They were deadly on the ground; Now they have wings|Jun. 05, 1997|United States|116 Min.|R
Genre: Action;Crime;Thriller
Description: Cameron Poe, an honorably discharged Army Ranger sergeant and combat veteran, returns home to his pregnant wife, Tricia. However, his life takes a tragic turn when he is sentenced to ten years in prison after accidentally killing a drunk man who attempted to assault Tricia. Eight years later, Poe is paroled and boards a prison transport plane, the Jailbird, headed to Alabama. He is accompanied by his diabetic cellmate, Mike “Baby-O” O’Dell.
The flight also transports several dangerous inmates being transferred to a supermax prison, including mass murderer William “Billy Bedlam” Bedford, serial rapist John “Johnny 23” Baca, Black Guerrilla member Nathan “Diamond Dog” Jones, and professional criminal Cyrus “The Virus” Grissom. U.S. Marshal Vince Larkin oversees the flight, while DEA agents Duncan Malloy and Willie Sims work undercover to gather information from drug kingpin Francisco Cindino, who is set to join the flight en route.
Soon after takeoff, inmate Joe “Pinball” Parker creates a distraction by setting another prisoner on fire, allowing Grissom and Diamond Dog to seize control of the plane. Their plan is to land at Carson Airport, pick up additional prisoners, and then fly to a non-extradition country. Sims attempts to regain control but is killed by Grissom. Poe steps in to foil Johnny 23’s attempt to assault the plane’s female guard.
Upon arriving at Carson City, the inmates disguise themselves as guards to facilitate the prisoner exchange. New passengers, including Cindino, pilot Earl “Swamp Thing” Williams, and serial killer Garland Greene, board the plane. Authorities eventually discover the hijacking after finding evidence in Grissom’s old cell and a tape recorder planted by Poe. However, they are unable to stop the plane from departing. Meanwhile, Pinball, tasked with disposing of the plane’s transponder, fails to return to the aircraft.
Cast director: Simon West
Cast actor: Nicolas Cage, John Malkovich, John Cusack, Steve Buscemi, Colm Meaney, Mykelti Williamson, Nick Chinlund, Renoly Santiago, Ving Rhames, Dave Chappelle
Original name: Con Air