By/In/From our experience?

Cyrus Grissom   Tue Oct 13, 2009 7:29 pm GMT
On a prisoner transport plane filled to the gills with unsavory individuals, Cyrus "The Virus" Grissom (John Malkovich) kicked his master plan into high gear. Rather than ride the Jailbird, a.k.a. Con Air, to a maximum-security prison in Louisiana, Cyrus and his gang of buddies took over the plane and pointed it towards freedom. Besides the brothers and sisters of law enforcement who were now being held hostage, one person on board was not down with the Virus' plans: Cameron Poe (Nicolas Cage). The former US Army Ranger had been convicted of murder while protecting his wife in a barfight and was heading home after serving his time. He wasn't interested in going anywhere else.

Flanked by the likes of the murderous Nathan "Diamond Dog" Jones, Billy "Bedlam" Bedford, and rapist "Johnny-23", Cyrus appeared to be in complete control. He was, of course, under the assumption that all the convicts would be just as willing to head to greener pastures as he was. Grissom's intelligence gave him clever ideas for escape and strategy, and his vile reputation gave him solid ground to stand on when challenged by others. Cyrus' own words pretty much sum up the legend he had become: "It's not difficult to surmise Nathan's feelings towards killing these guards; and my own proclivities are well-known and often-lamented facts of penal lore."

As Cameron Poe began to help the authorities recapture the plane, he made himself Cyrus' new prime target. But for all the intellectual ammo and seemingly-capable thugs Cyrus had in his arsenal, Poe was too quick and crafty to be squashed like a simple bug. In the end, after making it through every con on the plane, the Army-trained Poe was too much for The Virus, both physically and mentally. One can only imagine, however, how things might have turned out if Garland Greene was in charge of things. They don't call him the "Marietta Mangler" for nothing.

INTELLIGENCE - 9: This self-taught sociopath is well-bred in the finer points of mayhem.

POWER - 6: In decent shape, but was smart enough to let the bigger dogs fight for him.

VILENESS - 7: And he can be extremely vulgar and insulting.

SWAY - 7: You gotta be charismatic to be the leader of a prison riot, especially on a plane.

PURITY - 10: Is he out of his mind? "According to my last psyche evaluation... yes."

PHYSICAL - 4: The baldhead and goatee is a nice touch to his prison garb.

TOTAL: 43