Hard Time (film)

Hard Time
Written by David S. Cass Sr.
Steve Wesley
Directed by Burt Reynolds
Starring Burt Reynolds
Charles Durning
Robert Loggia
Music by Snuff Garrett
Clarke Rigsby
Kevin Stoller
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
Production
Executive producer(s) Robert Halmi Jr.
Scott Garen
Producer(s) David S. Cass Sr.
Cinematography Suki Medencevic
Editor(s) Glenn Farr
Running time 90 minutes
Production company(s) Larry Levinson Productions
Release
Original network TNT
Original release December 13, 1998 (1998-12-13)

Hard Time is a 1998 American made-for-television action crime film directed by and starring Burt Reynolds.[1][2][3]

It is followed by two sequels, The Premonition and Hostage Hotel (both in 1999). It was always envisioned as a trilogy.[4]

Plot

Logan McQueen, a veteran, is framed for murder. Now he has to escape from a maximum security prison, and seek, on the deadly streets of a hot and dangerous Miami, for the man who wants him down.

Cast

Production

Reynolds made the film after the triumph of Boogie Nights. He later said, "After the excitement or resurrection or finding out that I wasn't dead came out, I promised myself two things. One was that I wanted to do a major studio film (Mystery, Alaska), and the other one was that I wanted to direct - because I had a great passion for directing, and I missed it."[5]

TNT approached Reynolds with the offer to star in three TV movies, one of which he would direct. He said, "This was a chance to do something that the Turner network had never done before, which was to take a few characters and put them in three movies, all of which could stand on their own but do them in a way that there would be an arc to the characters. They would change in the three films."[5]

The films were all set in Florida but shot in Los Angeles because it was cheaper. "This is a film with three Oscar nominees," said Reynolds. "We had access to a lot of people who don't ordinarily do television. . . . If we had to take them to Miami, our budget would go up greatly. So that would have to be taken into account."[6]

Reynolds said he liked the film because he liked the idea of watching someone who had strong views on capital punishment change his mind. Reynolds said the character was like his father, "one of the fairest men I've ever known, but he is prejudiced about things, and that's because he spent his whole life as a policeman. He's not real good about forgiveness when someone does something illegal."[6]

Reynolds changed his character's name from Conrad Logan (as it was originally written) to Logan McQueen as a nod to the "very complicated, very underrated" Steve McQueen.[5]

Reynolds enjoyed directing. "It's the difference between being a chess player and chess pawn," he said. "Having done 300 television shows and almost 60 movies, I'm tired of having guys who are younger than some sandwiches I've had telling me to turn left at the couch. There's no appreciation of actors and no sense of history."[7]

Home media

The film was released on DVD on August 3, 2004.[8]

The Premonition

Hard Time: The Premonition
Written by Steven H. Berman
Directed by David S. Cass Sr.
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
Production company(s) Larry Levinson Productions
Release
Original network TNT
Original release 1999

Hard Time: The Premonition is a 1999 sequel to Hard Time.

Plot

A serial bomber terrorizes the city.[9]

Cast

  • Burt Reynolds as Det. Logan McQueen
  • Charles Durning as Det. Charlie Duffy
  • Bruce Dern as Winston
  • Gigi Rice as Janice
  • Michael Buie as Higgs
  • Roscoe Lee Browne as Sebastian
  • Michael DeLuise as Dee
  • Richard Riehle as Capt. Waters
  • Pepper Sweeney as Haflin
  • Paul Bartel as Proprietor

Hostage Hotel

Hard Time: Hostage Hotel
Written by Steven H. Berman
Directed by Hal Needham
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
Production company(s) Larry Levinson Productions
Release
Original network TNT
Original release 14 November 1999

Hard Time: Hostage Hotel is a 1999 American film. It is the third and last in the Hard Time series.

It was also known as Hide and Seek.

Cast

  • Burt Reynolds as Logan Mcqueen
  • Charles Durning as Duffy
  • Keith Carradine as Flynn
  • Michael Buie as Higgs
  • David Rasche as Robert Sinclair
  • Ted McGinley as Agent Hopkins
  • Elizabeth Dennehy as Susan
  • Richard Riehle as Captain Waters
  • Danielle Harris as Justine

References

  1. ↑ Ray Richmond (December 10, 1998). "Review: 'Hard Time'". Variety. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
  2. ↑ Steven Linan (December 12, 1998). "Reynolds' 'Hard Time' Gives Viewers a Rather Difficult Time". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Hard Time". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  4. ↑ CABLE ON THE ATTACK BIG, AMBITIOUS PROGRAMMING RIPPLES ACROSS CABLE: Staci D. Kramer. Special to the Tribune.. Chicago Tribune 27 Sep 1998: 5.
  5. 1 2 3 Burt Reynolds sounds amazed when he talks about the audience Heldenfels, R D. The Charleston Gazette 12 Dec 1998: 5C.
  6. 1 2 Burt's back, doing 'Hard Time' Jefferson, Graham. USA TODAY 10 Dec 1998: 03D.
  7. ↑ REYNOLDS IS DAD SOLID PERFECT Givens, Ron. New York Daily News 11 Dec 1998: 160.
  8. ↑ "Hard Time". Amazon.com. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  9. ↑ Brothers Clash in 'Summer's End' Martie Zad Washington Post Staff Writer8 Feb 1999: BR4.
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