Next of Kin (1989 film)
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- This article is about the film. For other uses, see Next of Kin.
| Next of Kin | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical poster for Next of Kin |
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| Directed by | John Irvin |
| Produced by | Larry Dewaay (Executive Producer) Jeb Stuart (Associate Producer Richard D. Zanuck |
| Written by | Michael Jenning |
| Starring | Patrick Swayze Adam Baldwin Liam Neeson Helen Hunt |
| Music by | Jack Nitzsche Larry Gatlin (song) "Brothers" |
| Cinematography | Steven B. Poster |
| Editing by | Peter Honess |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
| Release date(s) |  October 20, 1989 |
| Running time | 111 min |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Allmovie profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
Next of Kin is a 1989 action film directed by John Irvin and starring Patrick Swayze, Adam Baldwin, Liam Neeson and Helen Hunt. The screenplay was based on a story of the same title, both written by Michael Jenning.
Contents |
[edit] Main Cast
- Patrick Swayze as Truman Gates
- Liam Neeson as Briar Gates
- Adam Baldwin as Joey Rosselini
- Helen Hunt as Jessie Gates
- Bill Paxton as Gerald Gates
- Ben Stiller as Lawrence Isabella
- Andreas Katsulas as John Isabella
[edit] Plot
Truman Gates, a Kentucky native raised in Appalachia, has migrated to Chicago to become a police officer. Truman's younger brother Gerald becomes unemployed when the local coal mine ceases operation. Truman persuades his brother to look for work in Chicago. Gerald's move to Chicago serves to fuel the estrangement between Truman and another brother, Briar, who feels Truman had attempted to get above his raising by moving to the city and marrying a classic violist, Jesse.
Soon after arriving in Chicago and landing a job as a truck driver, Gerald is killed during a truck heist planned by mafioso Lawrence Isabella, who is being groomed to take over the syndicate by his brother Joey Isabella upon thief father's, John Isabella, retirement from organized crime.
When Gerald is discovered dead, Truman returns to Kentucky for the funeral. Briar is bent on revenge, while Truman urges in vain to let the police deal with the investigation. Briar's contempt and distrust for his brother grows, as he considers Truman is dishonoring his family by refusing to engage in a traditional clan feud to exact justice.
Briar goes to Chicago to search for his brother's killer. Soon afterwards, Lawrence is murdered and Joey blames the murder on Truman and Briar. John Isabella orders a hit on the two brothers, resulting in a shootout between Briar and Joey, which leaves Briar dead.
With a second brother dead, and evidence for an arrest lacking, Truman resigns from the police force and goes to Kentucky to gather his extended family to begin a feud against the Isabella family.
Learning of the Gates family determination to seek revenge, Joey dismisses the threat by the Gates "plow rocks for a living" to which John responds, "That's what they said about our family back in Italy."
When the Gates clan arrive in Chicago, they descend on a cemetery where Truman had arranged a showdown with Joey. An extended gun battle ensues, where Truman kills most of Joey's entourage using crossbows but is chased by the remaining four. Just as Truman is cornered, the family descends and using animal calls come to the rescue. Once the remaining henchmen are killed or cornered, Truman and Joey engage in hand to hand battle. Truman has Joey pinned on the ground with a knife to his throat, but the Isabella family show up and gain the upper hand. However, John asks Joey to move out of the way and shoots him having discovered that Joey had been bragging about murdering Lawrence out of jealousy for being overlooked to take over the syndicate. With the the murders on both sides dealt with, the Isabella and Gates families make peace.
[edit] Awards
Patrick Swayze was nominated for a Razzie Award for Worst Actor for his work in Next of Kin and for Road House released the same year.
