True Lies (1994) Miami, Brickell locations almost 30 years later

[Paul Veres]

I watched True Lies a few times in the past and somehow never focused on the fact that the finale was filmed in Brickell. 

@C Glide has it covered on his website here, but I just wanted to highlight the dramatic development change this Miami neighborhood lived through since the production, probably more than any other area of the county (or even possibly in the country).

As a reminder to set the stage, the terrorists are holding Arnold character's, Harry Tasker's, daughter hostage at one of the top floors of 1200 Brickell Ave, a building very recognizable due to its "concave" facade. Harry will shoot this one up using his Harrier jet's cannon. Another notable building, on the opposite corner of the Brickell Ave/SE 12th St intersection, is 1221 Brickell Ave, also with an easily recognizable design - Harry will back up his jet into this one.

The crane on the northeastern corner of 1200 Brickell, while playing a huge part in the scene, was most probably set up there anyway to mount the mockup of the jet - I encourage everybody to watch this "filming of" video which demos the genius of James Cameron and the visual effects supervisor John Bruno in this scene specifically: True Lies Motion Control Technology.

The best shot to compare the differences is the shot of Harry flying into Miami from the south - note 1221 Brickell and lack of anything all around it vs the highrise-busy landscape of today, as well as Brickell Key change:

Close-up of some park/undeveloped land behind 1221 Brickell all the way to the bay:

Close-up of the area to the north of SE 13th St, the Metromover tracks highlighted for easier orientation, otherwise it's hard to believe it is the same spot - small multiunit buildings gave way to huge residential/hotel towers, including the Flatiron skyscraper inside Metromover's "elbow":

Looking west along SE 12th St across the Metromover and Metrorail tracks, even this Google screenshot feels outdated - note the two highlighted lots, top right has been a construction site for months where they are building 1 Southside Park, and bottom left is about to get a foundation permit for Cipriani Residences:

Finally, not to compare anything, but this is just a great shot, with 1221 Brickell on the left, Brickell Bay Drive neighborhood in the back, and the Rickenbacker causeway bridge in the far back, when it still had both piers:

(Telling from Google Maps history, the western one was removed sometime in 2010)

Edited December 24, 2022 by Paul Veres

[Paul Veres]

As I was analyzing all that, I also discovered a geographic orientation goof.

Earlier in the scene, Harry shoots from the jet's 25mm rotary cannon through the 1200 Brickell Ave building, clearing out an entire floor. He is shooting from north to south. 

At the end of the scene, when Harry rolls the jet to shake off the bad guy, he is clearly oriented north, so opposite of 1200 Brickell, one (of many) building to anchor to is the Government Center:

However, as the terrorist falls down and is caught by the missile (the plane didn't move around during this), we are 180 degrees around, now oriented south. 

"You are fired", says Harry, one of typical Arnold punchlines, and the terrorist is about to fly... west?? The plane still didn't move around (didn't yawed, technically speaking).

As the terrorist is supposed to fly through the emptied floor of 1200 Brickell Ave, in the next shot he appears to be finally oriented correctly to do that, looking south, with the downtown SunTrust building in the back:

However, in the most bizarre way, he hits the helicopter going north, and the image is mirrored! 

Edited December 24, 2022 by Paul Veres

[airtommy]

Great posts and cool video.  I hadn't ever watched it closely, but I sort of assumed the whole thing was green-screen.  Amazing how they put a jet atop the skyscraper and did real filming there!