Watch it at Amazon
34 out of 37 people found the following review useful: The real thing. Accept no imitations., 15 January 2003 Author: mattymatt4ever from Jersey City, NJ
This is the one of the movies that kicked off the buddy cop formula. Technically, Nick Nolte's the only cop, but other films have tried to imitate the style by having a tough, cranky, by-the-book cop (Nolte's character) paired off with a loose, easygoing, unorthodox cop (like Murphy's character). Some of these "imitators" have failed miserably and even those that succeeded don't match up to "48 Hours." I haven't seen the unedited version of this movie in over ten years (it plays on TV like 4 times every month), and even when I did catch it on TV, I caught it in bits and pieces. Now that I've seen it straight-through, in its uncut form, I can regard this as an overlooked classic. Watching Nolte as the gruff, chain-smoking Jack, I thought to myself, "He owns that part." Many actors have tried to take on that same role, but nobody plays it better than Nolte. And the same goes for Eddie Murphy. His talent has been taken for granted over the recent years, since his career has hit a major slump. And rightfully so. He should choose his roles much more wisely. How do you from doing such fun, memorable films as "48 Hours," "Coming to America" and "Trading Places" to doing "Showtime" and "I-Spy." This movie proves that Murphy can go leaps and bounds with his comic talent, if the script is well-written. The scene in the all-white, country-western bar, where Murphy shows off his skills as an interrogator, is a classic. The film is directed by Walter Hill, who's great at directing action sequences. So the movie packs a punch in both the action and comedy department. Nolte and Murphy's chemistry is priceless, and the banter between them is sharp and hilarious. One of my favorite examples is when Murphy asks Nolte, "Can you tell me a bedtime story?" Nolte responds, "F**k you." "That's my favorite one." Of course, Murphy gets most of the credit for being the comic relief, and he is terrific in one of his best comic performances, but Nolte belts out just as many funny lines as him, though he's the official straight man. He never seems to say anything intentionally funny, but that's what's funny. He says things that are hilarious, but sounds dead serious about them. And of course, it's also hilarious to watch him react furiously to Murphy's taunts. Those who haven't seen "48 Hours" should really check it out, because it's an action classic! Sure, the "Rush Hour" films are good, but Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan don't have close to the same magic as Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy! THIS is how an action/comedy is made!!My score: 9 (out of 10)
15 out of 16 people found the following review useful: Alternately hilarious (of course) and thrilling, 28 August 2003 Author: mhoney-1 from Pittsboro, North Carolina
Nick Nolte is well-cast as the average tough, somewhat maverick cop who gets involved in a case involving an escaped convict and his partner and their psychopathic rampage through San Francisco. He's forced to enlist the help of fast-talking incarcerated con man Eddie Murphy, who has dealt with one of the killers in past. Murphy insists he be let out for 48 hours in order to secure a stash of money he has that the killer wants. Nolte and Murphy are a mismatched pair, Murphy being the sly young criminal, Nolte being a tough, somewhat ignorant cop who tires easily of his partner's fast mouth and wayward way of giving information, and constant attempts at getting a gun.There's one good scene where Murphy walks into a redneck cowboy joint with a bet about what it takes to be taken seriously as a cop, and trades places with Nolte as a detective trying to get information on where one of the guys is. Later on, Nolte and Murphy get into a fight because Murphy won't say what he knows the escaped killer is after.Walter Hill creates one of the best cop movies ever, and a perfect movie to act as Murphy's first real vehicle for his comedy style. However, this is not comedy like, say, "Trading Places." This movie is more the comedy style of the first "Lethal Weapon" movie. Alternately serious and funny.
12 out of 13 people found the following review useful: Pretty entertaining thanks to great performances from the two leads..., 12 April 2001 Author: Howlin Wolf from Oldham, Gtr Manchester, England.
It's the chemistry between Nolte and Murphy that makes this work, plus the fact that both men really attempt to 'get into the skin' of their character, something mostly ignored in other examples of this genre. Director Hill knows he's got a great team in front of the camera, and all that remains is for him to incorporate some spectacular action sequences around them. This he does competently. That one-two punch is what gives the movie its fireworks. The banter and situations concerning the characters are also gleefully un-PC. It'd be interesting to see what a studio and director would make of the same premise in these 'enlightened' times. Murphy's comic stage persona is less restrained here than it would be in later films, and the results are often shamefully funny. Don't expect Shakespeare, there's far too much cursing and other unsavoury shenanigans going on for that; do expect a pacy and entertaining early example of the 'buddy thriller'.
