There's a few elements to like about 'The Last Of The Finest' but also no denying it's a generic cop film only with a political edge that gets fleshed out in the second half. Released in 1990, but feeling like something that would have been right at home in later part of the 80's. I had high hopes for this and the many known faces in it's cast but it gave away to a large servings of predictability.
A special unit of narcotic cops (Jeff Fahey, Bill Paxton, Joe Pantoliano) lead by Lt. Daly (Brian Dennehy) hit a suspicious meat packing plant after getting an informant tip. Not able to wait for Federal backup they go in and things turn violent with not much to show for it. They're suspended, later resign keeping up the battle as civilians when it's clear they've being blocked from government forces above who want to protect an operation of trading drugs for weapons overseas.
Dennehy gets first billing and has no problem being the likable main character, face of the movie. The fact that all his buddies are known names helps. However there isn't any fresh energy in building the story up and all the bad guys are rather bland. Cold assassins, corrupt fellow cops, so-called patriotic politicians who think they're doing the right thing at the tale end of the Cold War and the fight against communism. The real life Iran-Contra fiasco and whatnot.
Everything within 'The Last Of The Finest' trucks along towards a good vs bad finale that supplies the biggest burst of action to be found here. It's your usual mix of gunfire, explosions, setups and a feel good payoff. Fans of cop flicks and/or Dennehy will find something to like, but it's meat & potatoes formula. Intelligence gets shown at the very end mirroring how those at the very top of a political disaster never face the music in real life though.
A special unit of narcotic cops (Jeff Fahey, Bill Paxton, Joe Pantoliano) lead by Lt. Daly (Brian Dennehy) hit a suspicious meat packing plant after getting an informant tip. Not able to wait for Federal backup they go in and things turn violent with not much to show for it. They're suspended, later resign keeping up the battle as civilians when it's clear they've being blocked from government forces above who want to protect an operation of trading drugs for weapons overseas.
Dennehy gets first billing and has no problem being the likable main character, face of the movie. The fact that all his buddies are known names helps. However there isn't any fresh energy in building the story up and all the bad guys are rather bland. Cold assassins, corrupt fellow cops, so-called patriotic politicians who think they're doing the right thing at the tale end of the Cold War and the fight against communism. The real life Iran-Contra fiasco and whatnot.
Everything within 'The Last Of The Finest' trucks along towards a good vs bad finale that supplies the biggest burst of action to be found here. It's your usual mix of gunfire, explosions, setups and a feel good payoff. Fans of cop flicks and/or Dennehy will find something to like, but it's meat & potatoes formula. Intelligence gets shown at the very end mirroring how those at the very top of a political disaster never face the music in real life though.