Eraser (1996)

Director:

Chuck Russell

Writers (WGA):

Tony Puryear (story) and
Walon Green (story) ...

Release Date:

21 June 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

He will erase your past to protect your future.

Plot:

A Witness Protection specialist becomes suspicious of his co-workers when dealing with a case involving high-tech weapons.

Plot Keywords:

Weapon | Witness | U.S. Marshal | FBI | Identity

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Arnold Schwarzenegger	...	U.S. Marshal John 'The Eraser' Kruger
James Caan	...	U.S. Marshal Robert Deguerin
Vanessa Williams	...	Lee Cullen
James Coburn	...	WitSec Chief Beller
Robert Pastorelli	...	Johnny Casteleone
James Cromwell	...	William Donohue
Danny Nucci	...	WitSec Deputy Monroe
Andy Romano	...	Undersecretary of Defense Daniel Harper
Nick Chinlund	...	WitSec Agent Calderon
Michael Papajohn	...	WitSec Agent Schiffer
Joe Viterelli	...	Tony Two-Toes
Mark Rolston	...	J. Scar
John Slattery	...	FBI Agent Corman
Robert Miranda	...	Frediano
Roma Maffia	...	Claire Isaacs

Also Known As:

Eraser (Austria) (Germany) [de]
L'effaceur (Canada: French title) (France) [fr]
Стиратель (Russia) [ru]
Apolyti diagrafi (Greece) [el]
Brisac (Serbia) [sr]
Egzekutor (Poland) [pl]
El protector (Venezuela) [es]
Eraser (Slovenia) [sl]
Eraser (Eliminador) (Spain) [es]
Eraser - suojelija (Finland) [fi]
L'eliminatore (Italy) [it]
Likvidátor (Czech Republic) [cs]
Queima de Arquivo (Brazil) [pt]
Silici (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Végképp eltörölni (Hungary) [hu]

MPAA:

Rated R for violent action throughout and some language.

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | USA:R (certificate #34624) | Iceland:16 | Netherlands:12 | South Korea:15 | Philippines:R-18 | Australia:MA | UK:15 (video rating) (heavily cut) | UK:15 (uncut version, re-rating) | New Zealand:R16 | Argentina:16 | Belgium:KT | Chile:18 | Denmark:16 | Finland:K-16 | Germany:16 (w) | Italy:T | Norway:18 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 (original rating) (cut)

Filming Locations:

Borough Hall, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

The company name "Cyrez" was originally "Cyrex", but the real-life company Cyrix complained. The movie had been shot, but all dialogue was dubbed and company logos were digitally altered during postproduction.

Goofs:

Continuity: Johnny C takes his vest off, but it is back on again later momentarily.

Quotes:

John: [to dead alligator] You're luggage!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Erkan & Stefan (2000)

Soundtrack:

Caught A Train

Exciting action with Arnold

Chuck Russel's Eraser is exploding and intense action film starring Arnold Scwarzenegger as secret government officer, who "erases" people i.e. destroys their past in order to save their future. He gets to erase an important witness (Vanessa Williams) who knows about her company's illegal activities as it sells guns to foreigners. The film is full of action and mayhem, which is great since hardboiled action films are not made too often in Hollywood anymore.

There are hardly any stops throughout the movie and the viewer should not be bored, at least I wasn't now that I watched the movie for the second time. It looks fantastic in its original widescreen format, and this is definitely among Arnold's more noteworthy performances and proves the talent of director Chuck (Scorpion King, Elm Street 3) Russell.

There are many effects that look pretty realistic and the crocodile shoot out is one memorable scene, and maybe that is the screenwriters' comment on zoos' that don't feed their animals sufficiently as the crocodiles are VERY hungry and fierce for food! Also, there is one over the top airplane scene, that really grabs an attention. The actors are great throughout the film and James Caan doesn't make an exception. The finale is perhaps little too familiar and relies on gun fights and explosions, but still, as a whole, I found this film very pleasant experience in its own genre. It is not the greatest action film ever made in Hollywood, but it is one of the most interesting US action films of the 90's.

7/10