Hammerman Ikon

Hammerman Ikon Film Guide

48 Hrs.
1982
**½
Director: Walter Hill
Cast: Nick Nolte, Eddie Murphy, Annette O'Toole, Frank McRae, James Remar, David Patrick Kelly, Sonny Landham

A cantankerous SFPD detective teams up with a street smart convict, who is released from prison for 48 hours, in order to track down a pair of ruthless killers. Walter Hill's action movie about a mismatched duo may be one the first releases in the buddy cop genre, but its racism, sexism, and misogyny haven't aged well. While Eddie Murphy is fine in his debut performance, Nick Nolte's detective is a laughably one-note bundle of rage and bigotry. The main villain, although menacingly played by James Remar, has no personality whatsoever. Followed by Another 48 Hrs (1990).