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All you ever wanted to know about Assault on Precinct 13
Assault on Precinct 13 which was directed by Jean-Francois Richet, is a gripping movie packed to the core with immense action. The movie is loosely based on the 1976 film of the same name, written, directed, scored and edited by John Carpenter. Carpenter made this film on a very tight budget, having been influenced by the thriller movies of Howard Hawks. According to Carpenter, he considered Assault on Precinct 13 one of his first great movies. This was the first film in which he collaborated with Debra Hill, who was a prominent feature in some of the most interesting and influential films of Carpenter’s life.
Although the film is based on the 1976 original, it is not a direct copy, according to the director. He claims to have taken a brilliant 70’s cult, classic film and attempted to turn it into a masterpiece of the 21st century. The film stars Ethan Hawke as a police department enforcer and Laurence Fishburn, who plays the villian. Maria Bello also starred in the movie as a psychiatrist and Gabriel Byrne portrayed brilliantly the role of a corrupt cop leading the siege of the police station at Precinct 13.
The plot of the film revolves around an L.A. street gang going to war against a police station that is about to be closed down. As such, the electricity and phone lines have been cut off with the gang members waiting outside with guns and knives for the police to emerge. While filming this movie, Hawke’s personal life came under serious scrutiny due to the proceedings of his messy divorce with his ex-wife Uma Thurman and his public displays of affection towards his new love Ryan Shawhughes. The 109-minute film is packed with action and drama. The film raked in a profit of $5 USD and got moderate reviews from critics.
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