Directed by Sidney Lumet. Starring Nick Nolte, Timothy Hutton, Armand Assante, Charles S. Dutton, Luis Guzman, Patrick O'Neal, Lee Richardson, Jenny Lumet, Dominic Chianese, Paul Calderon. Drama/Mob. Synopsis: A young New York City assistant district attorney is assigned to a case invloving the shooting of a unarmed man by a police detective and soon finds himself invloved in a potential cover up that goes back decades and invloves people near the highest level of city and state government.
This gritty, urban drama really captures the essence of street crime and the politics of it in a way that is both quintessential '90s and timeless as well. Set in New York City, the protagonist is Al Reilly (Timothy Hutton Kinsey) a former cop turned lawyer who is new in the D.A.'s office and still feeling the effects of a painful breakup years before. His first assignment under homicide chief and legend Kevin Quinn (Patrick O'Neal) is to handle the investigation-Q & A if you will-involving a shooting by a legendary and aggressive detective, Mike Brennan (Nick Nolte Blue Chips) .
Though the case seems open and shut at first glance, it soon seems to be deeper than first thought and Al is getting increasing pressure to rule the shooting justified and close the case. Working side by side with the two detectives assigned to him Chapman and Valentin (Charles S. Dutton Secret Window Luis Guzman The Taking of Pelham 123 Fighting), Al delves deeper into a case with ties to organized crime and political corruption in the city going back decades.
Of course, there is a relationship twist and, in this flick, it is in the form of Al's former fiancee, Nancy (Jenny Lumet) who becomes tangentially involved in the case as she is now on the arm of reputed drug dealer and shooting witness, Bobby Texador (Armand Assante Two For The Money)
The story is fast paced and hard hitting, and those of you with more delicate sensibilities for spoken language need to be forewarned the language is extremely coarse and the usual taboos of race, religion, and sexual orientation are dealt with often, as well as crudely. To me, the flick is really primarily about how we feel about the way we know others feel about us due to where we are or what we are, as opposed to who we are. I don't mean to sound to philosophical, but Al is going through that journey as he realizes that some important people thought he was something that he is not, but the real question is why (did they assume that)?
Nick Nolte is simply fabulous as the hulking, intimidating, and closeted homosexual cop who the story revolves around, it is simply a stunning acting performance, in my opinion. Armand Assante is also as good or better as you've ever seen him as the epitome of likeable,slick, big time drug dealer cool, maybe his character in this sub genre is second only to Pacino's Tony Montana.
Urban crime dramas aren't everyone's cup of tea, but if they are, you will see a complex but interesting story that was exceptionally well acted and directed, which is why its easily one of my faves.
For what that's worth.
This gritty, urban drama really captures the essence of street crime and the politics of it in a way that is both quintessential '90s and timeless as well. Set in New York City, the protagonist is Al Reilly (Timothy Hutton Kinsey) a former cop turned lawyer who is new in the D.A.'s office and still feeling the effects of a painful breakup years before. His first assignment under homicide chief and legend Kevin Quinn (Patrick O'Neal) is to handle the investigation-Q & A if you will-involving a shooting by a legendary and aggressive detective, Mike Brennan (Nick Nolte Blue Chips) .
Though the case seems open and shut at first glance, it soon seems to be deeper than first thought and Al is getting increasing pressure to rule the shooting justified and close the case. Working side by side with the two detectives assigned to him Chapman and Valentin (Charles S. Dutton Secret Window Luis Guzman The Taking of Pelham 123 Fighting), Al delves deeper into a case with ties to organized crime and political corruption in the city going back decades.
Of course, there is a relationship twist and, in this flick, it is in the form of Al's former fiancee, Nancy (Jenny Lumet) who becomes tangentially involved in the case as she is now on the arm of reputed drug dealer and shooting witness, Bobby Texador (Armand Assante Two For The Money)
The story is fast paced and hard hitting, and those of you with more delicate sensibilities for spoken language need to be forewarned the language is extremely coarse and the usual taboos of race, religion, and sexual orientation are dealt with often, as well as crudely. To me, the flick is really primarily about how we feel about the way we know others feel about us due to where we are or what we are, as opposed to who we are. I don't mean to sound to philosophical, but Al is going through that journey as he realizes that some important people thought he was something that he is not, but the real question is why (did they assume that)?
Nick Nolte is simply fabulous as the hulking, intimidating, and closeted homosexual cop who the story revolves around, it is simply a stunning acting performance, in my opinion. Armand Assante is also as good or better as you've ever seen him as the epitome of likeable,slick, big time drug dealer cool, maybe his character in this sub genre is second only to Pacino's Tony Montana.
Urban crime dramas aren't everyone's cup of tea, but if they are, you will see a complex but interesting story that was exceptionally well acted and directed, which is why its easily one of my faves.
For what that's worth.
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