Okay, slide that worn cardboard sleeve off the shelf, maybe blow a little dust off the top – remember that satisfying thunk as the tape slotted into the VCR? Tonight’s feature on VHS Heaven is a fascinating collision of talent and format: 1998’s Blackjack, a flick that promised the operatic mayhem of legendary director John Woo fused with the imposing presence of action stalwart Dolph Lundgren. Finding this on the rental store shelf felt like uncovering some secret, high-octane gem. The reality? Well, it’s a bit more complicated, and definitely a product of its time.
### Woo Goes Small Screen
Let's get the biggest piece of trivia out upfront, because it explains so much about Blackjack: this wasn't a theatrical release aiming for Face/Off (1997) glory. No, this was actually a pilot for a potential television series, produced for the USA Network and airing in May '98. Knowing this instantly reframes the experience. Suddenly, the slightly contained scope, the episodic feel, and the sometimes-modest production values make perfect sense. It’s John Woo, the maestro behind Hong Kong classics like The Killer (1989) and Hard Boiled (1992), essentially auditioning for American prime time. Filmed primarily in Toronto, Canada – a classic move for keeping TV movie budgets in check – you can almost feel the constraints battling against Woo's grander cinematic instincts.
### Deal Me In: Phobias and Firefights
The premise itself is pure late-90s high concept: Dolph Lundgren plays Jack Devlin, a top-tier bodyguard and former U.S. Marshal haunted by a past mission gone wrong. During a chaotic firefight saving a friend's daughter, a flashbang grenade leaves him with a peculiar and crippling weakness: leukophobia, an intense fear of the color white. Yes, you read that right. Our hulking hero freezes up at the sight of milk, bedsheets, or even a dove (oh, the irony, given the director!). His new assignment? Protecting Cinder James (Kate Vernon), a supermodel being stalked by a sophisticated killer (Phillip MacKenzie). Can Devlin overcome his bizarre affliction to keep his client safe?
It’s… a choice. Giving Dolph Lundgren, an actor practically carved from granite, such a specific and unusual vulnerability is certainly unexpected. Lundgren, fresh off a string of direct-to-video actioners but still carrying the weight of roles like Ivan Drago in Rocky IV (1985) and He-Man in Masters of the Universe (1987), does his best. He brings his usual stoic physicality, but watching him navigate scenes requiring genuine terror at the sight of spilled paint is, shall we say, memorable. It doesn't always land convincingly, but you have to admire the attempt to give the action hero some quirky depth, even if it borders on the absurd.
### Action on a Leash?
So, the million-dollar question: does John Woo manage to inject his signature style? The answer is yes, but in carefully measured doses. The budget limitations are clear – don't expect the sprawling, pyrotechnic ballets of his theatrical work. However, the Woo trademarks are definitely present, peeking through the TV movie veneer. There’s the slow-motion emphasis on dramatic moments, the occasional stylish dual-wielding (though maybe not with Berettas blazing quite as fiercely), and a focus on the emotional stakes within the action beats.
The practical effects, the bedrock of 80s and 90s action, are here. Gunshots have that satisfyingly loud crack, and squibs burst with a tangible impact that feels refreshingly raw compared to today's often weightless digital blood spray. Remember how real those bullet hits looked back then? Blackjack delivers that visceral, pre-CGI authenticity. There’s a decent warehouse shootout and some tense standoffs that showcase Woo’s flair for staging conflict, even if they feel like scaled-down versions of his bigger set pieces. The leukophobia does occasionally factor into the action choreography, forcing Devlin into disadvantageous positions, which is an interesting, if sometimes clumsy, wrinkle. It wasn’t quite enough to sustain a whole series, clearly, as the show never got picked up beyond this pilot film.
### The Supporting Hand
Kate Vernon does capable work as the model-in-peril, fulfilling the requirements of the role with professional ease. The villain, played by Phillip MacKenzie, is suitably menacing in that specific late-90s thriller kind of way – calculated, a bit slick, and perhaps lacking the operatic flair of Woo's best antagonists. The overall vibe is pure syndicated television fare from the era – competent, watchable, but lacking the cinematic polish and narrative ambition of its big-screen brethren. Writer Peter Lance, primarily known for TV work, crafts a functional script that hits the expected beats for a pilot episode, introducing the characters and central conflict effectively, if not spectacularly.
### The Verdict: A Curious Relic
Blackjack is a fascinating oddity. It’s John Woo adapting his high-octane style for the constraints of American television. It's Dolph Lundgren grappling with a truly bizarre character flaw. It’s a pilot episode frozen in time, a glimpse of a series that never was. Does it fully work? Not entirely. The tone wobbles, the central phobia concept stretches credulity, and the action, while occasionally stylish, feels noticeably restrained.
But for fans digging through the digital crates or dusty VHS boxes, it holds a certain charm. It’s a testament to that era where big names sometimes dipped into unexpected projects, and practical stunts delivered a specific kind of gritty impact. I distinctly remember grabbing this tape, lured by the Woo/Lundgren pairing, and finding it… well, interesting.
Rating: 5/10 - The score reflects the undeniable curiosity factor and the presence of genuine talent struggling slightly against format limitations. It earns points for ambition and some Woo-lite action moments, but loses points for the awkward premise execution and overall TV movie feel.
Final Take: A must-see? Probably not. But for John Woo completists, Dolph Lundgren devotees, or anyone nostalgic for the unique landscape of late-90s TV action pilots, Blackjack is a quirky hand worth playing for a retro movie night – just maybe keep the milk carton out of sight.