Why Me? (1990 film)

For the 1985 Hong Kong film, see Why Me? (1985 film). For other uses, see Why Me? (disambiguation).
Why Me?
Directed by Gene Quintano
Produced by Marjorie Israël
Irwin Yablans
Written by Donald E. Westlake (book)
Donald E. Westlake (screenplay)
David Koepp (as Leonard Maas, Jr.) (screenplay)
Starring Christopher Lambert
Kim Greist
Christopher Lloyd
J. T. Walsh
Music by Phil Marshall
Cinematography Peter Deming
Edited by Alan Balsam
Release dates
 April 20, 1990
Running time
 87 min.
Country USA
Language English

Why Me? (1990) is an American caper comedy directed by Gene Quintano. The screenplay is credited to Donald E. Westlake and Leonard Maas, Jr. (a pseudonym of David Koepp), and is based on the fifth book in Westlake's series of John Dortmunder novels.

Plot synopsis

The Byzantine Fire, a sacred ruby on loan from Turkey to the United States for exhibition, no sooner arrives in Los Angeles than it is stolen by Eastern religious extremists and hidden inside the safe of a local jewelry store. When professional burglar and jewel thief Gus Cardinale (Christopher Lambert) breaks into the store and inadvertently steals the Byzantine Fire, he finds himself being chased around Los Angeles by the LAPD, the entire Los Angeles criminal element (whom the police have been mercilessly harassing in order to find the thief), two less-than-competent CIA agents, Turkish government agents and a not-too-tightly-wrapped female Armenian terrorist. Now Gus, with the help of his wacky sidekick (Christopher Lloyd) and his girl friend (Kim Greist), must figure out a way to not only return the Byzantine Fire without getting caught but also stay alive long enough to do so.

Cast

External links