NICK NOLTE TAKES EDDIE MURPHY FOR WALTER HILL'S '48 HRS.'

Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy in 48 HRS Year: 1982 Rating: ****1/2

Following HARD TIMES, THE DRIVER, THE WARRIORS, THE LONG RIDERS and SOUTHERN COMFORT, most forget that 48 HRS was the peak of high-octane director Walter Hill's career, especially with the iconic novelty of being SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE breakout Eddie Murphy's first motion picture, more than proving his worth and successfully continuing with TRADING PLACES and BEVERLY HILLS COP...

But the real star is first-billed Nick Notle, whose gruff San Fransisco cop Jack Cates is the kind of flawed/ragged anti-hero that could've led his very own edgy cop thriller, making Murphy's Reggie Hammond... allowed the titular two-days to help find his former prison-breaking partner-in-crime... an essential bonus in what's already a terrific ride: perfectly combining action, drama and comedy...

James Remar, Sonny Landham, Nick Nolte Eddie Murphy and Greta Blackburn in 48 HRS.

Not only with the necessary timing and delivery, but as the result of the combative polar opposites  — where this relatively-mainstream, early-1980's neon-soaked neo-noir wields both the extreme violence and politically-incorrect wordplay of the comparably uncompromising previous decade's exploitation era... 

Igniting a brutally suspenseful police investigation against the deadliest, most intimidating villains of the crime genre with THE WARRIORS rogue James Remar paired with big Indian Sonny Landham, waiting for stolen loot that Murphy's also after: overall forcing Nolte to work both with and against unpredictable criminals... in their own dangerous territory — where director Walter Hill always felt right at home.

Eddie Murphy in 48 HRS with James Remar

Eddie Murphy in 48 HRS

James Remar and Sonny Landham in 48 HRS.

Jonathan Banks in 48 HRS.

Peter Jason in 48 HRS.

James Remar in 48 HRS.

James Remar and Sonny Landham in 48 HRS. with Tara King and Kerry Sherman

Nick Nolte in 48 HRS.

James Remar and Kerry Sherman in 48 HRS.

Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte in 48 HRS.

Eddie Murphy in 48 HRS.

Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte in 48 HRS.

Sonny Landham in 48 HRS.

James Remar and Greta Blackburn in 48 HRS.

Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte in 48 HRS.

David Patrick Kelly in 48 HRS.

Annette O'Toole in 48 HRS.

Eddie Murphy in 48 HRS.

Tara King in 48 HRS.

Eddie Murphy in 48 HRS.

Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte in 48 HRS.

Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte in 48 HRS.

Nick Nolte in 48 HRS.

Nick Nolte in 48 HRS.

Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte in 48 HRS.

James Remar in 48 HRS.

Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte in 48 HRS.

David Patrick Kelly in 48 HRS.

Nick Nolte and Greta Blackburn in 48 HRS.

Eddie Murphy in 48 HRS.

Walter Hill's 48 HRS.

James Remar in 48 HRS.

Eddie Murphy in 48 HRS with Nick Nolte