Ricochet (DVD, 1998)

Denzel is a beat cop who arrests an notoriously insane, yet capable murderous criminal. He goes to jail, where he is nothing more than a hard wired vengeful drone. He is up for parole, but gaining parole for such an infamous criminal is a hopeless proposition. So, at the parole hearing, he doesn't even attempt to fake being civil or reformed, but instead makes snide remarks about members of the parole board, which is a grand prelude to his release. He, then, shows how truly heinous he is by killing some of the very criminals who helped him escape. Afterward, he fakes his own death to set his plan in motion to get some payback.

Denzel, in the interim, has gone in a totally opposite direction since the incident. The capture of the criminal has been a springboard to fame and fortune. He becomes a well-known lawyer, married to a beautiful woman with 2 daughters in suburbia, pillar of the community, and it is clear that he has forgotten the criminal who has made him. The criminal puts his callous plan into action, which is to destroy Denzel(as he sees it) the way that he destroyed him. Using alot of deception, he captures Denzel and cunningly makes his life a living hell. He turns Denzel's life upside down; he ties up Denzel, gives him some cocaine and heroin injections, and while he's tied up, the criminal brings in a dirty prostitute in to give Denzel a "good time"(with an catch). He doesn't kill Denzel, but releases him back into society where cameras are sure to find him. The criminal has secretly made tapes of everything that happens and places them for influential people to find them. The criminal isn't supposed to be alive and Denzel has alot of evidence stacked against him(plus the effect of the drugs haven't fully worn off yet), so only his closest friends and family believe his stories and Denzel's life plummets even deeper.

Denzel eventually turns the table on the criminal by causing the criminal's plan to backfire. He stages a stunt to fake like he will kill himself and the criminal doesn't want this, because he wants him to suffer and for his death to be on his(the criminal's) terms. This works to lure the criminal out of hiding for all the cameras to see. The criminal is so insanely angry that he forgets about the camera coverage until he's already been filmed. A super fight ensues on an electric tower, where Denzel wins and wins back his life.

This movie stars Denzel Washington(cop), John Lithgow(criminal, starred in 3rd Rock from the Sun, probably his best movie performance), and Ice T(Denzel's crooked friend, who helps him in a tight spot). Great thriller that has no inconsistencies, so it gets an excellent rating!

A must have for a Denzel fan from his early days, and John Lithgow is one of the best Creeps to ever play on film. And lets not forget Ice-T one of the few musician turn actor to make a smooth changeover that not many can do well. I had this one VHS and was missing watching it since I havent had a VCR in over 4 years! so finding it DVD was a real treat, and a fair buy on Ebay.

Great movie with Denzel Washington and John Lithgow. One of Denzel's early movies where he plays the good cop and John Lithgow is out for revenge because he (Denzel) ruined his (Lithgow's) career in crime. Also starring Ice T.! On the edge of your seat scenes, including an ending that will really keep you on your toes.

I really thought this movie was great because of Denzel Washington, and the story is compelling enough to watch over and over again; A young Denzel with John Lithgow as his arch nemisis and a cast of other great actors like Ice T,Kevin Pollak. It is an Explosive,Action-Packed Thriller.

Movie was great, like always by Denzel.
DVD was still in good shape, no scratchs or any other flaws.
Watched the movie first day i got it, and HAppy with the results and purchase.
Didnt skip or anything. movie played well, and quality was great for such a old movie.

A++++