15 out of 20 people found the following review useful: The original - and probably the best - of the "buddy-buddy" flicks., 28 November 2004 Author: Jonathon Dabell (barnaby.rudge@hotmail.co.uk) from Wakefield, England
Walter Hill is one of those directors who seems never to make an average film. His movies are, generally-speaking, either very good or very bad. 48 Hours is one of his "very good" offerings. It gives Eddie Murphy one of cinema's most unforgettable movie debuts, and invents the conventions of the buddy cop genre that were to become blueprints for years to come. Every buddy picture after 1982 - including Lethal Weapon, The Last Boy Scout, Fled, Bad Boys, and a thousand more - owes something to 48 Hours.The film opens with psychopathic Albert Ganz (James Remar) escaping from a chain gang. Determined to track down Ganz, tough cop Jack Cates (Nick Nolte) springs a fast-talking convict named Reggie Hammond (Eddie Murphy) from jail for forty-eight hours, during which time the mismatched duo must find their quarry. Cates doesn't like blacks, and Hammond doesn't like cops, so before they can even get to the business of tracking down their man they first have to come to terms with working alongside each other.Fast-paced, energetic, foul-mouthed and funny, 48 Hours is simply a great ride. Nolte underplays brilliantly, wisely allowing Murphy to handle the loud and showy role while he etches a gruff, rugged characterisation as a cop on the warpath. The leading characters are rounded off wonderfully by James Remar, as a genuinely bad "baddie". If the plot to 48 Hours sounds like a collection of all the clichés and predictabilities that ruin most films, it's important to remember that before this film nothing like it had really been done. These plot devices and conventions are only considered "cliches" nowadays because 48 Hours was so influential, not to mention frequently-imitated, in the ensuing years. James Horner's music score is perfectly judged too. Finally, no review of 48 Hours would be complete without some acknowledgment of the film's most famous scene. I'm talking - of course - about the bit where Murphy causes a stir in a redneck bar. More often than not famous movie scenes fail to live up to their lofty reputation, but in this case that simply isn't so. It really is an electrifying screen moment.... in a film that really is an electrifying screen experience!
9 out of 11 people found the following review useful: The best of the buddy pics; Murphy's debut is one of the best in film, 13 March 2003 Author: george.schmidt (george.schmidt@hbo.com) from fairview, nj
48HRS. (1982) *** Nick Nolte, Eddie Murphy, James Remar, David Patrick Kelly, Sonny Landham, Frank McRae, Brion James. One of the best `buddy' action films of all time: Nolte is in rare form as perpetually growling, angry heavy – drinking San Francisco cop Jack Gates who has his hands full when a crazed cop-killing escaped con and his partner go on a rampage with his only resort being motormouthed, street smart Reggie Hammond (Murphy in his scene-stealing big screen debut that made him an overnight sensation in addition to lighting the fuse while the star of `Saturday Night Live') who coincidentally is serving a sentence for being one of the maniac's former crew members on their last gig together (a cache of money only Reggie knows where is hidden). With only 48 hours on leave from the joint the odd couple are forced to help each other overcoming their own racism, violent means and genuine opposites attract mojo working in overdrive. High octane action directed sleekly by Walter Hill and the unexpurgated energetic glee Murphy exudes kicks the film into overdrive. Look for The Busboys (Eddie's fave band) providing the ironic cover of `The Boys Are Back in Town' and for trivia buffs, that's Olivia Brown as the object of Eddie's libido, who would go on to co-star in tv's `Miami Vice' and indie star Chris Mulkey in a bit part as a uniformed cop.
7 out of 8 people found the following review useful: The start of the 80's buddy cop movie?, 7 September 1999 Author: Peach-2 from USA
It seems that after 48 HRS, buddy cop movies had a simple plot. Catch the bad guys while being as funny and silly as possible. There is alot of bad buddy cop movies, this is one of the best. Considering one is a cop and the other is a convict it shouldn't really be considered a buddy cop movie. I watched this film a couple of days ago because it had been awhile since I watched it a thousand times on cable television as a kid. I was surprised at the amount of racial comments made in this film, I guess as a child I didn't really pay attention to those comments. The movie is still solid, definitely one of Walter Hill's best films. Eddie Murphy is perfecting his onscreen personality in his first film. Beverley Hills Cop wasn't far behind. Nick Nolte feels like a tired detective in this film. Nolte has always seemed like the perfect tired private eye or detective to me. The rough voice, the lined and aged face, he just seems right. The movie is exciting and tight, one of the best action films of the eighties.
