EvenHand (2002)

Director:

Joseph Pierson

Writer:

Mike Jones

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

You can't be everybody's friend.

Plot Keywords:

Cop Romance | Police Arrest | Good Cop Bad Cop

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Bill Sage	...	Officer Ted Morning
Bill Dawes	...	Officer Rob Francis
Lawrence Stringer	...	Mather
Lee Stringer	...	David Mather
Io Tillett Wright	...	Toby
Mirelly Taylor	...	Jessica (as Ruth Osuna)
Irene Pena	...	Carla
Héctor García	...	Victor
Kelley West	...	Carol (as Kelley Saunders)
Eduardo Cavazos Garza	...	Sgt. Leonard
Greg Bransom	...	Donald
Earley B. Teal	...	Old Man With Brick
Bena Kratochvil	...	Lisa Mather
Alsada Richardson	...	Lisa's Mom
William Luke	...	Ronald
Matt Vodvarka	...	Keith
Jace Phillips	...	Winston
Eric Fischman	...	Wen
Will Staten	...	Gary
John Franklin	...	Randy (as John Caballero)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kinya Cano	...	Jean
Steve Crawford	...	Martin
Cosmo Inserra	...	Theif
Melinda Renna	...	Mother
Derek Lee Nixon	...	Pretty Boy (uncredited)

Directed by
Joseph Pierson

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Mike Jones

Produced by
Fernando Cano	....	producer
Jon Glascoe	....	executive producer
Joseph Pierson	....	producer

Original Music by
Joel Goodman

Cinematography by
Tim Orr

Film Editing by
Alex Albanese

Casting by
Susan Jasso
Kim Moarefi

Production Design by
Gary Ledyard

Costume Design by
Yvonne Wilburn

Makeup Department
Jacenda Burkett	....	makeup artist
Erin Doyle	....	key hair stylist
Erin Doyle	....	key makeup artist
Melizah Schmidt	....	co-department head hair

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
James Borrego	....	first assistant director
Maura Osborne	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Thomas Espy	....	art department coordinator
Lovisa Inserra	....	graphic designer

Sound Department
Eric Apps	....	sound re-recording mixer
Tom Bjelic	....	sound effects editor
Kaye Cruz	....	boom operator
Barry Gilmore	....	dialogue editor
Allen Green	....	sound mixer
Martin Gwynn Jones	....	first assistant sound editor
Garrett Kerr	....	supervising sound editor
Kirk Lynds	....	foley recordist
Tim O'Connell	....	foley artist
Brent Pickett	....	first assistant sound effects
Dino Pigat	....	sound re-recording mixer

Camera and Electrical Department
Lovisa Inserra	....	still photographer
Greg Lomas	....	dolly grip
Matthew A. Petrosky	....	first assistant camera
Robert B. Reynolds	....	key grip
Greg Ridge	....	gaffer
Darren Scharf	....	video assist operator
Linda Slater	....	camera loader
Kevin Sloan	....	Steadicam operator

Casting Department
Susan Jasso	....	casting: San Antonio
Kim Moarefi	....	casting: New York

Editorial Department
Lovisa Inserra	....	assistant editor
Jean-Paul Morselli	....	intern editor

Transportation Department
Cosmo Inserra	....	driver

Other crew
Andrew Aguilar	....	production assistant
Kinya Cano	....	script supervisor
Lovisa Inserra	....	assistant to director
Lisa Russell	....	publicist
Israel Sanchez	....	location assistance

Production Companies

• Cypress Films (I)

Distributors

• Boll World Sales (2009) (Non-USA) (all media)
• Hart Sharp Video

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language, some violence and drug content

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

German | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

San Antonio, Texas, USA

Company:

Cypress Films (I)

Quotes:

Officer Rob Francis:[narration - as funeral passes] Most people hate cops. It's a fact, but it's not true. When things go bad, we're the ones you call. We show up, and we arrest people. Because as a friend once said, we're cops, that's what we do. But it's also our job to make things better. Chase away the shadows. I guess sometimes the shadows we chase, are our own.

Soundtrack:

Get Along

Best cop movie in the past few years

This is a slow paced but enjoyable little indie film. It's sort of like watching an episode of "Cops", but you get to see what the officers really talk about between calls.

Having been a police officer for the past eight years, I must also compliment the film makers and screenwriter for a portrayal of uniformed officers that is as realistic as anything I've seen on film. It is clear to me that the screenwriter, and I'm sure the actors, spent some time researching police officers. The small talk between partners ("You don't like women because of their personality, do you?") was both funny and bang on - I'm sure I had the same conversation myself.

There were some flaws that stuck out for me - officer Morning carries both an expandable baton and a straight stick; he brings his mag-light out of the car and puts it on his belt in broad daylight; and he wears his uniform when he goes out drinking at a bar.

Nevertheless, the feel was right. The same calls, the same idiots they have to deal with, the same monotony day and night punctuated by a few moments of adrenaline and danger.

I also found the acting to be good, especially Bill Sage as Officer Morning. He reminded me of a friend of mine I used to partner with.

The soundtrack was also very engaging and appropriate, giving a very bluesy feel like something from Ry Cooder.

Not a perfect film, but definitely the best cop film in the past several years. If you like the police stories on Third Watch, you'll like this.