sister was involved with Street and broke up with him after he was transferred to the gun cage. He is armed with a M4A1. - Olivier MartinezOlivier MartinezOlivier Martinez is a French film actor. He became known after roles in several French films such as Un, deux, trois, soleil , which garnered him the César Award for "Most Promising Actor", The Horseman on the Roof , and The Chambermaid on the Titanic...
as Alexander "Alex" Montel, is a French criminal. His family controls a huge drug empire which values into the billions. - Ken DavitianKen DavitianKenneth "Ken" Davitian is an American actor who is best known for his role as Borat's producer in the 2006 comedy film Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, in which he speaks the Eastern dialect of Armenian throughout the film.-Life and...
as Martin Gascoigne, is a Italian L.A.-based drug trafficker who is Montel's uncle. Gascoigne operates from the Figaro Cafè, in Downtown LA. - Reg E. CatheyReg E. CatheyReginald "Reg" E. Cathey is an American stage, film and television actor.Cathey is a native of Huntsville, Alabama and a graduate of J.O. Johnson High School. He spent his childhood in West Germany. His favourite band is Blur....
as Lieutenant Second Grade Greg Velasquez, is field commander of D Platoon (SWAT) and one of Hondo's old friends. His call sign is 10-David. - Larry PoindexterLarry PoindexterLarry Poindexter is an American actor and singer born and raised in Dallas, Texas.-Life and career:Poindexter is currently best known for his role in 2003's S.W.A.T., where he played by the book LAPD Captain Tom Fuller who went head to head with Samuel Jackson's Hondo...
as Captain Thomas Fuller, is Commander of Metropolitan Division (Home of the LAPD SWAT) D Platoon; most SWAT officers hate him. His call sign is R-commander. - Page KennedyPage KennedyPage Kennedy is an American television and film actor who most recently starred in the second season of the sports comedy series Blue Mountain State on Spike....
as Travis - Domenick LombardozziDomenick LombardozziDomenico "Domenick" Lombardozzi is an American actor best known for his role as Thomas "Herc" Hauk on The Wire. Lombardozzi was inspired to act by the film State of Grace.-Filmography:...
as GQ - James DuMontJames DuMontJames DuMont is an American character actor and producer.DuMont's career includes a lead performance in the political thriller Enemies Among Us, opposite Eric Roberts and Billy Zane. DuMont has appeared in many TV shows, such as Numb3rs, House, and more recently, Treme...
as Gus
Reception
Reception for the movie was mixed, with a 48% "Rotten" rating on the Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
, based on 160 critical reviews.
Film critic Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Roger Joseph Ebert is an American film critic and screenwriter. He is the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.Ebert is known for his film review column and for the television programs Sneak Previews, At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, and Siskel and Ebert and The...
of the Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. It is the flagship paper of the Sun-Times Media Group.-History:The Chicago Sun-Times is the oldest continuously published daily newspaper in the city...
gave S.W.A.T. a favorable rating of three stars, as well as a thumbs up on At the Movies. He complemented the characters, dialogue, and the action sequences which he found believable.
Soundtrack
Elliot GoldenthalElliot Goldenthal
Elliot Goldenthal is an American composer of contemporary classical music. He was a student of Aaron Copland and John Corigliano, and is best known for his distinctive style and ability to blend various musical styles and techniques in original and inventive ways...
composed the soundtrack.
Differences from TV series
In the original TV series, the role of Hondo was played by white actor Steve Forrest, who made a cameo appearance at the end of the film as the S.W.A.T. transport driver. T.J. McCabe is one of the antagonistAntagonist
An antagonist is a character, group of characters, or institution, that represents the opposition against which the protagonist must contend...
s, whereas in the TV series, he always worked for the team.
The film also changes the S.W.A.T. team in several important ways:
- In the TV series, Deke is second-in-command to Hondo; whereas in the film he is at the same level as the others.
- In the film there is a female member of the team, Sánchez; in the TV series it was an all-male team.
- The TV series had only five members on the team, whereas the film introduced a sixth;
- Boxer was not in the TV series and the film left out Luca.
Sequel
A direct-to-DVD sequel was released on March 1, 2011 entitled S.W.A.T.: FirefightS.W.A.T.: Firefight
S.W.A.T.: Firefight is a 2011 American action crime thriller film directed by Benny Boom, and sequel to the 2003 film S.W.A.T., based on the 1975 television series S.W.A.T..-Plot:...
.