NipPierce Wow, this is a REALLY bad movie!

Nonureva Really Surprised!

2hotFeature one of my absolute favorites!

Guillelmina The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

mariabowman-66756 When one thinks of Sylvester Stallone they think of Rambo or Rocky or one of his many other action avatars but this film Night Hawks is where he gives one of his most underrated performances. He plays a conservative cop trying to catch an international terrorist in his city. Rutger Hauer is another actor who is better known in films like Blade Runner but he is absolutely sublime here as the bad guy. The pacing is good and the film has that raw gritty look of early 80s. If you haven't already then you should check out Night Hawks

The Grand Master Nighthawks was a gritty, violent, down and dirty thriller which brought out the best in Sylvester Stallone and Rutger Hauer as the two charismatic leads. Underrated on release, it's still well worth the time.Detective Sergeant Deke DaSilva (Sylvester Stallone) and Detective Sergeant Matthew Fox (Billy Dee Williams) are part of NYPD's undercover Street Crime Unit. Their boss Lieutenant Munafo (Joe Spinell) later notifies them that DaSilva and Fox have been handpicked to join the newly-formed ATAC (Anti Terrorist Action Command) squad spearheaded by INTERPOL British Counter-terrorist specialist Peter Hartman (Nigel Davenport). Their primary task is to take down international terrorist Heymar Reinhardt, also known as Wulfgar (Rutger Hauer) who after bombing a department store in London, has managed to slip through the fingers of authorities and has made his way to New York City. Teaming up with a mysterious woman named Shakka (Persis Khambatta), Wulfgar continues his campaign of terror and vows to bring New York City to its knees and it's up to DaSilva and Fox to take him down.Sylvester Stallone's career continued to climb following the success of the Academy Award winning Rocky (1976) and it's sequel Rocky II (1979). In Nightwawks, Stallone is excellent as Deke DaSilva who doesn't rely on brawn to get him by but also his brains. Stallone's character shows more of a sensitive side where he is less ruthless and trigger happy compared to many of his previous characters where he has played a policeman in movies such as Cobra (1986) and Tango & Cash (1989). Following a bloody confrontation, DaSilva rethinks his tactics and vows to match Wulfgar on even ground. Billy Dee Williams who is well known for his role as Lando Calrissian in The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983), is perfectly paired up with Stallone as DaSilva's partner Fox who have been tasked to take down Wulfgar. Dutch actor Rutger Hauer made audiences sit up and take notice by putting in a chilling performance as international terrorist Wulfgar in his U.S. debut where he establishes himself as an actor well known for playing villains in such classics as Blade Runner (1982) and The Hitcher (1986). Director Bruce Malmuth makes his directorial debut with Nighthawks and here he has done a fine job bringing this gritty film to life on screen.It's hard to believe that today the fear of terrorism is widespread given that the events of September 11 2001 changed the world forever. Nighthawks was certainly ahead of its time.Though not a box office smash in 1981, it still netted positive reviews and acclaim, with Stallone earning his share of the praise but the standout was Rutger Hauer. Despite how dated it is, Nighthawks is still good viewing.7/10.

Scott LeBrun Top notch action thriller gives Sylvester Stallone one of his better roles, as Deke DaSilva, a tough street cop pulled off of "decoy" work, along with his partner Matthew Fox (Billy Dee Williams). His superiors reassign him to a special anti-terrorism unit that's on the trail of Heymar "Wulfgar" Reinhardt (Rutger Hauer, in a smashing American debut). Wulfgar is a ruthless terrorist-for-hire rendered persona non grata with revolutionary communities after some incidents in London. So he comes to NYC, and announces his presence in a big way, to ensure the terrorists of the world that he's still employable.This is a well directed, exciting movie that manages to grab you early on, and hardly ever lets up until a clever finish. It features some very tense sequences like the one on a tram suspended high above the East River, and benefits a lot from having such a creditable hero (Sly delivers an effectively low key performance) and loathsome yet charismatic villain. Praise is also due to the supporting cast: the likable Williams, the appealing (but under utilized) Lindsay Wagner, Persis Khambatta as our villains' deadly associate, Nigel Davenport as a smooth anti-terrorism expert, Hilary Thompson as unfortunate, ill fated stewardess Pam, and the great character actor Joe Spinell as Stallones' superior. Porn star Jamie Gillis plays a designer; Catherine Mary Stewart has a bit as a salesgirl.Further enlivened by Keith Emersons' dynamic music score (he also performs a funky cover of "I'm a Man" for the pivotal nightclub sequence), "Nighthawks" can also boast a solid climactic chase. It's extremely well shot on various locations in NYC, London, and Paris. It's violent but never overtly gory, and does have an appreciable sense of humor at times.The eyeglasses & beard look that Sly sports here is definitely unusual, but it works for him.Eight out of 10.

JasonT413 Going to watch this again tonight for the second day in a row, this time with the wife who hasn't seen it. Who could not like an early 80's pre-MTV thriller with a fresh off of EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Billy Dee Williams and a young cool looking Stallone? Plus throw in Rutger Haeur as a deranged (yet handsome) Euro-Villain terrorist and you've got yourself a winner! There's a great scene where they aforementioned duo are looking for Hauer in a NYC nightclub while the Rolling Stones' "Brown Sugar" is blasting, ultra cool! This film is never a bore and it's before Stallone fully sold out so do yourself a favor and watch it ASAP if you haven't seen it yet!