Brown's Requiem (1998)

Fritz Brown is an ex-LAPD, recovering alcoholic who now splits his time repossessing cars for a used car lot and staffing his one-man private detective agency. When a filthy caddie named ... See full summary »

Director:

Jason Freeland

Writers:

Jason Freeland, James Ellroy (novel)

Stars:

Michael Rooker, Big Daddy Wayne, Jack Wallace

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Rooker	...	Fritz Brown
Big Daddy Wayne	...	Leotis McCarver
Jack Wallace	...	Bud Myers
Will Sasso	...	Fat Dog (as William Sasso)
Selma Blair	...	Jane
Harold Gould	...	Solly K
Brion James	...	Cathcart
Kevin Corrigan	...	Walter
Ron Barker	...	Bartender
William Newman	...	Augie
David Labiosa	...	Henry Cruz
Al Rodrigo	...	Sandoval
Lisa Koch	...	Lulu
Barry Newman	...	Jack Skolnick
Lee Weaver	...	Wino

Storyline

Fritz Brown is an ex-LAPD, recovering alcoholic who now splits his time repossessing cars for a used car lot and staffing his one-man private detective agency. When a filthy caddie named Freddy "Fat Dog" Baker wanders into Fritz's office one day, flashing a wad of cash, Fritz is hired to follow Fat Dog's kid sister Jane, who is holed up with a Beverly Hills sugar daddy named Sol Kupferman. Kupferman is a 70 year-old bag man for the mob, and Fat Dog claims that "Solly K" is up to something evil that may harm Jane. The trail leads Fritz to an encounter with his dark past in the person of Haywood Cathcart, current head of LAPD internal affairs and the person who kicked Fritz off the police force. But what is Cathcart doing in business with a mobster? And why is Jane shacked up with a man old enough to be her grandfather? Fritz starts asking some questions, and the answers are all bad news. Fritz finds himself back on Haywood Cathcart's short list, and as the bodies start to pile up ...

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Plot Keywords:

alcoholic | murder | punctuation in title | neo noir | police corruption | 

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Taglines:

In L.A., The Law Is Still For Sale.

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Genres:

Crime | Thriller | Mystery | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence, nudity and language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 June 1999 (Netherlands)

Also Known As:

Brownin murhamysteeri

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$3,077 (USA) (25 February 2000)

Gross:

$3,077 (USA) (25 February 2000)

Company Credits

Production Co:

J&T Productions, Savvy Lad, Brown's Requiem

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Crazy Credits

Thanks- ALYSSA, ISAAC & MIRABELLE

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Connections

References Soul Train (1971)

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Soundtracks

"Thunderstorms And Neon Signs"
Written & Performed by Wayne Hancock
(Ten Ten Tunes)
Courtesy of Ark 21 Records

User Reviews

excellent neo-noir

It is definitely Michael Rooker who carries this film with his likable working-man persona.He really manages to show the heart and humanity under his character's rough exterior and when he needs to be menacing he delivers the goods;the scene where he takes a pair of brass knuckles to a creep in order to beat some information out of him is worth the price of admission alone. He is well-served by a snappy script that captures the gritty funk of Ellroy's writing. Capable direction by Jason Freeland keeps things moving nicely. There are excellent character turns by Will Sasso, Brad Dourif,and Barry Newman. And Harold Gould takes a bow as a slimy mobster.I am surprised this isn't more celebrated. Good show, all around.