''Ambushed'' is a 1998 American

action Action may refer to: * Action (narrative), a literary mode * Action fiction, a type of genre fiction * Action game, a genre of video game Film * Action film, a genre of film * ''Action'' (1921 film), a film by John Ford * ''Action'' (1980 fil ...

thriller film Thriller film, also known as suspense film or suspense thriller, is a broad film genre that evokes excitement and suspense in the audience. The suspense element found in most films' plots is particularly exploited by the filmmaker in this genre ...

directed by

Ernest Dickerson Ernest Roscoe Dickerson (born June 25, 1951) is an American director, cinematographer, and screenwriter of film, television, and music videos. As a cinematographer, he is known for his frequent collaborations with Spike Lee ever since they were c ...

and starring

Courtney B. Vance Courtney Bernard Vance (born March 12, 1960) is an American actor. Known for his commanding presence Vance started his career on stage before transitioning his career into film and television. He's received various accolades including a Tony Awa ...

. The film has also been classified as African American noir.

Premise

The leader of a Ku Klux Klan lodge is shot dead and his son is taken into police custody for protection. The police car taking him to a safe house is ambushed and three police officers are shot dead. Officer Jerry Robinson is accused of the murders.

Cast

as Jerry Robinson * Jeremy Lelliott as Eric Natter *

Virginia Madsen Virginia Gayle Madsen (born September 11, 1961) is an American actress and film producer. She made her film debut in ''Class'' (1983), which was filmed in her native Chicago. After she moved to Los Angeles, director David Lynch cast her as Pr ...

as Lucy Monroe * William Forsythe as Mike Organski * David Keith as Deputy Lawrence *

Bill Nunn William Goldwyn Nunn III (October 20, 1953 – September 24, 2016) was an American actor known for his roles as Radio Raheem in Spike Lee's film '' Do the Right Thing'', Robbie Robertson in the Sam Raimi ''Spider-Man'' film trilogy and as T ...

as Watts Fatboy *

Charles Hallahan Charles John Hallahan (July 29, 1943 – November 25, 1997) was an American film, television, and stage actor known for his performances in ''Going in Style'', '' The Thing'', '' Cast a Deadly Spell'', and ''Dante's Peak''. He was also best know ...

as Sheriff Carter *

Robert Patrick Robert Hammond Patrick (born November 5, 1958) is an American actor. Known for portraying villains and honorable authority figures, he is a Saturn Award winner with four other nominations. Patrick dropped out of college when drama class sparke ...

as Shannon Herrold * William Sadler as Jim Natter * Carl Espy as Deputy Bean * Scott Hinson as Deputy Dunbar * William Flaman as Tom * J. Michael Hunter as Mintz * Scott Simpson as Richter * Don Hall as Billy Dean * Travis Stanberry as Danny * Jim Grimshaw as Officer Newfield * Ernest Dickerson Jr. as J.J. Robinson * Kenya Bennett as Diner Waitress * April Turner as Connie Jackson * Richard K. Olsen as Motel Manager * Lou Criscuolo as Man in Bathrobe * Nora Cook as Nancy Richter * Nina Repeta as Mary Natter * Samantha Agnoff as Karen Natter * Dale Frye as Aryan #1 * Lex Geddings as Aryan #2 * Jackie Dickerson as Store Clerk

Production

Filming for ''Ambushed'' took place in Bolivia and North Carolina, with some filming occurring at the Orton Plantation.

Release

''Ambushed'' premiered on HBO on June 26, 1998.

Themes

William Covey has classified this film, along with ''Across 110th Street'', ''Deep Cover'', ''Detroit 9000'', ''The Glass Shield'', and ''Devil in a Blue Dress (film), Devil in a Blue Dress'' as examples of films that "locate crime and criminality within white culture, while the moral center of each film is marked by black male heroism."

Reception

''Ambushed'' received reviews from The Chucks Connection and TV Guide, the latter of which called it " boisterous but none too convincing. ... Short on logic and long on polemics, this pumped-up action pic dashes to a predictable, preordained conclusion." ''The Guardian'' was more favorable, noting that "his unfussy, effective approach augurs well for his directorial career".

References

External links

* * {{Ernest Dickerson 1998 action thriller films 1998 films 1990s chase films 1990s thriller drama films 1990s gang films 1998 independent films 1998 action drama films American action thriller films American chase films American gang films American independent films Films about children Films about families Films about friendship Films about murder Films about racism Films about the Ku Klux Klan Films directed by Ernest Dickerson Films scored by Terry Plumeri 1990s American films