Next of Kin (1989 film)
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- This article is about the film. For other uses, see Next of Kin.
| Next of Kin | |
|---|---|
 A poster for Next of Kin |
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| Directed by | John Irvin |
| Produced by | Larry Dewaay (Executive Producer) Jeb Stuart (Associate Producer Richard D. Zanuck |
| Written by | Michael Jenning |
| Starring | Patrick Swayze Adam Baldwin Liam Neeson Helen Hunt |
| Music by | Jack Nitzsche Larry Gatlin (song) "Brothers" |
| Cinematography | Steven B. Poster |
| Editing by | Peter Hones |
| Distributed by | Warner Brothers |
| Release date(s) |  October 20, 1989 |
| Running time | 111 min |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| All Movie Guide profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
Next of Kin is a 1989 action film directed by John Irvin and staring Patrick Swayze, Adam Baldwin, Liam Neeson and Helen Hunt. The screenplay was based on a story of the same title, both written by Michael Jenning.
Contents |
[edit] Main Cast
- Patrick Swayze as Truman Gates
- Liam Neeson as Briar Gates
- Adam Baldwin as Joey Rosselini
- Bill Paxton as Gerald Gates
- Ben Stiller as Lawrence Isabella
- Andreas Katsulas as John Isabella
[edit] Plot
Truman Gates, a Kentucky native raised in Appalachia, has migrated to Chicago to become a police officer. Truman's younger brother Gerald becomes unemployed when the local coal mine ceases operation. Truman perusades his brother to look for work in Chicago. Gerald's move to Chicago serves to feul the estrangement between Truman and another brother, Briar, who feels Truman had attempted to get above his raising by moving to the city and marrying a classic violist, Jesse.
Soon after arriving in Chicago and landing a job as a truck driver, Gerald is killed during a truck heist planned by mafioso Lawrence Isabella, who is being groomed to take over the syndicate by his brother Joey Isabella upon theif father's, John Isabella, retirement from organized crime.
When Gerald is discovered dead, Truman returns to Kentucky for the funeral. Briar is bent on revenge, while Truman urges in vain to let the police deal with the investigation. Briar's contempt and distrust for his brother grows, as he considers Truman is dishonoring his family by refusing to engage in a traditional clan feud to exact justice.
Briar goes to Chicago to search for his brother's killer. Soon afterwards, Lawrence is murdered and Joey blames the murder on Truman and Briar. John Isabella orders a hit on the two brothers, resulting in a shootout between Briar and and Joey which leaves in Briar dead.
With a second brother dead, and evidence for an arrest lacking, Truman resigns from the police force and goes to Kentucky to gather his extended family to begin a feud against the Isabella family.
Learning of the Gates family determination to seek revenge, Joey dismisses the threat by the Gates "plow rocks for a living" to which John responds, "That's what they said about our family back in Italy."
When the Gates clan arrive in Chicago, they descend on the Isabella estate. An extended gun battle follows, which ends up with the Isabella family having the upper hand. However, John orders Joey's death having discovered that Joey had been bragging about murdering Lawrence out of jealousy for being overlooked to take over the syndicate. With the the murders on both sides dealt with, the Isabella and Gates families make peace.
[edit] Awards
Patrick Swayze was nominated for a Razzie Award for Worst Actor for his work in Next of Kin and for Road House realeased the same year.