5 out of 5 people found the following review useful: A seriously edgy and explosive thriller., 11 March 2002 Author: mhasheider from Sauk City, Wisconsin
A seriously edgy and explosive thriller about an untidy yet tenacious San Francisco cop, Jack Cates (Nick Nolte), who must take Reggie Hammond (Eddie Murphy), an ultra-cocky convict with him and search around the city for a brutish cop-killer, Ganz (James Remar)and his nearly out-spoken Indian accomplice, Billy Bear (Sonny Landham) and take them down in less than forty-eight hours. What made me enjoy the movie is the trust and respect that the Murphy and Nolte characters begin to show, even there are moments where they want to pound each other's head in. In addition to Nolte and Murphy (who's in his film debut), Remar is pretty good here despite having a limited amount of screen time. The photography of the city by Ric Waite is well, excellent and the skillful direction by Walter Hill can't go unnoticed. "48 Hrs." may not look as well-crafted as "The French Connection", but Hill sure knows how to make something memorable out of nothing.
6 out of 7 people found the following review useful: The boys are back in town!!!, 30 August 2003 Author: Scott LeBrun from Winnipeg, Canada
Nick Nolte plays Jack Cates, an edgy, sullen, and world-weary San Francisco police detective who temporarily paroles young convict Reggie Hammond (Eddie Murphy) so Hammond can help him catch psychotic thief and murderer Albert Ganz (James Remar).One of the first, and absolute best, "mismatched-partners" cop movies of all time, this is slick, funny, violent, and energetic. Nolte and Murphy make a good team. Murphy is especially funny, making his feature-film debut, as a smooth talker who's desperate to have some sex before he has to go back to prison. The scene where Hammond shakes things up in a redneck bar is admittedly one of the best scenes in the movie.It really is a fine cast (unfortunately, Annette O'Toole, as Cates's long-suffering girlfriend, has nothing important to do) that includes some actors who have worked with director/co-writer Walter Hill on a fairly regular basis.Many of the "mismatched-partners" cop movies released since this one just can't compare (excepting the "Lethal Weapon" movies, in my opinion).8/10
7 out of 9 people found the following review useful: Great film!, 6 July 2003 Author: varsania from London, England
One of the best. Brilliantly acted, very good scenes, the scene in redneck bar and the scene where the boss has a rant after the infamous bus losing incident are the best. The boss is excellent. The way he delivers his lines with such anger, and the lines themselves are very hard. "YOU GO F*** YOURSELF CONVICT!!!" is my favourite of the whole film. The look on Eddie's face is priceless. Just proves how class an actor he is, if proof be necessary. Redneck bar scene is equally good. The music the band are playing fits the scene beautifully. The dancing stripper adds to the value of the scene too. She's great. A flawless film, Eddie Murphy's best work too in my opinion.
4 out of 4 people found the following review useful: The finest of buddy flicks known!, 27 March 2008 Author: Brian T. Whitlock (GOWBTW) from WILMINGTON, NC
Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte strike it rich in "48 Hours". Eddie Murphy play Reggie Hammond, a smooth-talking, wise cracking, parolee who teams up with Jack Cates(Nolte), a hard-drinking, hard-nosed, and sloppy-looking policeman. During a gunfight Cates loses his piece to a dangerous killer. And it's up to Hammond to help him bring him down. Reggie has got 48 Hours to have him stopped before he runs amok again. The killer is Albert Ganz(James Remar) he and his partner Billy Bear(Sonny Lantham) go on a killing spree all over San Francisco. Cates and Hammond don't really get along with each other in the beginning, when the smoke does settle they gain trust and respect for each other. In order to stop the dangerous duo, Reggie gets his own piece, and they go out to find and stop them. Reggie got Billy Bear, even when he defied Reggie's warning. And Jack finally gets his man. The movie is hard core: Language, nudity, racial remarks, and violence. That doesn't bother me anymore. The real deal was the soundtrack. Especially "The Boys are Back In Town". 5 stars!
Add another review
