Air America (movie)
| Air America | |
|---|---|
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| Directed by | Roger Spottiswoode |
| Produced by |
Mario Kassar Andrew G. Vajna |
| Written by |
Christopher Robbins John Eskow Richard Rush |
| Based on |
Air America by Christopher Robbins |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Roger Deakins |
| Edited by |
John Bloom Lois Freeman-Fox |
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Production
company |
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| Distributed by | TriStar Pictures |
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Release date
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Running time
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112 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $35,000,000 |
| Box office | $57,718,089 |
| Air America (soundtrack) | |
|---|---|
_Cover.jpg) |
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| Soundtrack album by Various artists | |
| Released | 1990 |
| Recorded | 1990 |
| Genre | Rock music |
| Length | 33:45 |
| Label | MCA Records |
| Producer | Becky Mancuso, Tim Sexton, Magstripe Entertainment |
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |
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Air America is a 1990 American action comedy film directed by Roger Spottiswoode, starring Mel Gibson and Robert Downey Jr. as Air America pilots flying missions in Laos during the Vietnam War. When the protagonists discover their aircraft is being used by government agents to smuggle heroin, they must avoid being framed as the drug-smugglers.
The plot of the film is adapted from Christopher Robbins' 1979 non-fiction book, chronicling the CIA-financed airline to transport weapons and supplies in Cambodia, Laos and South Vietnam during the Vietnam War.
The publicity for the film, advertised as a light-hearted buddy movie, implied a tone that differs greatly from the actual film, which includes such serious themes as an anti-war message, focus on the opium trade, and a negative portrayal of Royal Laotian General Vang Pao (played by actor Burt Kwouk as "General Lu Soong").
In late 1969, Billy Covington (Robert Downey Jr.) works as a helicopter traffic pilot for a Los Angeles radio station. When he breaks several safety regulations by flying low, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration suspends his pilot's license. However, his piloting skills, bravery and disregard for the law are noticed by a mysterious government agent, who tells Billy that he can get his license back if he accepts a job in Laos, working for a "strictly civilian" company called Air America. It is readily apparent that Air America is a front for CIA operations in Laos.
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Wikipedia