In the Line of Duty: The F.B.I. Murders (1988) (TV)

Director:

Dick Lowry

Writer:

Tracy Keenan Wynn (writer)

Release Date:

27 November 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Action | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

Florida 1985: A series of brutal robberies and murders keeps the F.B.I busy. Although all crimes seem to be comitted by the same group...

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Ronny Cox	...	Agent Benjamin 'Ben' Grogan
Bruce Greenwood	...	Agent Jerry Dove
Michael Gross	...	William "Bill" Russell Matix
Doug Sheehan	...	Agent Gordon McNeill
David Soul	...	Michael "Mike" Lee Platt
Ronald G. Joseph	...	Ed Mireles
Teri Copley	...	Vickie
Richard Jenkins
Peter McRobbie	...	John Hanlon
Anne Lange
Katie Layman		(as Kathleen Layman)
Deborah May
Becky Ann Baker
Randal Patrick
Ashton Wise

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Australia:M | Germany:18 | UK:15

Company:

Telecom Entertainment Inc.

Goofs:

Factual errors: While briefing the other agents in the parking lot, Agent Ben Grogan tells them to be on the look out for a black '79 Monte Carlo. The car the bad guys are in is actually a 1974 Monte Carlo. The FBI would not make this kind of mistake since they questioned the owner of the car earlier and know exactly what year and make it was.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Making of 'Tremors' (1998) (V)

Above-Line TV Movie

Liberally based on true events surrounding a mid-80's F.B.I.

investigation and notorious apprehension attempt of a pair of

murderous, military-styled bank-robbers, IN THE LINE OF DUTY:

THE F.B.I. MURDERS (1988) is well-scripted, beautifully acted,

and superbly directed. The pacing and tension build up perfectly

as the two story-lines –– one involving the F.B.I. team diligently

working its way through the case, the other showing the harsh

criminal viewpoint –– mesh together with ever-tightening switch- ups until the dramatic and bloody climax. Nothing feels forced or

out of place, and nothing seems missing. Just solid story-telling

and top-notch drama from beginning to end.



It's largely the casting which plays such a huge role in determining

the quality of this picture, in my opinion. With screen veterans

Ronny Cox, as senior agent Ben "The Grinch" Grogan, and David

Soul, as the sadistically deadly robber Michael Lee Platt, you have

both sides of a very truthful and convincing acting team

represented. Add to that Bruce Greenwood, as the rookie agent,

his ex-"Knot's Landing" compatriot Doug Sheehan, as another

hard-driven and concerned field-agent, and a plethora of other

lesser-known but equally skilled actors and you have a solid cast.

But the most notable and electrifying performance turned in is in

the surprisingly cold and delivered performance by Michael Gross,

as fellow killer William Russell Matix. Here Gross completely

sheds the compassionate, intelligent and endearing character

traits so well-portrayed with his much-loved character Steven

Keaton on the TV series "Family Ties", and gives a completely

inner-defined and chilling turn as a contradictory bible-thumping/

womanizing, murderer and bank-robbing degenerate. Shocking

and terribly engaging all in one. The film pulls few punches with

regards to violence throughout –– the final "take-down" scene is

surely one of the most graphic and bloody ever shot for

mainstream audiences, even by today's standards I'd wager ––

but it never comes across as exploitive. The story is always the

main focus of the film and for THAT reason it succeeds; it's simply

a good, engaging story that needed to be told.



I first saw this made-for-TV movie on it's original network television

airing and was extremely impressed. Now, 15 years later, I still

hold it in high regard (with only the cars and the synth-driven

soundtrack music really adding any dating to the picture at all).

Unfortunately, IN THE LINE OF DUTY: THE F.B.I. MURDERS, has

long since been out-of-print on VHS, and rarely turns up on TV. For

those lucky enough to come across it I whole-heartedly

recommend it.



7/10. A made-for-TV movie that succeeds in being more!