Shakedown (1988)

A legal attorney and renegade cop team up to stop a corrupt cop.

Director:

James Glickenhaus

Writer:

James Glickenhaus

Stars:

Peter Weller, Sam Elliott, Richard Brooks

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard Brooks	...	Michael Jones
Jude Ciccolella	...	Patrick O'Leary
George Loros	...	Officer Varelli
Thomas G. Waites	...	Officer Kelly (as Tom Waites)
Daryl Edwards	...	Dr. Watson
Jos Laniado	...	Ruben
Peter Weller	...	Roland Dalton
Blanche Baker	...	Gail Feinberger
John C. McGinley	...	Sean Phillips (as John McGinley)
Patricia Charbonneau	...	Susan Cantrell
Shirley Stoler	...	Irma
Walter Flanagan	...	Prison Guard
Walter Bobbie	...	Dean Howland
Henry Judd Baker	...	Big Leroy (as Judd Henry Baker)
Sam Elliott	...	Richie Marks

Storyline

A drug dealer shoots a corrupt police officer. Though the drug dealer admits his guilt, he pleads self-defense. His lawyer, Roland Dalton, and renegade loner NYPD narcotics agent Richie Marks, pursue evidence in his favor. They encounter difficulties from other corrupt police officers, drug dealers, and various street scum. Dalton's life is further complicated by the fact that the prosecuting attorney is a former lover.

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Plot Keywords:

nudity | female nudity | drug dealer | attorney | corrupt cop | 

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Taglines:

An overworked lawyer. An undercover cop. In a town where everyone is for sale... they're the best that money can buy.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 May 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Blue Jean Cop

Filming Locations:

21-69 Shore Blvd, Long Island city, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,017,800, 8 May 1988

Gross USA:

$10,068,039

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$10,068,039

Company Credits

Production Co:

Shapiro-Glickenhaus Entertainment, Blue Jean Cop

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min (PAL) 93 min (PAL)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

One night, 42nd Street in New York City was shut down for filming. As Times Square was still considered unsafe and crime-ridden, Peter Weller and Sam Elliott were assigned armed bodyguards.

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Goofs

[All goofs for this title are spoilers.]

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Quotes

Richie Marks: I met the love of my life... only I killed her dog before I got the chance to tell her. Man, she was everything I ever wanted. We met at Shakespeare in the park. Told her I was a lawyer. That line seemed to work for you. Rained like hell that day. I had an umbrella. We went back to her apartment. She went to the bathroom; I sat on the couch. She had this great big damned dog. Dog had a ball. I threw it. Dog brought it back. I threw it again... harder. I'll never forget the sound of that dog's ...

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Alternate Versions

The film was initially rated R in Australia, but Hoyts Distribution, the local distributor, wanted the film to be rated M so it could gain a wider audience, and potentially make more money given Peter Weller's popularity, so they cut the offending scenes from all 35mm release prints. Unfortunately the same print was used for the subsequent VHS release. The cuts scenes are: The section of the scene where Rydel is in the car with his snitch and threatens to have him raped by a large convict has been cut out. The scene where Big Leroy opens fire with an Uzi outside the Deuce and cuts down bystanders has been trimmed so the body count isn't so high. The scene where the old jailer offers the yuppie in the cell a condom with his breakfast is completely removed. The court scene where the judge sets Nicky Carr's bail at $1 million dollars is cut short. The sequence where Carr's attorney's produces the million bucks from a briefcase has been cut as has Carr's interplay with Marks, who is watching. The opening scene where the dealer in the park lights up a crack pipe has been shortened by a few seconds. The death of the snitch by Big Leroy electrocuting him has been cut short by several seconds so you don't see the snitch squirm as he dies.

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Connections

References The Outing (1987)

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Soundtracks

Purple Haze
Written by Jimi Hendrix (uncredited)
Performed by Jimi Hendrix
Courtesy of A.R.M.B.Y.

User Reviews

Action packed tale benefits from the three dimensional characters.

Director James Glickenhaus (The Soldiers, The Exterminator, McBain) has composed a reasonably well constructed thriller with the usual spectacular action sequences and an interesting plot. This time though, the strong performances from the lead stars help propel Shakedown above the usual mundane low budget films. Peter Weller (Robocop, Screamers) is excellent as Roland Dalton, a frustrated attorney who must help defend a troubled youth who has been accused of murdering a police officer. However, there is more to the scene of the crime than meets the eye...

Sam Elliot (Road House) is grand as Richie Marks, a rogue police officer who is always at the wrong place at the right time. Marks and Dalton happen to form a "buddy-buddy" type bonding, and their investigation eventually leads knee deep into a conspiracy of corruption, deceit, and murder...

Shakedown is a decent action flick with an intriguing plot with enthralling plot twists and top notch action sequences. The fist fight aboard a moving roller coaster is a highlight and the extended vehicle chase through the streets of Manhattan is another highlight.

What makes Shakedown an exceptional thriller though, is the three dimensional performances. Peter Weller is definitely the performer worth watching in Shakedown. His convincing portrayal as a tough lawyer adds an extra depth of integrity to an otherwise standard "kill or be killed" actioner. Sam Elliot has his moments too as a cynical renegade cop who helps Weller expose corruption in the police department.

Shakedown is worth watching just for the high caliber performances from both Weller and Elliot. The action scenes are worthwhile as well. The only setback though is these action sequences are used a little too sparesly. The lack of a breathtaking pace destroys an almost superior thriller. Otherwise, Shakedown is an adequate film. This movie would benefit greatly with a faster pace, but the acting from stars Weller and Elliot make Shakedown a film worth a look.

RATING: **1/2 out of ****.