When two cops are gunned down in a tough Bronx neighbourhood of New York and a new precinct captain arrives, the pressure is on to catch the killer.
This is the kind of movie which the big studios are now too scared to make; a great, gritty, cop action drama shot on the ghetto streets of the South Bronx, which combines its social commentary with an exciting and entertaining story. Newman holds the movie together with his quiet, dignified portrayal of an average Joe with liberal tendencies who can see the good in the hellhole he lives in until two separate tragedies hit too close to home. The rest of the cast are great too - Wahl is likeably goofy, Ticotin is both gorgeous and terrific, Asner and Aiello are scary as the Establishment cops, and my favourite Grier gives the ultimate stoned psycho hooker performance. I love the way the script mixes traditional cop story scenes (talking down a jumper, street chases) with unexpected twists and shocks (the opening murders are never solved, Grier and Ticotin's deaths). This movie upset a lot of people on its release, but it's an important picture - it presents the burnt-out, crime-filled New York City ghetto some people would rather ignore, but it's not judgemental and it's full of real people just trying to get by like everyone else. Featuring great location photography by John Alcott, this is my preferred alternative to all those romantic comedies set in Manhattan.
This is the kind of movie which the big studios are now too scared to make; a great, gritty, cop action drama shot on the ghetto streets of the South Bronx, which combines its social commentary with an exciting and entertaining story. Newman holds the movie together with his quiet, dignified portrayal of an average Joe with liberal tendencies who can see the good in the hellhole he lives in until two separate tragedies hit too close to home. The rest of the cast are great too - Wahl is likeably goofy, Ticotin is both gorgeous and terrific, Asner and Aiello are scary as the Establishment cops, and my favourite Grier gives the ultimate stoned psycho hooker performance. I love the way the script mixes traditional cop story scenes (talking down a jumper, street chases) with unexpected twists and shocks (the opening murders are never solved, Grier and Ticotin's deaths). This movie upset a lot of people on its release, but it's an important picture - it presents the burnt-out, crime-filled New York City ghetto some people would rather ignore, but it's not judgemental and it's full of real people just trying to get by like everyone else. Featuring great location photography by John Alcott, this is my preferred alternative to all those romantic comedies set in Manhattan.