Movie spotlight
12 Bucks
Johnny and Tanner are two brothers raised in a violently dysfunctional family, with a brutal psychopath for a father. One day, their father's abuse of their mother goes too far and tragedy strikes. Tanner winds up in jail, and Johnny is sent to a foster home, where he finally knows a stable life and a caring family. Years later, Johnny (Scott Waugh) is a college student with good marks and good prospects ahead of him, while Tanner (Sean Graham) is trying to dig himself out of a life of crime. Tanner calls Johnny and asks him for a favor -- he'd like his brother to vouch for him in a hearing with his parole officer in Hollywood. Johnny agrees, but then discovers that the hearing isn't in nearby Hollywood, CA, but on the other side of the country in Hollywood, FL. A promise is a promise, and Johnny and Tanner hop in Tanner's ancient Lincoln Continental with only 12 dollars to their name, hoping the fates will guide them safely to the East Coast.
Insights
Plot Summary
A former CIA operative, haunted by a past mission, is drawn back into the dangerous world of espionage when a former colleague goes missing. He must race against time to uncover a conspiracy and confront his own demons before it's too late.
Critical Reception
12 Bucks received a generally mixed to negative reception from critics, with many pointing to a convoluted plot and uneven pacing. However, some praised the performances of its veteran cast.
What Reviewers Say
Despite a strong cast, the film suffers from a predictable and confusing storyline.
The action sequences are uninspired and fail to generate significant excitement.
Some critics found the film to be a low-budget thriller that doesn't quite live up to its potential.
Google audience: Audience reception for 12 Bucks is largely unavailable or not widely documented on public platforms.
Fun Fact
Gary Busey, John Savage, and John Rhys-Davies were all prominent actors in the 1970s and 1980s, and their presence in a 1998 direct-to-video film marked a career shift for them.
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