Homicide (1991)

Director:

David Mamet

Writer (WGA):

David Mamet (written by)

Release Date:

28 August 1991 (France)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Powerful. Provacative. Controversial.

Plot:

A Jewish homicide detective investigates a seemingly minor murder and falls in with a Zionist group as a result.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Racial Slur | Neo Noir | Terrorism | Jewish Cop

Awards:

2 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Joe Mantegna	...	Bobby Gold
William H. Macy	...	Tim Sullivan
Vincent Guastaferro	...	Lt. Senna
J.J. Johnston	...	Jilly Curran
Jack Wallace	...	Frank
Lionel Mark Smith	...	Charlie Olcott
Roberta Custer	...	Cathy Bates
Charles Stransky	...	Doug Brown
Bernard Gray	...	James
Paul Butler	...	Commissioner Walker
Colin Stinton	...	Walter B. Wells
Louis Murray	...	Mr. Patterson
Christopher Kaldor	...	Desk Sergeant
Linda Kimbrough	...	Sgt. Green
Robin Spielberg	...	Records Officer

MPAA:

Rated R for language and violence.

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Singapore:NC-16 | Canada:14+ (Ontario) | Germany:12 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Company:

Bison Films

Trivia:

Mamet's script began as an adaptation of his friend William J. Caunitz's novel "Suspects", but the more Mamet wrote the more his story diverged from the book until it ultimately became an original screenplay.

Goofs:

Continuity: Toward the end of the film, when two policemen take Randolph away from Bob Gold, Bob's right arm is hanging. In the next shot, Bob's right arm is stretched.

Quotes:

[last lines]
Randolph: Oh God help me, help me... what did you do to me?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Magnolia (1999)

Depth of character in an action film

While this picture could compare favorably with many of its type for nothing more than its use of action, suspense and realistic details regarding police work, it goes significantly further and becomes a character study of a man searching for an identity. A conscientious, no-nonsense detective, Gold has never become involved in his work to the extent that it has made him question his values, let alone his reason for existing. Without the point being forced upon us, we see a character with (seemingly) no home, no friends, no social activities: a decent man who has not connected with anything meaningful in life until circumstances force him to make significant choices.

Especially challenging to the viewer is the deliberately ambiguous ending in which there is reason to believe that Gold could choose either of the major alternatives available to him. He looks and feels like an outsider in the precinct. He now identifies with the Jew as an outsider. Could it be that he is actually considering.....?

See this provocative picture, and decide for yourself. Excellent performances and direction throughout.