A sadistic thriller, STRIKING DISTANCE offers few surprises with its story of an uncompromising cop and the serial killer he's determined to capture, no matter what the professional or personal consequences. Pittsburgh cop Tom Hardy (Bruce Willis) is in a bad way. Not only does he share
in the general blame for failing to apprehend a serial killer who's stalking the city's streets, but he's also the star witness in the trial of his own partner--and cousin--Jimmy Detillo (Robert Pastorelli). Having broken the code of silence, Hardy is despised by other cops, a situation made more
difficult by the fact that virtually his entire family is on the force. After his father dies while pursuing the killer, Hardy, a broken man, transfers to the harbor patrol, lives in an isolated houseboat with his cat, and begins drinking too much. A year later, he's jerked out of his rut when he
gets a new partner, Jo (Sarah Jessica Parker), a tough, no-nonsense, beautiful woman whose initial dislike of Hardy gives way to romantic interest. Unfortunately, the serial killer resumes his grisly game and Hardy realizes that all the new victims are women he once dated.
The plot of STRIKING DISTANCE is full of implausibilities, but they're entirely beside the point, since the film delivers what it promises: tough talk, chase scenes by land and by water, plenty of explosions, and pretty girls murdered in nasty and imaginative ways, served up with a dash of sex
and a generous helping of knee-jerk cynicism. Logic and common sense have no place here; action, atmosphere and attitude--"Hey there, Little Red Riding Hood," wails the soundtrack as the sadistic killer does his dirty work--are the Triple As that reign supreme. leave a comment